Name____________________________________
Period_______
Days_______
Nutrition Lab - My Plate Scavenger Hunt
Go to the website www.choosemyplate.gov. Please follow the instructions and find the answers to the
questions below. Prepare to improve your eating habits! This lab is worth 100 points.
LEARN ABOUT MYPLATE
•
Go to the top of the page and click on the “MyPlate” tab. It is green and located on the left hand side
of the screen underneath the words “United States Department of Agriculture.”
•
Read the food overview and answer the following question.
1. MyPlate illustrates the five food groups that are the building blocks for a healthy diet. List the 5 main
food groups.
1)______________________________
4)______________________________
2)______________________________
5)______________________________
3)______________________________
LEARN ABOUT THE FOOD GROUPS
•
From here, you will be using the navigation bar on the left side of the screen. You will see the label
“Topics” and underneath this you will see the food groups listed, along with some other topics.
•
Click on “Fruits.” If you look at the navigation bar on the left, there are now several topics listed
under the “Fruits” link.
•
Look at the “What foods are in the fruit group” and answer the questions.
2. Any fruit or _____________% fruit juice counts as part of the Fruit Group. Fruits may be
_________________, canned, ___________________, or dried, and may be whole, cut-up, or pureed.
3. Key Consumer Message (For Fruits): ___________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
4. Name 3 fruits you like to eat: ________________________________________________________
MORE ON FRUITS
•
Now, go back to the navigation bar on the left and click on “How Much Is Needed?”
•
Read the information and click on “See the chart.” Answer the following questions using the chart.
5. What is the recommended amount of fruits that boys and girls aged 9-13 should eat daily?
______________ cups
MORE ON FRUITS
•
Now, go back to the navigation bar on the left and click on “What counts as a cup?”
•
Read the information and click on “See the chart.” Answer the following questions using the chart.
6. How many seedless grapes equal 1 cup or 1 serving of fruit? __________ grapes
7. What size apple counts as 1 cup or 1 serving of fruit? _______________ inches in diameter
8. How many strawberries equal 1 cup or 1 serving of fruit? _____________large berries
MORE ON FRUITS
•
Now, go back to the navigation bar on the left and click on “Tips to help you eat fruits.”
•
Answer the following questions using the information on the page.
9. List one general tip for helping you eat fruits: ___________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
VEGETABLES
•
Go back to the navigation bar on the left side of the screen. Click on “Vegetables.”
•
Look at the “What’s in the vegetable group?” and answer the questions.
10. Vegetables are organized into 5 subgroups based on their nutrient content. Please name the 5 subgroups
and 2 vegetables that fall into each category. **When choosing which vegetables to list as your
examples, pick vegetables that are familiar to you.**
Vegetable Sub-Group
Vegetable Examples
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
11. Key Consumer Message (For Vegetables…same as for fruits):_________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
MORE ON VEGETABLES
•
Now, go back to the navigation bar on the left and click on “How Much Is Needed?”
•
Read the information and click on “See the chart.” Answer the following questions using the chart.
12. What is the recommended amount of vegetables that girls aged 9-13 should eat daily?
______________ cups
13. What is the recommended amount of vegetables that boys aged 9-13 should eat daily?
______________ cups
MORE ON VEGETABLES
•
Now, go back to the navigation bar on the left and click on “Health benefits and nutrients.”
•
This information applies to both fruits and vegetables.
•
Answer the following questions using the information on the page.
14. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can reduce your risk for numerous diseases and health
problems. List 3 of these diseases/health problems.
1)_______________________________
2) ______________________________
3)______________________________
GRAINS
•
Go back to the navigation bar on the left side of the screen. Click on “Grains.”
•
Look at the “What’s in the grains group?” and answer the questions.
15.
Grains are divided into 2 subgroups. Name each subgroup and list two examples for each.
Grains Subgroup
2 Examples for each
1)
2)
16. Whole grains contain the entire _______________________. This included the bran, germ, and
endosperm.
17. Refined grains have been ___________________________, a process that removes the bran and
germ. This is done to give grains a finer texture and improve their __________________
_______________, but it also removes dietary ________________, ______________________,
and many B vitamins.
18. Key Consumer Message (For Grains):___________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
MORE ON GRAINS
•
Now, go back to the navigation bar on the left and click on “How Much Is Needed?”
•
Read the information and click on “See the chart.” Answer the following questions using the chart
19. What is the recommended amount of grains that girls aged 9-13 should eat daily?
______________ ounces (oz)
20. What is the recommended amount of grains that boys aged 9-13 should eat daily?
______________ ounces (oz)
MORE ON GRAINS
•
Now, go back to the navigation bar on the left and click on “What counts as an ounce?”
•
Read the information and then answer the questions. Feel free to click on “See the chart” for more
information on grain serving sizes.
21. How many slices of bread equals 1 oz or 1 serving of grains? __________ slice
22. How much “ready-to-eat” cereal counts as 1 oz or 1 serving of grains? _________ cup
23. How much cooked rice or cooked pasta counts as 1 oz or 1 serving of grains?? ________ cup
MORE ON GRAINS
•
Now, go back to the navigation bar on the left and click on “Health benefits and nutrients.”
•
Answer the following questions using the “Nutrients” section of the page.
24. Fiber-containing foods such as whole grains help provide a feeling of ________________________
with fewer calories.
25. Fiber is also important for proper ______________________ function.
PROTEIN FOODS
•
Go back to the navigation bar on the left side of the screen. Click on “Protein Foods.”
•
Look at the “What’s in the protein foods group?” and answer the questions.
26. Name the 7 food categories that are a part of the protein food group.
1)_______________________________ 5)_______________________________
2)_______________________________ 6)_______________________________
3)_______________________________ 7)_______________________________
4)_______________________________
MORE ON PROTEINS
•
Now, go back to the navigation bar on the left and click on “How Much Is Needed?”
•
Read the information and click on “See the chart.” Answer the following questions using the chart
27. What is the recommended amount of proteins that boys and girls aged 9-13 should eat daily?
______________ ounces (oz)
MORE ON PROTEIN FOODS
•
Now, go back to the navigation bar on the left and click on “What counts as an ounce?”
•
Read the information and click on “See the chart.” Answer the following questions using the chart.
28. How much peanut butter equals 1 oz or 1 serving of protein? __________ tablespoon
29. How eggs count as 1 oz or 1 serving of protein? _________ egg
MORE ON PROTEIN FOODS
•
Now, go back to the navigation bar on the left and click on “Tips for making wise choices.”
•
Answer the following questions.
30. MyPlate recommends that you “go ______________________ with protein.”
31. When it comes to cooking, it is healthier to ________________, ___________________,
___________________, poach, or boil meat instead of frying.
DAIRY
•
Go back to the navigation bar on the left side of the screen. Click on “Dairy.”
•
Look at the “What’s in the dairy group?” and answer the questions.
32. All fluid milk products and many foods made from milk are considered part of this food group. Most
Dairy Group choices should be _______________________ or ________________________.
33. Key Consumer Message (For Dairy):___________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
MORE ON DAIRY
•
Now, go back to the navigation bar on the left and click on “How Much Is Needed?”
•
Read the information. Answer the following questions using the chart.
•
34. What is the recommended amount of dairy that boys and girls aged 9-13 should eat daily?
______________ cups
MORE ON DAIRY
•
Now, go back to the navigation bar on the left and click on “Health Benefits & Nutrients.”
•
Answer the following questions.
35. Dairy products are linked to _____________________ health and can reduce the risk for developing
osteoporosis (disease of the bones that make them weak and brittle).
36. ___________________________ is the mineral in dairy products that helps build strong bones and
teeth.
37. It is important to make your dairy choices fat-free or low-fat. This is because diets high in saturated
fat can lead to increased _____________________________ levels in the body. This puts you at an
increased risk for ________________________ ____________________ disease (aka heart
attacks).
MORE ON DAIRY
•
Now, go back to the navigation bar on the left and click on “Tips for making wise choices.”
•
Answer the following questions using the information on the page.
38. List one tip to help you make wise dairy choices: __________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
EMPTY CALORIES
•
Go to the top of the page and click on the “Weight Management & Calories” tab. It is green and
located on the left hand side of the screen underneath the words “United States Department of
Agriculture.”
•
Then click on the “Calories” link on the left hand side under “Topics.” Answer the following questions.
39. Calories measure the amount of ______________________ food or beverages provide your body.
40. What are empty calories?
41. Solid fats and added sugars add ________________________ to the food but few or no
_______________________.
42. Name 3 foods that provide the emptiest calories for Americans.
1)_______________________________
2) ______________________________
3)______________________________
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
•
Go to the top of the page and click on the “Physical Activity” tab.
•
Then click on the “Calories” link on the left hand side under “Topics.” Answer the following questions.
43. Physical activity is a part of MyPlate and it is recommended that children 6-17 years old should do
___________ minutes or more of physical activity each day!
44. List 2 moderate physical activities._____________________________________________
45. List 2 vigorous physical activities.______________________________________________
46. List 2 reasons why physical activity is important.___________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
LABELING: Now that you
are an expert with using
the MyPlate website,
please write the names of
the food groups on the
plate in the correct place
and draw lines to show how
much of each group to eat.
**PLEASE READ ALL OF THESE INSTRUCTIONS: When you are finished, then you may go play the Blast
Off Game to practice what you just learned. Please use the instructions at the end of this packet to help you
find the game. Once you find the game and you have made sure you completed the entire packet, TURN IN
YOUR PACKET TO MS. MOZDZEN.**
(To find this game, go to the “Home” page (www.choosemyplate.gov). Scroll to the bottom of the page where
you will see a gray box with the heading “Resources for Nutrition and Health.” Under “Audiences,” select
“Children 6-11 years old.” This will take you to the page where you can play the Blast Off Game.)