Nutrition for kids

Q:  Hey Lisa,

 

I'm going over the food pyramid and healthy eating with my cub scout den tomorrow.  I've done a little research on-line and see that we use the MyPlate diagram instead of he pyramid.  Is that pretty much the standard now?  Also, any ideas for presenting this stuff in a meaningful way to 8 year olds?  I'm making cut outs of various foods and I'm going to make up a game to play.  I just don't want it to be BORING!

 

Any advice would be appreciated.  Thanks!

A:  Thanks for your question.  The government switched from the Pyramid to the plate method some time last year (maybe March)?  The web site choosemyplate.gov web site is pretty useful for explaining serving sizes, nutrients, etc.  It is the same information, just presented in a different style.  We eat from plates, not pyramids!

 

For 8 yr old boys, you might want to focus on the need to eat right to have energy to learn, get good grades, play sports, grow strong. 

 

You can break it down to food groups (carbs such as bread, cereal, fruit, pasta, rice) give your brain and body energy while protein (meat, fish, eggs, beans, peanut butter) help keep your muscles strong.  Milk needed for strong bones & teeth and to become taller!  Fruits & vegetables needed for a healthy heart and to prevent them from getting sick (good for immunity, etc).

 

Tell them sugar/soda and junk food/chips wear their bodies down, ruin their teeth and should only be eaten now and then.  Soda = obesity!  Advise them to choose healthy snacks- nuts/seeds, fruit, veggies + hummus, cheese/crackers, etc.

 

I would also encourage them to drink enough water- needed to cool their bodies off after sports, keep their heart/blood pressure in good shape, prevent them from fatigue/feeling tired, etc.

 

If I were there, I'd let you borrow my food models!  I've done games w/younger kids where I put them on a big table and then shout out "choose a fruit high in vitamin C" and the kids have to run up to the table and grab something (whoever gets it first wins a point for their team).

Best of luck with your program!

Nutrigirl