MyPlate Food Group Scramble
Adapted from How to Teach Nutrition to Kids by Connie Liakos Evers
Grades 2-8
There are two sets of Food Group Cards. One set is for students in Grades 2-4 and the other is for
students in Grades 5-8. Alternatively, there are color food model cards that may be used for this activity
if you have access to a color printer.
[Grades 2-4 version]
To play “Food Scramble,” students will draw a food group card clip out of a hat. Once every student has
a card, the instructor should blow her/his whistle and students should scramble and then re-form
themselves into a group of five with one representative from each food group on MyPlate in the group
of five. There will be one person holding a “Vegetables” card; one person holding a “Fruits” card, one
person holding a “Dairy” card; one person holding a “Grains” card and one person holding a “Protein”
card in each group. Once students have grouped themselves, have them do a series of fitness activities
(jumping jacks, high knees, burpees, etc.) in their group. When the whistle blows again, students should
disperse from their original group and re-form a MyPlate food groups group of five with other partners
and new fitness activities. Repeat as desired
[Grades 5-8 version]
This version of “Food Scramble” is essentially the same as the Grades 2-4 version, but the cards are
specific foods within the food group categories, so students will need to figure out what the food is,
determine which food group it is from and then scramble and form a group of five with all of the food
groups represented. In addition to fitness activities, once all students are in groups of five, students may
wish to name their food group creation (ex. If students who had these cards (bread, spinach, pear, milk
and peanut butter) formed a group, they could name their combination, “The Green and Tan“ -- A
peanut butter and sliced pear sandwich with spinach garnish and a glass of milk.