Find the Food Groups
Here's What To Do
1
At the grocery store, talk about food groups as you pass through different parts of the grocery store. Some of the major food groups:
- Carbohydrates (grains, cereals, bread, pasta, rice, potato)
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Protein (meat, fish, nuts, eggs, beans and peas, soy, milk, cheese, yogurt)
2
As you're in each section, talk about how our bodies use each kind of food to stay healthy.
3
Ask your child to find other examples of a food in the same food group.
4
At home, you can talk about the food groups again as you put items away.
Put PEER Into Action
P
Pause:
- Direct your child's attention to the food you're talking about.
E
Engage:
- "These tortillas are carbohydrates. Carbohydrates give our bodies energy!"
- "This banana is a fruit. Can you find another fruit?"
E
Encourage:
- "Oops! Carrots are actually a vegetable, not a fruit. They help our eyes see!"
- "Chips are okay to eat sometimes but plain potatoes would be a healthier version of chips because they don't have extra ingredients mixed in. Did you know chips come from potatoes?"
R
Reflect:
- When are some other times our family can talk about food groups?
Not quite ready?
Even if your child doesn't quite understand the food groups, talking about it will lay the foundation for understanding later.
Ready for more?
When unpacking groceries, ask your child to sort the items by food group.
As your child masters this skill...
They will understand that people need different types of food to stay healthy