MyPlate Healthy Breakfast Kit
Teacher’s Guide
The MyPyramid food guidance system has been replaced by MyPlate. MyPlate illustrates how simple it is to eat healthy
by choosing foods from the food groups in their appropriate serving sizes.
The Network for a Healthy California—LAUSD has followed the USDA’s new MyPlate graphic to visually depict updated
2010 dietary guidelines which clearly show that half of what we put on our plate should come from the fruit and vegetable
groups.
The Network has designed a poster, a placemat and a page of food image cutouts as a Healthy
Breakfast Kit of components that focus on the importance of a healthy breakfast to start the day. The
26 x 37 inch poster displays eight breakfast dishes and shows the individual ingredients in the five food
groups. The poster was designed as a teaching tool to teach students about new food items, to
increase familiarity with food groups, and to get students to consider a broader spectrum of menu
alternatives when building a healthy breakfast. The poster was designed to remain permanently in the
classroom as a daily reminder.
How to use the MyPlate Placemat
The “placemat” depicts a plate with a 9-inch area for food as recommended by the USDA.
The MyPlate colors, red, green, orange, purple and blue are used to denote specific food
groups. Each section of the plate shows an actual portion size for that food group.
Accompanying the plate is a sheet of food items for students to cut out and use to build
healthy breakfasts by placing the pieces in the correct areas on the plate. A comprehension
of the background information on the poster and ability level of the students will help
teachers determine the amount of time to spend and the extent of the lessons that involve
students working with their own placemat and food cutouts.
Teachers should use their professional judgment to determine the best use of the kit
materials with students. Below are some activity ideas that can extend learning beyond
initial lessons utilizing the poster. For more information regarding MyPlate go to
www.choosemyplate.gov.
To ensure your MyPlate Placemats last through the year, you may consider laminating a set
for use in your classroom and make black-and-white copies for students to take home.
6651-C Balboa Blvd. • Van Nuys, CA 91406 • 818.609.2550 phone • 818.609.2580 fax
www.healthylausd.net • info@healthylausd.net
This material was produced by the California Department of Public Health’s Network for a Healthy California with funding from USDA
SNAP, known in California as CalFresh (formerly Food Stamps). These institutions are equal opportunity providers and employers.
CalFresh provides assistance to low-income households and can help buy nutritious foods for better health. For CalFresh information, call
1-877-847-3663. For important nutrition information, visit http://www.cachampionsforchange.net.
Teacher-led Activities
Activity Title: Team Building a Healthy Breakfast!
Focus:
Studies have shown that eating a healthy breakfast gives students the energy they need to be active in
school and helps them focus and succeed.
Objective:
To create a balanced breakfast using a poster-size version of the MyPlate Placemat.
Materials:
Healthy Breakfast poster
MyPlate Placemat to use as a guide
Two sets of the Healthy Breakfast food cutouts (or split cutouts into two sets)
Poster board or large paper
Pencils
Crayons
Tape
Timer
Activity:
Use the Healthy Breakfast poster, a large MyPlate diagram, and cutouts to create a breakfast that is both
balanced and delicious.
1) Split the class into two groups. Give each group a poster-sized paper or poster board, a MyPlate
placemat to use as a guide and supplies for drawing (pencils, crayons, markers, etc.).
2) Have each group create a large poster-sized MyPlate diagram, showing the correct portions as they
appear on the MyPlate Placemat, for each food group.
3) As each team finishes their MyPlate diagram, post on a wall. Post the Healthy Breakfast poster as
well.
4) Discuss the message of eating healthy and making half their plates fruits and vegetables. Ask the
students to make connections between their MyPlate diagrams and the Healthy Breakfast poster; for
example, ask students what foods shown on the poster they typically eat for breakfast and what food
group that food fits in.
5) Have a timer ready for five minutes (time may vary, depending on age group or grade level).
6) The breakfast build is to be done in relay race format. Have students get in line according to team
some distance away from their MyPlate diagram. At the teacher’s signal, the first person in each line
will run to the MyPlate diagram that their team created and place a food item from the cutout sheet in
the correct section. They will then run back to the line, tag the next person, and the next person will
run to the plate and place their food cutout in the correct section. When a team member places a
food item in the wrong food group, the next student may opt to use their turn to move an incorrectly
placed food item to the correct section instead of placing a new food item on the plate.
7) The first team to run out of their food cutouts wins the game. However, all of the foods must be
placed in the correct sections in order for the fastest team to win.
6651-C Balboa Blvd. • Van Nuys, CA 91406 • 818.609.2550 phone • 818.609.2580 fax
www.healthylausd.net • info@healthylausd.net
This material was produced by the California Department of Public Health’s Network for a Healthy California with funding from USDA
SNAP, known in California as CalFresh (formerly Food Stamps). These institutions are equal opportunity providers and employers.
CalFresh provides assistance to low-income households and can help buy nutritious foods for better health. For CalFresh information, call
1-877-847-3663. For important nutrition information, visit http://www.cachampionsforchange.net.
Extension:
As a group or individually, have students create their own MyPlate on paper drawing the five food groups
in the correct size and location. They will then identify one food from each section of the Healthy
Breakfast poster that they would include in their own breakfast. They will draw these foods on the plate in
the correct food section.
After finishing the plate, students will identify other healthy choices that are not included in the food
cutouts that they would add to make a healthy and delicious breakfast. They will write or draw these food
items in the correct food group. The final plate should reflect a healthy breakfast and balanced portions
from MyPlate.
Activity Title: Top Breakfast Chef
Focus:
Studies have shown that eating a healthy breakfast gives students the energy they need to be active in
school and helps them focus and succeed.
Objective:
To create a balanced breakfast using the Healthy Breakfast poster and food cutouts.
Materials:
One set of food cutouts for each group
One MyPlate Placemat
A sample of recipe format
Tape
Paper
Pens or pencils
Crayons/colored pencils/markers
Activity:
Use foods from the Healthy Breakfast food cutouts as ingredients to create a healthy and delicious
breakfast.
1) Divide students into groups of 3 or 4. Give each group a set of the Healthy Breakfast food cutouts
and materials.
2) Have each group select cutout items to include in the creation of a healthy breakfast and display them
on the MyPlate Placemat. Students may only use ingredients from the cutouts being sure to include
at least one item from each food group.
3) Using their visual depiction of the breakfast, students will write a recipe for their breakfast.
A) Each recipe may involve any method of preparing the ingredients. No other foods may be
included in the recipe except for the cutout foods; however, students may be allowed to add olive
oil and spices to their recipes, but sugar and salt are not allowed.
B) Recipe instructions must be written step by step and must include a list of “shopping ingredients.”
C) The recipe must be illustrated, showing what the final dish should look like.
D) The recipe must have a name.
4) When groups are finished, have each group explain the dish they created and why their dish is
healthy and delicious. While explaining, have students show the cut out food items that they used to
create their dish.
6651-C Balboa Blvd. • Van Nuys, CA 91406 • 818.609.2550 phone • 818.609.2580 fax
www.healthylausd.net • info@healthylausd.net
This material was produced by the California Department of Public Health’s Network for a Healthy California with funding from USDA
SNAP, known in California as CalFresh (formerly Food Stamps). These institutions are equal opportunity providers and employers.
CalFresh provides assistance to low-income households and can help buy nutritious foods for better health. For CalFresh information, call
1-877-847-3663. For important nutrition information, visit http://www.cachampionsforchange.net.
Restaurant Breakfast Menu
Nutrition Project for Middle and High School Students
Focus:
The Network for a Healthy California—LAUSD and the USDA recommend eating a healthy
breakfast to help you stay focused in school and give you the energy you need to get through
your day.
Objective:
To create a restaurant menu that offers a wide range of healthy breakfast meals.
Materials:
Network Healthy Breakfast poster
Menus from local restaurants to use as samples
Colored paper
Markers/Crayon/Colored pencils
Pencils/pens
Background:
Utilize the Healthy Breakfast poster to ensure that students have basic knowledge of nutrition
such as the 5 food groups, the 6 essential nutrients (their functions and food sources), caloric
value in foods, and recommended portion sizes
Time
Required:
One week
Suggested
Use:
Project for secondary students in classes such as Health, Cooking, Computers, Art, English,
Advisory, and/or Homeroom
Activity:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Extension:
Students will pretend that they are opening their own restaurant that will serve healthy “youcreate-meals.” They must design a menu that focuses on the breakfast options that they will offer
their customers. The menu must include:
A creative folding-format style brochure or pamphlet - one-pager, graphics, background, border,
etc.
A creative cover of the restaurant’s name, address, phone number, and restaurant’s catchphrase/motto
A description of the restaurant’s philosophy
Instructions on how to order a “you-create-meal”
A chart of the available food options (name and photos) from which customers can create their
own meals. ALL of the items from the “Healthy Breakfast” poster must be included plus any other
they’d like to add that are in their most natural/whole/healthy state.
A description of the calories and nutrients found in each available food item.
A list of possible meals that are customer favorites along with pictures of what the meal looks like.
A list that explains prices.
Students can create a website of their restaurant’s breakfast menu with comments from
customers; ratings/comments from popular restaurant critics; photos of customers/restaurant;
instructions on how to place an order online; instructions, pricing, and deals on catering.
6651-C Balboa Blvd. • Van Nuys, CA 91406 • 818.609.2550 phone • 818.609.2580 fax
www.healthylausd.net • info@healthylausd.net
This material was produced by the California Department of Public Health’s Network for a Healthy California with funding from USDA
SNAP, known in California as CalFresh (formerly Food Stamps). These institutions are equal opportunity providers and employers.
CalFresh provides assistance to low-income households and can help buy nutritious foods for better health. For CalFresh information, call
1-877-847-3663. For important nutrition information, visit http://www.cachampionsforchange.net.