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72

LESSON 3 HANDOUT 2 Case of the Missing Subgroup (Page 1 of 2)

Name: ____________________________________________ Date: _______________

The school lunch menu for the week has just been posted. But it’s missing a vegetable subgroup! 

You now know how important it is to make sure you and your friends eat vegetables from all 

of the subgroups each week. Can you help complete and improve the menu? 

Using the list of vegetables in each subgroup, write the name of the subgroup each vegetable 

belongs to on the space provided. Study the menu, and answer the following questions:

• How often is each vegetable subgroup on the menu? 

 Dark Green: ____________________ 

 Red and Orange:________________ 

 Beans and Peas: ________________ 

 Starchy: ________________________

 Other: __________________________

• Which subgroup is missing? _________________________________________________________________________________

• What change could you make so that kids could get all the subgroups during the week? _____________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Tip! Remember, most people don’t eat enough red, orange, and dark-green vegetables, and beans and peas —

so try to include these in meals and snacks as often as you can.

Other

Vegetables

Starchy

Vegetables

Beans

and Peas

Dark-Green

Vegetables

Red and

Orange

Vegetables
United States Department of Agriculture USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Dig In! • Grades 5-6 • http://teamnutrition.usda.gov

Name: ____________________________________________ Date: _______________

73

Case of the Missing Subgroup (Page 2 of 2) LESSON 3 HANDOUT 2

DO FRUITS 

HAVE SUBGROUPS? 

Fruits do not have 

subgroups, but it’s 

important to eat 

different kinds of fruits 

during the week. 

Melons, citrus fruits, 

berries, apples, 

peaches, and 

bananas are just 

a few of the many 

delicious choices.

WEEK 1 – SCHOOL LUNCH MENU

MONDAY:

Roast Pork 

Steamed Brown Rice 

Glazed Sweet Potatoes 

 (Name of Subgroup: 

 __________________ )

Fresh Grapes 

Fat-free Milk

TUESDAY:

Ground Beef & Macaroni 

Whole-Wheat Roll 

Steamed Fresh Zucchini 

 (Name of Subgroup: 

 

 __________________ )

Banana 

Apple Crisp

Fat-free Milk

WEDNESDAY:

Chicken Salad 

Whole-Wheat Bread 

Cauliflower 

 (Name of Subgroup: 

 __________________ )

Corn 

 (Name of Subgroup: 

 __________________ )

Fresh Strawberries

Fat-free Milk

THURSDAY:

Baked Cajun Fish 

Cornbread 

Baked Beans 

 (Name of Subgroup: 

 __________________ )

Iceberg Lettuce Salad 

 (Name of Subgroup: 

 __________________ )

Italian Dressing

Apricot Halves 

Fat-free Milk

FRIDAY:

Cheese and Tomato Pizza 

with Whole-Grain Crust

 (Name of Subgroup: 

 __________________ )

Green Peas 

 (Name of Subgroup: 

 __________________ )

Baby Carrots with Low-fat Dip 

 (Name of Subgroup: 

 __________________ )

Peach Slices 

Fat-free Milk

VEGETABLE SUBGROUP GUIDE (not a full list):

Dark-Green Vegetables:

bok choy

broccoli

collard, turnip, or mustard greens

dark-green leaf lettuce

kale

romaine lettuce

spinach

Other:

asparagus

avocado

beets

Brussels sprouts

cabbage

cauliflower

celery

cucumbers

green beans

green bell peppers

iceberg (head) lettuce

zucchini

Red & Orange Vegetables:

acorn squash

butternut squash

carrots

red and orange bell peppers

sweet potatoes

tomatoes

Beans & Peas:

black beans

black-eyed peas (mature, dry)

chickpeas (garbanzo beans)

kidney beans

lentils

navy beans

pinto beans

split peas

Starchy Vegetables:

corn

green peas

plantains

potatoes

water chestnuts