Kids

Back to Life Stages

Get kids started on a healthy eating adventure with these games and activities!

Teach them about MyPlate and the 5 food groups to set them on a path towards a healthy future.

Become a MyPlate Champion

Do you have what it takes? Pledge to be a MyPlate Champion and make a promise to eat healthy and be active every day. Use ideas from the list below to get started.

Eat more fruits and veggies.

Make half your plate fruits and vegetables every day!

Try whole grains.

Ask for oatmeal, whole wheat breads, or brown rice at meals.

Think about your drink.

Choose water and low-fat or fat-free dairy milk (or lactose free or fortified soy versions) when you’re thirsty.

Mix up your protein foods.

Include different foods like seafood, beans, peas, lentils, nuts, seeds, soy products, eggs, meats, or poultry.

Get involved.

Help out by putting away groceries, stirring ingredients, peeling fruits, assembling salads, or setting the table.

Be active your way.

Find ways to be active and move your body for at least 1 hour a day. Try walking to school, riding your bike, or playing a sport with friends.

group of diverse children running, 2 kids eating salad

Can you pledge to eat healthy and be active?

If you answered yes, you have what it takes to be a MyPlate Champion! Get your MyPlate Champion certificate.

Download

Games and Apps

Have fun while learning too! Check out these interactive resources for kids.

team nutrition myplate ebook cover, young boy and girl cartoon

Team Nutrition MyPlate eBooks

Learn more

Breakfast Around the World

Learn more

BAM! Dining Decision App

Learn more

MyPlate Tips on Alexa

Get MyPlate nutrition information straight to your home on your Amazon Alexa smart speaker, or on your phone or tablet via the free Amazon Alexa app. For more information, visit our MyPlate Alexa page.

Below are some of the many tips available for parents and caregivers on what and how to feed your kids. And just like the MyPlate.gov website and MyPlate tools, all of the information provided by MyPlate on Alexa is based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025.

Healthy Eating

Start the day with fruit at breakfast. Top cereal with a favorite seasonal fruit, add bananas or chopped apples to pancakes, or mix a spoonful or two of raisins into hot oatmeal.

Protein

Serve a healthy snack of raw veggies and hummus. Hummus is a Middle Eastern dip made from blended chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans. Hummus is rich in protein, dietary fiber, and several important minerals.

Salt/ Sodium

Go easy on the salt. Serve fresh foods when possible or low-sodium packaged foods. Add flavor to foods with spices and herbs and skip the salt shaker at the table.

Added Sugars

Sweeten foods with fruit. Mix fruit into plain yogurt, cooked oatmeal, and smoothies to sweeten without adding sugar. Or, combine plain yogurt, uncooked oats, and fruit for some overnight oats.

Beverages

Perk up plain water or seltzer water with lemon, lime, or orange slices. Maybe even add some fresh mint leaves or a few fresh or frozen berries.

Calcium

The nutrients in dairy are important for all ages. Serve foods like low-fat or fat-free dairy milk or yogurt. Need an alternative? Offer lactose-free dairy milk or yogurt that's low-fat or fat-free. You can also offer fortified soy versions.

Dietary Fiber

Start the day with vegetables. Add leftover cooked vegetables to an omelet or breakfast wrap. Or, add spinach to a morning smoothie and enjoy a burst of flavor and nutrition!

Protein

Add protein to a salad. Grilled chicken or shrimp adds tasty protein to a salad of mixed greens. Chickpeas or black beans are delicious, budget-friendly options, too.

Fats

Serve nuts, seeds, and fatty fish like tuna, salmon, and sardines. These foods, as well as vegetable oils like olive and canola, are good sources of unsaturated fat, which is a healthier fat option.

Dairy/ Fortified Soy Alternatives

Move to low-fat or fat-free dairy milk or yogurt, or lactose-free dairy or fortified soy versions.

Grains

Switch up pizza night. Create individual, homemade pizzas on whole-wheat English muffins or tortillas. Or, serve a traditional pizza using a pre-made whole-wheat flour. Don’t forget the veggie toppings.