nutrition lotto introducing healthy eating and physical activity · 2008. 11. 7. · mypyramid...

Introducing Healthy Eating and Physical ActivityBegin by introducing the children to “MyPyramid” (on the back of thisguide). Discuss the chart, and explain that the figure climbing the stepsreminds us that we need to be active every day. Talk about the foodgroups and why we need to eat a variety of foods. Then ask the studentswhy some food groups have wider stripes than others. Explain that weneed to eat more foods from these groups, and less from the groups thathave narrow stripes.

The narrowest stripe is for oils, such as olive oil. Oils are healthy for us insmall amounts, but solid fats like butter and margarine are not healthy.We should be careful not to eat too many solid fats. The same is true forsugary sweets like candy and cookies.

Explain that the “MyPyramid” chart was designed to give us ageneral idea of what we can do to keep our bodies healthy. Thechart makes it easy to recognize the foods we should eat the mostof (the ones with the widest stripes), and reminds us to be active everyday. Now is a good time to introduce the miniatures. Look at each itemtogether and determine whether it represents a physical activity or afood. If it is a food, which group is it part of?

Object of the GameThe object of the game is to fill the spaces on your game board withthe miniatures that belong in them.

Getting StartedReview the miniatures and show players the lotto game boards. Explainthat a miniature can be placed in the space only if the object belongs inthat group. You will notice pictures on one side of the game board; thisside allows beginners to check their work visually. (More experiencedplayers will want to use the side of the board without pictures.) Now askthe students to choose a game board.

Playing the GameHold up one miniature for the students to see. If the object belongs onher board, the player should name the object and explain why shethinks it goes on her board. If she is correct, she may place theminiature on her board. The first player to fill a game board wins—butdon’t let the game stop there. Encourage the other players to continueuntil they, too, fill their boards.

Nutrition Lotto

Everyone needs food and exercise in order to grow strong, be healthy,and have energy. Now students can learn about health and nutrition ina fun and interactive way with the Nutrition Lotto game. Studentswill become familiar with “MyPyramid,” which symbolizes the USDA’srecommendations for balancing good nutrition and physical activity.

What’s Included• 6 different lotto game boards• 36 plastic miniatures (6 for each game board)

MILK MILK

Introducing Healthy Eating and Physical ActivityBegin by introducing the children to “MyPyramid” (on the back of thisguide). Discuss the chart, and explain that the figure climbing the stepsreminds us that we need to be active every day. Talk about the foodgroups and why we need to eat a variety of foods. Then ask the studentswhy some food groups have wider stripes than others. Explain that weneed to eat more foods from these groups, and less from the groups thathave narrow stripes.

The narrowest stripe is for oils, such as olive oil. Oils are healthy for us insmall amounts, but solid fats like butter and margarine are not healthy.We should be careful not to eat too many solid fats. The same is true forsugary sweets like candy and cookies.

Explain that the “MyPyramid” chart was designed to give us ageneral idea of what we can do to keep our bodies healthy. Thechart makes it easy to recognize the foods we should eat the mostof (the ones with the widest stripes), and reminds us to be active everyday. Now is a good time to introduce the miniatures. Look at each itemtogether and determine whether it represents a physical activity or afood. If it is a food, which group is it part of?

Object of the GameThe object of the game is to fill the spaces on your game board withthe miniatures that belong in them.

Getting StartedReview the miniatures and show players the lotto game boards. Explainthat a miniature can be placed in the space only if the object belongs inthat group. You will notice pictures on one side of the game board; thisside allows beginners to check their work visually. (More experiencedplayers will want to use the side of the board without pictures.) Now askthe students to choose a game board.

Playing the GameHold up one miniature for the students to see. If the object belongs onher board, the player should name the object and explain why shethinks it goes on her board. If she is correct, she may place theminiature on her board. The first player to fill a game board wins—butdon’t let the game stop there. Encourage the other players to continueuntil they, too, fill their boards.

Nutrition Lotto

Everyone needs food and exercise in order to grow strong, be healthy,and have energy. Now students can learn about health and nutrition ina fun and interactive way with the Nutrition Lotto game. Studentswill become familiar with “MyPyramid,” which symbolizes the USDA’srecommendations for balancing good nutrition and physical activity.

What’s Included• 6 different lotto game boards• 36 plastic miniatures (6 for each game board)

MILK MILK

MyPyramidSteps to a Healthier You

Grains4-5 ounces*

Make halfyour grainswhole.

Vegetables1 1⁄2 cups

Vary yourveggies. Eatdark greenand orangeveggies, aswell as drybeans, peasand otherveggies.

Fruits1-1 1⁄2 cups*

Eat a varietyof fruit. Goeasy on fruitjuices.

Milk2 cups

Choose low-fat or fat-freewhen youchoose milk,yogurt orcheese.

Meat & Beans3-4 ounces*

Choose low-fat or leanmeats andpoultry.Choose morefish, beans,peas, nuts,and seeds.

*The lower number is for inactive 5-year-olds; the higher number is forinactive 7-year-olds. Go to the website “MyPyramid.gov” to get specificrecommendations for your students.

• Fats & Sweets—limit calories from these.

• Be physically active for at least 60 minutes every day, or most days.

Variations & Extensions• Once the students are familiar with the game, they can play

individually simply by matching miniatures to pictures, or filling theblank game board. Or they can play in small, independent groups.First, provide a large bag or container from which the objects will bedrawn during the game. Place all of the objects into the bag and mixthem up thoroughly. Then, ask each player to choose a game board.Without looking inside, the first player reaches into the bag and feelsfor an object that belongs on her board. When she thinks she haslocated a match, she removes the object from the bag. The playerthen determines whether the object she has selected is featured onher board. If it is, she places it on the corresponding space. If theobject doesn’t match, it must be returned to the bag. Play continueswith the next player to the left.

The first player to fill a game board is the winner. However, theplayers can continue the game until all the boards are filled. Studentscan play the game again by choosing a different game board to learnmore about nutrition and physical activity.

• Another variation on this game, which will develop students’ problemsolving skills as well as reinforce basic nutritional concepts, is to showthe class a game board that is already filled with preselected miniatures.One (or more) of the items is not on the correct board. Invite thestudents to study the board carefully. Ask, “Which of these itemsdoesn’t belong?”

• To expand your studies in nutrition, invite the students to keep ajournal of their food intake and physical activity for one week.Discuss the journals with the students. Then, help the class chart itsfood consumption and exercise.

• You could also invite the students to plan a daily menu for the weekthat incorporates all of the food groups. Have them plan physicalactivities for each day, too.

• Don’t forget to add the plastic food you might already have in yourclassroom to the Nutrition Lotto Game!

Note: You will notice that we’ve included ice cream as part of the “MilkGroup.” Although ice cream does provide the nutrients found in themilk group, it should not be allowed to replace other milk sources.Because of its high fat and sugar content, it should be eatensparingly.