Nutrition Explorations: Educators: My Pyramid: Age Appropriate Concepts

Below is a guide for choosing age appropriate concepts when teaching elementary students about the Food Guide Pyramid. For children in preschool and kindergarten, the concepts of the Food Guide Pyramid are too abstract. It's more appropriate to help children this age identify foods and teach basic concepts such as the names of food groups and some of the foods in them.

[ View the MyPyramid foodgroup breakdown ]

Concepts	Primary	Intermediate

Name the Five Food Groups

Identify foods in each food group

Classify foods into groups

Identify health benefits for each food group

Identify foods in "Others" category

Plan a nutritious meal

Identify combination foods

Identify key nutrients for each food group

Name a recommended number of servings for each food group

Plan meals and snacks according to specific criteria, e.g. "with at least three food groups"

View MyPyramid

Write Classroom Menus for the Cafeteria