Meet the Kernel: Whole Grain Education Kit – English & Spanish

Transform how your students or community members understand nutrition with "Meet the Kernel," the ultimate whole grain education kit. Designed to bridge the gap between dietary guidelines and daily habits, this kit makes complex nutrition concepts tangible and easy to teach.

Why teach whole grains?

While the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that at least half of your daily grain intake should be whole, current statistics show that only one in six grains consumed are actually whole. Given that wheat is a staple food in the American diet—averaging 130 pounds per person annually—understanding the anatomy of a grain is the perfect starting point for better health. 

What's included in your kit:

• 6-Inch Grain Kernel Replica: A high-quality, 3D model that clearly identifies and visualizes the essential parts of a grain, making abstract biological concepts concrete for learners of all ages. Comes in a reusable cardboard storage box.
• The Whole Grain Book PDF — Comprehensive Educator Resource: Includes a 33-page printable PDF leader guide and handout set provided in both English and Spanish, ensuring your lessons are accessible to a wider audience (66 pages total in 2 PDF books). Downloads are sent by email right after payment, and you get email updates if we update the file.
  • Ready-to-Use Lesson Materials: The guide features a structured leader guide, creative activity ideas, reproducible handouts, and flexible lesson plans designed for all age groups.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the importance of choosing whole grains for optimal health.
• Master the skills needed to identify and shop for whole grain products.
• Gain confidence in preparing and cooking with a variety of whole grains.
• Learn about new grains.

Perfect for classrooms, nutrition clinics, and community wellness programs, "Meet the Kernel" provides everything you need to turn nutritional science into a hands-on, engaging, and delicious learning experience.

It is perfect for pairing the whole grain visual lesson with MyPlate as well as the new Pyramid and Dietary Guidelines to help folks enjoy more whole grains.

Add on with our other whole grain resources

You can add a whole-grain poster, whole-grain bookmarks, whole-grain tearpad, and whole-grain banner. See the Meet the Kernel Whole Grain Bundle →

What the Kernel is made of

Your 3D whole-grain kernel replica is printed from PLA (polylactic acid) — a plant-based bioplastic made from renewable resources like corn and sugarcane instead of petroleum. It's non-toxic and produced with food-contact-safe ingredients (each certified to EU 10/2011 food-contact standards and EN 71-3 toy-safety limits for heavy metals), and the filament carries UL GREENGUARD certification for low indoor emissions — so it's safe to handle and pass around in classrooms, clinics, and homes. The kernel is a durable hands-on teaching model, not intended to hold food or liquids.

Kernel is made by Food and Health Communications in their own lab.

How to store your Kernel

Keep your kernel at room temperature and away from high heat. Because PLA softens above about 140°F (60°C), don't leave it in a hot car, in direct sunlight, or near a stove, radiator, or dishwasher. Wipe it clean with a soft, dry or lightly damp cloth — no soaking — and tuck it back into its box between lessons to keep it dust-free and its parts together. Stored this way, it will last for years of repeat use.