MyPlate Dietary Guidelines for Elementary Students

Can a taco be healthy? What about a pizza? In this informative program, viewers join registered dietician Melissa Halas-Liang as she teaches her teenage niece and a friend how to make good food choices based on the newest USDA nutrition graphic, MyPlate (which replaces the “food pyramid”). The underlying concept is pretty simple: fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables, a quarter of it with whole grains, and the remaining portion with lean protein. Add a serving of dairy, and the result is a well-balanced meal. But what does that really mean in the kitchen? Not only will young viewers learn how to create healthy tacos and pizza, but they'll also learn how to choose better snacks, what fats are good, and why breakfast needs to be a priority. Plenty of practical tips for nutritious eating and getting exercise are given along the way, and (in between each short segment with Melissa) younger children talk about their favorite healthy foods and activities. Of course, since it's usually the parents who buy the groceries, this will be a worthwhile watch for them as well. Recommended. Aud: E, I, P. (E. Gieschen)