EAT
TOGETHER
EAT BETTER
MY PERFECT PLATE
TARGET AUDIENCE
Grades 5 & 6
ESTIMATED TIME
40 minutes
NUTRITION EDUCATION
LEARNING OBJECTIVE
By the end of this activity, students will be able to:
• Place food picture cards in the correct food group,
• Create a nutritionally balanced meal using MyPlate as the template.
CURRICULUM
INTEGRATION
• Communication
• Reading
• Health
EALR/GLE INTEGRATION
Communication 1.1.2Applies listening and observation skills to recall and interpret information.
2.2.2Contributes responsibly in a group setting.
CLASSROOM SKILLS
• Cooperation
• Categorization
• Critical thinking skills/Making personal application
BASIC NUTRITION
CONCEPTS
•
•
•
•
Planning healthy meals can be fun.
Healthy meals include foods from a variety of food groups.
There are many food choices within each food group.
MyPlate provides a good template for meal planning.
SUPPLIES
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Dairy Council food model picture cards 
MyPlate visual 
Food group pictures 
Laminated food group name cards 
MyPlate template 
MyPlate food group pieces 
Scissors, glue and colored pencils
 Provided with lesson
For display using
document camera
ACTIVITY TASKS
See reverse.
SOURCE
Carolyn A. Lee, MS, RD
SA SUBMITTED BY
Family Meals Work Group
Activity Tasks for
My Perfect Plate (Grades 5 & 6)
1. Place ten food model cards at each table group, two from each of the following food groups:
vegetables, fruits, dairy, protein, and grains.
2. Tell students that you will be asking them to sort their foods by food group. Have students turn
and talk with table group members about what they think the five food groups are. After about 30
seconds, invite students to share their thoughts.
3. Affirm correct responses. When all groups have been mentioned, show color visual of MyPlate as
reinforcement. Keep this visual on the document camera.
4. Direct students to sort their cards into the five groups.
5. Now show visual with examples of foods from each group. Ask students to check their work. Did they
sort correctly? Answer any questions that arise.
6. Place the five laminated group cards on the floor where there is some space. Students now place their
food model cards by the correct food group name card. This visual will help in making their "Perfect
Plates".
7. Distribute the MyPlate template and the MyPlate food group pieces. Refer students back to the
MyPlate visual and ask them to turn and talk about what they notice about the food groups. After
one minute, have students share with the class. (Answers may include: vegetables & grains are the
larger portions, fruits & vegetables together are half of the plate, vegetables & grains are the same size
as each other, fruits & protein are the same size as each other, fruits & grains are about ¼ each, dairy
group is a circle.)
8. Students now cut out their MyPlate pieces and place (not glue) on their MyPlate. Next, they create a
meal with healthy foods. Students should consider healthy choices like whole grains, fresh fruits and
vegetables, lean protein sources, etc. Students draw and label each part using the correct food group
piece. Labeling should include the name of the food and the food group name in parenthesis. For
example, Whole Wheat Bread (grains). Again, place on the template. Refer to the MyPlate visual if
needed.
9. Invite students to walk around the room, looking at different plates.
10.Finally, students place their drawings with the food model cards by the correct laminated food group
name card. After all have been placed, students create another meal by selecting another set of foods
from what their classmates have created. They are invited to mix and match while keeping the parts
of the plate like the MyPlate visual on the document camera. Then bring back their selected foods to
make another MyPlate. Have students look at all the plates.
11.The final product may be their own original plate or one created by mixing and matching. Students
should glue their final creating on the MyPlate template.
12.Have students consider how the process of meal planning contributes to eating in a more healthy
way. Could students help parents with meal planning? Discuss in table groups and then share ideas
as a class.
This material was funded by USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program provides nutrition assistance to people with low income. It can help you buy nutritious foods for a better diet.To
find out more, contact your local DSHS Community Service Office.
June 5, 2013
This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Grades 5 – 6
Food Group
Pieces
MyPlate
VEGETABLE
Source: wellness.byu.edu
Source: pacificallergyandwellness.com
GRAINS
DAIRY
Source: aipl.arsusda.gov
Source: suzmikus.pbworks.com
FRUIT
Source: chooseMyPlate.gov
Source: extension.oregonstate.edu
PROTEIN
FRUITS
VEGETABLES
PROTEIN
GRAINS
DAIRY