Eat Right, Stay Healthy

What you eat affects your health. Try these activities to learn more about good food.

#1. The Foods We Eat
Food labels list ingredients starting with the largest amount down to the smallest amounts. They also show how much of each nutrient (such as minerals and vitamins) is in each food serving. Calcium, which helps your bones grow strong, is an example of a mineral. Vitamin C, found in orange juice, is an example of a vitamin.

Look at the lists of ingredients from cereal cartons, cake-mix boxes, and canned and frozen foods. Many times, sugar or salt is added to food as a flavoring. Sugar is sometimes called corn syrup, sucrose, glucose, or fructose.

compare three labels and decide which food is the best for you.. When deciding what is a healthy food, check the food pyramid on page 48 of your Brownie Girl Scout Handbook.

Food Pyramid Activity:
Cut out the pictures below and paste them to the right block on the food pyramid. Be sure to cut out the "quantity" labels and paste them beside the correct block to match the food category. 

2-4 servings 6 - 11 servings 2 - 3 servings
2 - 3 servings 3 - 5 servings use sparingly

#2. Smart Shopper
Help your family make up a grocery list. Write down foods that your family likes to eat during the week. Look at the list with the person who does the food shopping in your home. Go with him or her to the grocery store to help choose good foods. then plan at least one meal using what you have learned from the food pyramid.

#3. Dairy Foods

Some people are allergic to dairy foods. Maybe you are one of them. Find out what kinds of substitutes can be used.

#4. Food People
It is important to remember that "you are what you eat." Think about the foods you eat every day, using pictures of the healthy foods that are part of your diet.
You will need:

1. On construction paper, draw pictures or paste ones from magazines of the foods you eat. Cut out the pictures, removing the unused paper.
2. Use the food shapes to create a person by gluing the cutouts of the food on a blank sheet of paper.
3. Share your food people with your friends.

#5. Balancing Act
It is important to eat a well-balanced diet. You need to have at least 6 servings of grain, 3 servings of fruit, 4 servings of vegetables, 3 servings of protein, 3 servings of dairy, and very little fat and sugars.

Make a mobile representing the amount of different types of food you are supposed to eat every day.
You will need:

1. On construction paper draw pictures (or use ones you cut out from magazines) of different foods that you eat based on the requirements found in the food pyramid.
2. Tape two hangers together at the top. Wrap yarn or string around the hangers until they are covered. Knot the end strings.
3. Use glue or tape to attach a string to each picture.
4. Tie the other end of the string to eat covered hangers.
5. Hang your food pyramid mobile in a place where it will remind you each day about eating healthy foods.

Other Helpful Links:
 The Foods We Eat
Calcium Counter
Ants At A Picnic - Fun activity when learning about the food groups.
Nutrition Explorations - learn about smart eating, take the Food Bowl challenge, get some neat recipes, and learn all about good nutrition from the National Dairy Council.
http://www.kraftfoods.com/ - A fun place for adults, too!
http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/foodlabel/newlabel.html#panel - Clickable New Food Label! Scan down the whole page...lots of great information.
http://www.whymilk.com/
http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/5307/toc.html - Recipes from Girl Scouts!
Cooking with Blondee...recipes for kids
 

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