Chef in Training Lesson 3: Nutrition and Healthy Eating

Nutrition lesson for Chef in Training ages 7 to 11 bgs

Each of our Chef in Training cooking lessons includes a nutrition lesson. In this lesson, children ages 7-11 will talk about healthy eating, watch a nutrition video, and begin keeping a simple food diary.

This is a good age to help children start thinking about the foods they eat and how food helps their bodies grow, stay healthy, and have energy for the day.

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Kids Cooking Lesson Part 1: Nutrition

If you do not already have a MyPlate chart hanging in your kitchen, print one from the MyPlate poster here.

Use the MyPlate Chart

Look at the MyPlate chart together and point out the different food groups. Talk about the fruits and vegetables section and how many different kinds there are to choose from.

You can also discuss how different foods help the body in different ways. Some foods help build strong bones and muscles, while others give us energy or help keep our bodies working well.

Healthy Eating Video

Part 2: Food Diary

Take another look at the MyPlate chart you printed. Point out the fruits and vegetables again. Talk about how many choices there are and why our bodies need them every day.

You have probably heard of "5 a day," but why do we need several servings of fruits and vegetables each day?

Fruits and vegetables help keep us healthy because they are full of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients our bodies need. They also give us natural energy. That is one reason many people think of them as super foods.

Visit our food facts pages to learn how different foods grow, when they are in season, and other fun facts about fruits and vegetables.

Fruit and Vegetable Diary Activity

Your Chef in Training is going to keep a fruit and vegetable diary this week. Each day, have your child write down or draw a picture of the fruits and vegetables they ate.

Download and print the diary page here.

Fruit and vegetable diary printable for kids kca

How to Use the Food Diary

  • Write or draw the fruits eaten each day
  • Write or draw the vegetables eaten each day
  • Talk about new foods your child tried
  • Count how many colorful foods were eaten during the week

This Week’s Goal: Eat More Colors

See how many colors of fruits and vegetables you can eat this week. Put a check mark beside each color when you eat one:
  • ☐ Red
  • ☐ Orange/Yellow
  • ☐ Green
  • ☐ Blue/Purple
  • ☐ White/Tan
Bonus: Try to eat at least 3 different colors in one day.

Make It a Family Challenge

You can turn this into a family activity. Have each family member keep a diary for the week and compare how everyone did at the end.

Try to include 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables each day and talk about easy ways to add more healthy foods to meals and snacks.

Skills Practiced in This Lesson

  • Learning the MyPlate food groups
  • Talking about healthy eating
  • Recognizing fruits and vegetables
  • Tracking food choices
  • Building nutrition awareness

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