Let's Build a Healthy MyPlate

Imagine your plate is a colorful map with five special sections! This map is called MyPlate. It shows us how to build a healthy meal.Fruits & Vegetables: These should fill up half of your plate! They are full of vitamins that help you from getting sick.Grains: This group gives you energy to run and play. Think of bread, oatmeal, and rice.Protein: This helps build strong muscles. Foods like chicken, beans, and eggs are in this group.Dairy: This group, like milk and yogurt, helps build strong bones and teeth.Eating from all five groups helps your body get everything it needs to be its best!

Let's build a breakfast plate to start the day with energy!Grains: We can start with a bowl of oatmeal or a piece of whole-wheat toast. This gives us long-lasting energy.Fruits: Let's add some colorful berries or sliced bananas on top of our oatmeal. Yum!Dairy: A glass of milk or a cup of yogurt on the side gives our bones the calcium they need to be strong.Protein (optional): A scrambled egg can also be a great addition for extra muscle-building power!Look at that! A balanced breakfast to power our morning.

Time for lunch! Let's pack a meal that will help us focus and play all afternoon.Grains & Protein: Let's make a sandwich on whole-wheat bread (Grains) with turkey or hummus (Protein).Vegetables: We can add crunchy lettuce and tomato slices inside the sandwich, or have baby carrots and cucumber slices on the side. We're filling half our plate!Fruit: An apple or a handful of grapes makes a sweet and healthy side.Dairy: A cheese stick is an easy and fun way to add dairy to our lunch.This lunch has all the parts to keep our bodies and brains working hard!