Food For Energy - Four Food Groups

Anna M. Rembert                Faraday Elementary School
                               3250 W. Monroe Street
                               Chicago IL 60624
                               (312)534-6670

Objectives:

This lesson is designed for students in grades two through four.
1. Teach the students the importance of eating properly with a balanced diet.
2. Identify foods that belong in the Milk Group and the Meat Group.
   a. State and/or understand that most food in the Milk Group and the
      Meat Group come from animals.
   b. State and/or understand that foods from the Milk Group and the Meat
      Group give them energy.
3. Students will be able to state and understand that foods in the Fruit-
   Vegetable Group and Grain Group come from plants.
   a. Identify foods that belong in the Fruit-Vegetable Group and Grain Group.
   b. State and understand that grain is made into flour and flour is used
      to make bread and other grain products.
   c. State and understand that foods from the Fruit-Vegetable Group and
      Grain Group give them energy.
4. Know where various foods come from and that animals eat plants.

Materials Needed:

            Food Chart                            Crayons
            Cut Pictures of Food                  Scissors
            Index Cards                           Ice
            Glue                                  Rock Salt
            Food Triangle                         Milk
            Flannel board and velcro              Sugar
            Zip Lock Bags                         Vanilla flavoring
            Popcorn and Popper                    Salt
            Butter                                Plastic Gloves
            Variety of foods from 
            each food group:
              Loaves of long Italian or French bread
              Pound of 3 different types of sliced meat (roast beef, turkey, 
              ham, salami, bologna, etc.)
              Pound of 3 different cheeses (American, Swiss, Cheddar, etc.)
              Tomatoes 2
              Lettuce 1 
              Oil

Strategy:

1.  Have the students jump, blink their eyes, clap their hands.
2.  Ask each student how the body is able to do these things.
3.  Introduce the concept that food produces energy, and that is how we are able 
    to do activities such as running, etc. 
4.  Introduce the Milk and Meat groups. 
5.  Show food cards from each group and ask where these items come from? 
6.  The students will say that most of the Milk and Meat groups come from 
    animals. 
7.  Have the students wash their hands.
8.  Explain why it's important to wash our hands when we are handling food.
9.  Make ice cream which is a food for energy.
10. Give each student a small Zip Lock Bag, and plastic gloves for their hands.
11. Add 4 ozs. of milk, three teaspoons of sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla
    flavoring, then zip the bag.
12. Take a gallon size Zip Lock Bag add 2 cups of ice and 1/4 cup of rock salt,
    place the small zip lock bag into the larger Zip Lock Bag with the ice.
13. Shake the bags; make sure the inside bag stays closed and sitting upward.
14. Shake the bags until you have ice cream.  Then remove the small bag and eat 
    the ice cream. 
15. While eating the ice cream, review and discuss how we get proteins, and 
    other nutrients from milk and meat, also why they are energy foods.  Talk 
    about the exception to this group (legumes). 
16. Next, we'll introduce the Fruit/Vegetable group and the Grain group of food.
17. Show food cards from each group and ask where these items come from.
18. The students will say that most of the Fruit/Vegetable group and the Grain
    group come from plants.
19. Discuss each group and the nutrients received from each group.
20. Have the students wash their hands. 
21. Now we are going to make popcorn.
22. Measure 1/4 cup of popcorn and place in the corn popper.
23. Place butter in the top while popping the corn.
24. Add salt and pass the popcorn around to each student.
25. Discuss the value of the Fruit/Vegetable group and the Grain group.
26. Show how these groups are used for energy.
27. Next, we'll introduce the combination groups.
28. Discuss the foods that belong in the combination groups such as pizza, and 
    sandwiches, etc.
29. Have the students wash their hands.
30. Each student will make a sandwich using a variety of meat, cheese and
    vegetables.
31. While eating, review and discuss the four food groups and the combination
    group and how they are used for energy.

Performance Assessment:
   
   At the conclusion of the Mini-teach, students will be able to answer the
following question regarding these topics.
1.  Why we need energy in our body: for breathing and various exercises?
2.  Energy is measured in units called calories.
3.  Food contains various nutrients such as protein, carbohydrate, and fats.
4.  Students can identify foods that belong in the Milk and Meat groups.
5.  Understand that food from these groups comes from animals.
6.  State that energy comes from these two groups.  (Milk and Meat)
7.  Students can identify foods that belong in the Fruit/Vegetable and Grain
    Groups.
8.  Understand that food from these groups comes from plants.
9.  Students will be able to classify foods into the Four Food Groups.
10. State that energy comes from these two groups.  (Fruit/Vegetable and Grain)
11. State and understand food preparation safety rules.
12. Help prepare a Combination Food.
13. Know the importance of a balanced diet.


Conclusion:

 Students will know the Four Food Groups and understand the importance of a 
balanced diet. They will also know the importance of food preparation safety, 
and will understand how quickly bacteria multiply. 

References:

Helen Andrews, B.S.c., M.S., Ph.D. Introductory Nutrition, (The C.V. Mobsy 
     Company, St. Louis, l975).

Jane Brody, Jane Brody's Nutrition,(Laidlaw, Toronto, Canada, 1981).

National Dairy Council Food - Gives Me Energy, (Dairy Nutrition Council,
     Inc., Rosemont, Illinois 1988).