Free Food Pyramid Resources: Printables, Crafts & Activities
Published:
July 9, 2015
Contributor:
Jeannette Tuionetoa
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase via my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more info.
In an effort to revamp our family’s food habits, we are doing some fun activities using these free food pyramid resources this summer. I thought you all might enjoy them as well. I was able to find some fun printables, songs, crafts, activities, and more.
What is the food pyramid?
The food pyramid is released by the USDA and is a graphic representation of the amount of food that people should eat from different food groups on each plate.
There have been several different food pyramids throughout the years released by the USDA.
The latest food pyramid was replaced in 2011 called MyPlate. The MyPlate idea was based on nutrition information from the government’s 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
The plate is represented in quartered sections – protein, grains, vegetables, and fruits.
What are the 5 parts of the food pyramid?
Although the food pyramid has changed over time, the food pyramids are still widely used. They help kids to visually see how many of the different food groups they should have.
There are five layers to the food pyramid representing the five common food groups. The pyramid is used as a tool to encourage a healthier diet by eating more of the two largest sections of the pyramids.
The five layers of the pyramid are:
(Largest section to smallest at the point up top)
- Fruit and vegetables.
- Starchy foods, such as bread, cereals, and potatoes.
- Proteins, such as meat, fish, eggs, and beans.
- Milk and dairy foods.
- Fats and sugars.
The new food pyramid completely eliminated the sugars from MyPlate. I think this encourages kids to understand that they do not really need sugary foods.
Explore these resources to help introduce your homeschool to healthy alternatives and better nutrition for your kids.
Recommended Resource: Food Notebook
Take a tour of food around the world with Food Anatomy and the companion Food Notebook.
Could there be a tastier way to explore social studies than by learning about foods from other countries? Food Anatomy takes families on a trip around the world, studying fruits, vegetables, grains, meat, dairy, snacks, seasonings, drinks, and desserts. We have all four notebooks for the Julia Rothman series.
Free Food Pyramid Printables
Food Pyramid Writing Activities, Puzzles, and Toddler Pack – This little learner pack is perfect for introducing your kids to healthier eating but in a fun and engaging way. This free resource is enough to make a food pyramid mini unit study.
Food Pyramid Worksheets
Weekly Lunch Menu Worksheets – With this free resource, kids can log in what they have each day for lunch. This makes a good project as they are learning all about the food pyramid and how to be aware of what they are eating.
My Plate Cut & Paste – This “my plate” cut and paste healthy foods activity worksheet will help your family plan out a well-balanced daily menu. These food plate guidelines and activities are for ages 4 -8, 9-13, and 14-18.
Fun Food Comparison Challenge – These 18 food comparison cards create a thinking activity of which food on the card is healthier to eat. The challenge has images for younger students and text for older kids.
Food Pyramid Coloring Pages
Coloring Sheets & Food Pyramid Emergent Readers – It is never too late to get kiddos into healthier eating. This free food pyramid resource has 84 coloring pages including print, preschool letters, manuscript, and cursive text.
Color the Food Pyramid Healthy Eating Worksheet – Your kiddos will enjoy learning about what is healthy and what isn’t with this color-the-food pyramid. Your kids think about and decide which foods will be the best nutritional choice for them.
My Itsy Bitsy Fruit Book – This printable coloring page fruit book is for your young learners. There are step-by-step photo directions to print and assemble this resource about fresh fruits.
Food Pyramid Worksheets
Free Blank Food Pyramid and Food Group Worksheet – Your kids can use this worksheet to the fill-in-the-blank food pyramid and food group printable worksheet. This download comes in English and Spanish with answer keys for each version.
Food Pyramid and Healthy Eating Printables – You will not want to miss out on these health, nutrition, and food printable worksheets for the kids. Provide your kids with all types of healthy lifestyle resources from food groups to healthy habits.
Food Groups Printables
Food Pyramid: Nutrition Table – Food and its groups for kids – Your visual learners will enjoy this healthy eating resource. This fun video teaches your kids about food groups.
14 Food Group Puzzles – Have your kiddos take a quick break with these healthy eating interactive online activities. All of the puzzles are related to the food groups and healthy eating. You need Adobe Flash Player.
| Recommended Resource: Food Prep Guide
Revive the lost art of food preservation and food storage with Food Prep Guide: A Plan for Money-Saving, Self-Sustaining Abundance in Hard Times.
|
Healthy Food Printables
Healthy Food and Nutrition Adventures for Kids – The Super Crew of Super Kids Nutrition provides kids with fun healthy eating activities for kids at home. Grab free healthy food activity downloads for just about every age group.
Preschool Food Pyramid Printables
Preschool Food Group Activities Pack – grab these food group worksheets and food pyramid lesson plans to help you in your food pyramid unit study. This includes puzzles, cutting strips, tracing pages, dot activities, and more.
Food Group Sorting Activity to Teach Healthy Eating – Get your children to eat balanced meals with this fun learning activity. This sorting activity will help your kids learn about the 5 main food groups – fruit, vegetables, protein, grains, and dairy.
Food Pyramid Activities
Healthy Food Art Ideas and Recipes – Stop by Planet Pals for healthy kid snacks, recipes, edible food art, and more. Help make healthy eating fun in your home.
Music Program for the Food Pyramid – Check out this fun music program where the songs teach about healthy eating choices. This resource has a huge list of songs that develop a fun experience around food.
Food Pyramid Crafts
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Food Pyramid Mobile Craft – Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is one of my family’s favorite movies. Sit to watch the movie with your kids after sharing this food pyramid mobile craft activity.
DIY Food Pyramid MyPlate – Your kids make their very own MyPlate food pyramid plate to help kids with their meal plans in the future. Your kids will enjoy it.
Easy Felt Fruits & Veggies – Grabs me felt material and have your kiddos make their very own felt fruits and veggies at home. If your kiddos are ready to work on their fine motor skills this will be perfect for them.
Food Pyramid Games, Charts, Matching, and More – Of course, teaching your kids about the food pyramid is a great introduction to good nutrition, healthy snacks, and healthy alternatives to junk food.
If you are looking to start a better and healthier homeschool then check out How We Get Our Food from Farms to Supermarkets.
Food Pyramid Books
Fun with the Food Pyramid for Kids – George Roby is the author of this book based on the new version of the USDA food pyramid. Kids from the ages of 4 – 13 will learn what foods make up the food pyramid, food portion sizes, and more.
The Food Pyramid: True Books Food & Nutrition – This food and nutrition book is written by Joan Kalbacken. It introduces the food pyramid, details the food pyramid levels, discusses nutrition, eating healthy snacks, and more.
Showdown at the Food Pyramid – Rex Barron writes about a personified food battle between healthy and unhealthy foods. The colors are vibrant and the characters are lively and humorous.
Eating the Alphabet – This book by Lois Ehlert teaches upper and lower case letters to preschoolers by introduces vegetables and fruits from all around the world. NOTE: This book is free on Kindle.
Good Enough to Eat: A Kids Guide to Food & Nutrition – Lizzy Rockwell guides your kids through food and nutrition especially for them. This book explains nutrition to your kiddos from carrots to cookies.
Why Should I Eat Well? – Claire Llewellyn will help kids understand why they should eat well. IT is a great tool to use as you explain healthy eating to your kids.
The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Junk Food – If your kids enjoy The Berenstain Bears, they will love this book added to their healthy eating unit study. This book is the perfect way to teach children about staying active and the importance of eating healthy.
The Best Homemade Kids’ Snacks on the Planet – Laura Fuentes takes kids to the very best homemade snacks kids to have. You will have 200 healthy homemade snacks to choose from.
Gregory, the Terrible Eater – Mitchell Sharmat is the author of this classic picture book. Gregory the Goat goes on a journey in this book to choose to eat healthy balance or keep eating everything in the house.
