(1) Team Nutrition: MyPyramid for Kids

To help elementary students, parents, and teachers understand the new MyPyramid graphic, Team Nutrition developed MyPyramid for Kids, along with companion educational materials. The following new resources are available at http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/kids-pyramid.html

(2) Purdue Extension: New DVD entitled “MyPyramid - Eating Better Makes Sense.”

A brief summary, video clip and ordering information can be accessed at http://www.ces.purdue.edu/cfs/topics/FNP/mypyramidvideo.htm

MyPyramid: Eating Better Makes Sense is a day-in-the-life approach to understanding the USDA's new MyPyramid. The educational video features Maria, a working mom on a tight budget. Maria shows you how she and her family follow the MyPyramid plan as part of a healthy lifestyle. She demonstrates healthy food choices she makes at the grocery store and gives meal examples from her kitchen. Maria also highlights food safety tips in the store and at home. A new emphasis of MyPyramid is physical activity, and Maria shows you how you can work physical activity into the family's busy schedule. This DVD has seven segments. Each one is approximately 6 minutes long. There is an introduction to MyPyramid and a segment for each of the six food groups.

(3) How to Teach Nutrition to Kids, 3rd edition: Revised to include MyPyramid
How to Teach Nutrition to Kids (http://nutritionforkids.com/aboutbook.htm) has been revised to reflect the latest Dietary Guidelines and food pyramid (MyPyramid). The only chapter that received a "complete overhaul" in the revision was chapter 4. If you own a copy of the 2nd edition (©2003), you may want to consider purchasing the download of chapter 4 (21 pages in length).

(4) National Dairy Council: New Classroom Programs Support MyPyramid

At the following website, new classroom programs to help teach 2^nd and 4^th grade children about MyPyramid can be found: http://www.nutritionexplorations.org/educators/pyramid-main.asp

Little D's Nutrition Expedition for 2nd grade or Arianna's Nutrition Expedition for 4th grade are the Dairy Council's new programs that help teach students MyPyramid's key messages. Also at this website is a child-friendly version of the new MyPyramid Food Guidance System to teach children 6 to 11 years old with targeted messages about the importance of making smart eating and physical activity choices through interactive games and lesson plans.

(5) MyPyamid for Kids Poster at: http://www.teachfree.com/onliMyPyramidforKidsposter.aspx

The youth-focused version of USDA's MyPyramid, designed for 6- to 11-year olds, teaches kids the importance of healthy food choices and daily physical activity. The 22” x 34” full-color poster includes eight blackline masters on the backside. The blackline masters include a reduced version of the poster, Daily Amount of Food Suggested from Each Group per Day and by Calorie Level, MyPyramid Worksheet, A Close Look at MyPyramid, Dear Family Letter, Dear Teacher Letter, Tips for Families and a Family Take Home Activity (with recipe). Free to Qualified Health Professionals and Classroom Teachers (Limit: 1).

Marla Reicks, Extension Nutritionist