Make a Healthy Plate!

I've just launched a few new MyPlate plates, and I couldn't wait another moment for you to see them! These MyPlate plates have been favorites of health and nutrition educators since I first came up with the idea a few years ago. After all, who wouldn't want an actual plate to use while learning and teaching the key lessons of MyPlate? These new designs for portion control and kids highlight the importance of balancing eating patterns with physical activity, and there are great options for both adults and kids. In addition to being wonderful teaching tools, these plates are also perfect for prizes, cooking demonstrations, displays, presentations, and much more! As a treat today, I'd like to share a MyPlate activity that you could do with any of these plates or even a paper plate. Are you ready? MyPlate Activity: Fill the Plate What you'll need:

• Physical MyPlate Plates
• Magazines
• Scissors

What you'll do: Assemble your group, pass out the plates, and make sure everyone has access to the scissors and magazines. Explain that they are going to cut out pictures of food and then sort them into the appropriate areas of MyPlate. Offer your participants some time to cut out their selections, then explain the next part of the activity. Pick a food group and call it out. The participants must find a food that fits into that group (from their collection of magazine images) and place it on the correct section of the plate, holding up both the picture and the plate so that you can see it. Award points for speed and accuracy, correcting any misconceptions that may crop up. After the game is over, you discuss the results and let the class go or add a twist. For the latter, see who can find the healthiest food to fit in a food group the fastest. Discuss. What makes each food a good fit for its food group? What nutrients does it contain? How much saturated fat, added sugars, or sodium is in the food? I hope you liked this glimpse of the MyPlate activity that can go with the new MyPlate plates. Don't miss some of the other wonderful MyPlate resources that are available now in the Nutrition Education Store...