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Nutrition Introduction

Food Groups

Food Production & Sustainability

Healthy Eating Plate

Food Allergies

PRIMARY LESSON PLANS

Exploring the Five Food Groups

Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

  • Identify and name the five food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy
  • List examples of foods from each food group
  • Understand the importance of eating a variety of foods from all groups for a balanced diet

Materials

  • Visual aids (images or posters of different foods)
  • Whiteboard and markers
  • Handouts with simple drawings of the five food groups
  • Food group flashcards (optional) 

Main Activities

Duration: 45 – 60 minutes

Main Activities

Duration: 45 – 60 minutes

Introduction

(5 minutes)

Introduction

(5 minutes)

  • Begin the lesson by asking students if they remember the term “nutrition” from the previous lesson.
  • Explain that today, you will learn about different types of foods that help us stay healthy.

Activity 1 – Introduction to Food Groups

(10 minutes)

Activity 1 – Introduction to Food Groups

(10 minutes)

1. Show images or drawings of foods from each of the five food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy.
2. Ask students if they can identify any of these foods and if they’ve eaten them before.
3. Write the names of the five food groups on the board.

Activity 2 – Identifying Foods

(15 minutes)

Activity 2 – Identifying Foods

(15 minutes)

  1. Hand out or display the simple drawings of the five food groups to each student.
  2. Show pictures of specific foods and ask students to match each food to its corresponding food group on their worksheets.
  3. Discuss the answers as a class, ensuring that each food is correctly identified and placed in the right category.

Activity 3 – Importance of Variety

(20 minutes)

Activity 3 – Importance of Variety

(20 minutes)

  1. Emphasize the importance of eating a variety of foods from all food groups.
  2. Discuss the benefits of each food group:
  • Fruits and vegetables give us vitamins and minerals.
  • Grains provide energy through carbohydrates.
  • Protein foods help us grow and repair our bodies.
  • Dairy products give us calcium for strong bones.
  1. Ask students to think about their favorite foods from each group and share them with the class.

Wrap-up and Discussion

(5 minutes)

Wrap-up and Discussion

(5 minutes)

–  Summarize the key points of the lesson: What are the five food groups? Why is it important to eat a variety of foods from all groups?
– Encourage students to try different foods from each group to stay healthy.

Homework

Ask students to draw a picture of a balanced meal that includes at least one food item from each of the five food groups. They can share their drawings in the next class.

Assessment

Observe students’ participation during discussions and activities, ensuring they can correctly identify foods from each food group and understand the importance of variety in their diet.