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General Nutrition

Proper nutrition is essential for optimal health and well-being. Adults and children alike require adequate nutrients for their bodies to function properly and to prevent acute and long-term illnesses. On this page you will learn the benefits of proper nutrition for you and your students and will review the MyPlate guidelines for the 5 food groups.

Benefits of Proper Nutrition

Adults and children alike require adequate nutrients for their bodies to function properly and to prevent acute and long-term illnesses. Proper nutrition is especially important in childhood to promote adequate cognitive and physical growth & development. 

 

Benefits of Proper Nutrition for Adults & Children​

  • Boosts your immune system

  • Helps to maintain and support bone health

  • Supports and maintains muscle

  • Helps digestion system function properly

  • Keeps skin, hair and eyes healthy

  • Helps to achieve and maintain a healthy weight

  • Lowers risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke & certain cancers

  • Improves energy levels, making you feel less sluggish and tired

  • Improves cognitive performance

  • Increases concentration, problem solving and reasoning skills

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Did you know?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approximately 1 in 5 US children and adolescents have obesity.

MyPlate

The USDA ​MyPlate can be used to determine what food groups to serve at each meal or snack and the serving size of selected foods. Following MyPlate nutrition guidelines helps you and your students to maintain a healthy and well-balanced diet, maintain a healthy body weight and help prevent chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. 

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MyPlate illustrates the 5 food groups that make up a healthy diet in the recommended proportions. You can use the food groups to create balanced meals.

  • Breakfast should consist of at least 3 different food groups

  • Lunch and dinner should consist of at least 4 different food groups

  • Snacks should contain at least 2 different food groups

Learn More About the 5 Food Groups

Vegetables

Proteins

Using MyPlate in the Classroom

MyPlate can be used in the classroom in a variety of ways including:

  1. To show the components of a healthy diet including food groups

  2. To help students visualize how much of each food group should be consumed to make up a healthy diet

  3. As a tool to help students become interested in nutrition

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