Nutrition Basics
📋 What it is
A balanced plate has five food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy (or dairy alternatives).
🗣️ Coach says
Food is fuel and building material. The five groups each do a job — fruits and veggies bring vitamins and fibre, grains give energy, protein builds and repairs, dairy supports bones. "Balanced" just means getting some of each, most days. No food is "bad" — it’s the overall pattern that matters.
🧠 Memory hook
Five groups — fruits, veggies, grains, protein, dairy. Balance over the day beats any single "perfect" food.
😂 Giggle
My brain and my pillow have a nightly meeting.
They call it "sleep" — and it's the most productive meeting I attend.
😲 Whoa!
The USDA "MyPlate" shows a plate half-full of fruits and vegetables — a simple picture of balance.
✅ Quick check: What are the five food groups on a balanced plate?
Say your answer out loud first — then reveal.
Fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy (or alternatives).
Each group supplies different nutrients your body needs.
🧪 Try it! (2 minutes)
Look at your next meal and name which food groups are on the plate. Which one could you add?