Team Nutrition 

Resource Catalog

@TeamNutrition

http://teamnutrition.usda.gov

Inside

Resources to help you:

Teach kids about MyPlate and

being physically active.

•

• Offer nutritious and delicious

meals kids want to eat.

• Work with others to build a

healthy environment.
Table of Contents

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Team Nutrition ......................................................................................... 3

Our Strategies........................................................................................... 3

Our Messages........................................................................................... 4

Our Channels ........................................................................................... 5

Team Nutrition Schools ........................................................................... 6

Why should your school join the team?................................................... 7

How can your school sign up to be a Team Nutrition School?................ 8

Nutrition Education Materials for Schools.............................................. 9

School Kits..................................................................................... 9

School Posters................................................................................ 12

School Games ................................................................................ 14

School Stickers............................................................................... 16

Additional School Resources......................................................... 16

Training and Technical Assistance Materials for Schools ....................... 18

Nutrition Education Materials for Child Care ......................................... 20

Training and Technical Assistance Materials for Child Care................... 22

Nutrition Education Materials for Summer Meal Programs.................... 25

How to Get Team Nutrition Materials ..................................................... 27

History of Team Nutrition........................................................................ 27

Team Nutrition Resource Catalog
Team Nutrition

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Team Nutrition, an initiative of the United States Department of 

Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service, supports national efforts to 

promote lifelong healthy food choices and physical activity by improving 

the nutrition practices of the Child Nutrition Programs. We provide 

resources to schools, child care settings, and summer meal sites that 

participate in these programs.

Our Strategies 

Team Nutrition uses three strategies to change behavior:

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2

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Provide training and technical assistance to child nutrition 

professionals to enable them to prepare and serve nutritious 

meals that appeal to children.

Increase nutrition education through multiple communication 

channels to help children have the knowledge, skills, and 

motivation to make healthy food and physical activity choices

as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Build support for healthy school and child care 

environments that encourage nutritious food choices 

and physically active lifestyles.
Our Messages

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans are the basis of Federal nutrition 

policy, education, outreach, and food assistance provided through the Child 

Nutrition Programs. The Team Nutrition initiative helps schools, child care 

settings, summer meal sites, parents/caregivers, and children put the Dietary 

Guidelines for Americans into action through training, technical assistance, 

and nutrition education. 

The MyPlate icon uses a familiar 

image - a place setting for a meal 

- to prompt consumers to build a 

healthy plate at mealtime. MyPlate

also illustrates the five food 

groups, reminding everyone that 

these foods are the building blocks 

of a healthy diet. Team Nutrition 

helps communicate MyPlate

messages to children and their 

caregivers through a variety of 

innovative delivery methods including hands-on activities, electronic games, 

songs, videos, lessons, stories, events, tweets, graphics, and gardens.

4 Team Nutrition Resource Catalog
Our Channels

Team Nutrition delivers consistent nutrition messages to children 

and their caregivers through multiple communication channels: 

1

2

3

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5

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food service initiatives 

classroom and child care 

activities

school-wide events 

home activities 

community programs 

and events

traditional and social 

media

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Team Nutrition Schools

Schools participating in the National School Lunch Program are invited to 

sign up as Team Nutrition Schools and join an important network of schools 

working towards healthier school nutrition and physical activity environments. 

Today, almost half of the schools participating in the National School Lunch 

Program have signed up to be Team Nutrition Schools.

Team Nutrition Schools share these common values:

• We believe that children should 

be empowered to make food and 

physical activity choices that 

reflect the Dietary Guidelines for 

Americans.

• We believe that good nutrition 

and physical activity are 

essential to children’s health and 

educational success.

• We believe that school meals that 

meet the Dietary Guidelines for 

Americans should taste good and 

appeal to children.

• We believe our programs must 

build upon the best science, 

education, communication, and 

technical resources available.

• We believe that school, parent, and 

community teamwork is essential 

to encouraging children to make 

food and physical activity choices 

for a healthy lifestyle.

• We believe that messages to 

children should be age appropriate 

and delivered in language they 

speak, through media they use, and 

in ways that are entertaining and 

actively involve them in learning.

• We believe in focusing on positive 

messages regarding food and 

physical activity choices children 

can make.

• We believe it is critical to stimulate 

and support education and action 

at the national, State, and local 

levels to help children develop 

healthy eating and physical 

activity behaviors.

6 Team Nutrition Resource Catalog
Why should your school join the team?

Signing up to be a Team Nutrition School is free and easy. All schools 

participating in the National School Lunch Program can sign up. We ask 

that schools designate a Team Nutrition Leader and have the support of their 

school nutrition director and school principal. By signing up, schools will:

• Affirm their commitment to helping students make healthier food 

choices and be more physically active.

• Have the opportunity to collaborate with other Team Nutrition Schools.

• Be the first to hear about new nutrition education and training materials 

developed under the Team Nutrition initiative.

• Receive special nutrition education and promotion materials.

• Have the opportunity for their Team Nutrition activities to be highlighted 

on social media and in print publications. See our Team Nutrition 

Popular Events Idea Booklet for examples.

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How can your school sign up to be 

a Team Nutrition School?

To sign up, simply access our online enrollment form at 

http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/join-team. You can also search our 

database of Team Nutrition Schools at this site and update

your school’s contact information.

When signing up to be a Team Nutrition School, you can subscribe

to our Quarterly Team Nutrition E-Newsletter. You can also sign

up for the e-newsletter at http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/resource-library.

8 Team Nutrition Resource Catalog
Nutrition Education Materials for 

Schools

Team Nutrition materials help schools integrate nutrition education into classroom 

learning and also include materials for home, cafeteria, and community connections.

In addition to being standards based, materials are child, teacher, and parent tested 

through extensive research including focus group testing, indepth interviews, and field 

testing. Materials are based on the Social Cognitive Theory, as this theory addresses 

personal, behavioral, and environmental factors that influence behavior. 

School Kits

Discover MyPlate: Nutrition Education for Kindergarteners (Teacher’s Kit)

Engaging six-lesson kit that includes a teacher’s guide, The Five Food Groups poster, Food 

Group Friends Profile Cards, food cards, Teacher’s Edition of the Emergent Readers, song 

CD, and 25 copies of each of the following: student workbooks, parent handouts (English), 

emergent readers, and Look and Cook Recipes. (Kindergarten)

School Kits

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Team Nutrition Resource Catalog

School Kits

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Discover MyPlate: Curriculum 

Training for Teachers

Training guide and customizable slideshow 

presentation designed to boost educator’s 

confidence in teaching nutrition concepts and 

conducting the food preparation activities 

included as part of the Discover MyPlate

Teacher’s Kit. It includes an overview of the 

lesson materials and how they connect to 

educational standards, highlights key nutrition 

concepts, and includes a personal selfassessment. (Kindergarten Teachers)

Healthier Middle Schools: 

Everyone Can Help 

Communications kit for Grades 7-8 that 

contains videos and handouts for engaging 

teachers, principals, parents, school nutrition 

managers, and students in school wellness 

efforts. (Grades 7-8)

Nutrition Voyage: The Quest To 

Be Our Best

Middle school resource for Grades 7-8 

that includes three mini-lessons per grade 

and reproducible worksheets that connect 

nutrition education to Math, Science, and 

English educational standards. (Grades 7-8)
School Kits

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Serving Up MyPlate: A Yummy Curriculum for Grades 1-6

MyPlate lessons available for three grade levels: Level 1 (Grades 1-2), Level 2 (Grades 3-4), 

Level 3 (Grades 5-6). Each kit includes a teacher’s guide with three lessons, Eat Smart to Play 

Hard with MyPlate poster, song CD, MyPlate Blast Off Game, and 35 MyPlate at Home parent 

handouts (parent handouts are also available separately in Spanish, French, and Traditional 

Chinese). (Grades 1-6)

The Great Garden Detective Adventure: A Standards-Based 

Gardening Nutrition Curriculum for Grades 3 and 4

Eleven-lesson curriculum for 3rd and 4th grades that contains bulletin board materials, 

veggie dice, fruit and vegetable flash cards, and 35 copies of each of the 10 Garden 

Detective newsletters for parents/caregivers. (Grades 3-4)
School Kits

Dig In! Standards-Based Nutrition Education From the Ground Up

Eleven inquiry-based lessons that engage 5th and 6th graders in growing, harvesting, tasting, and 

learning about fruits and vegetables. The curriculum includes reproducible student handouts, 35 

copies of the Dig In! At Home parent booklet (parent booklet also available separately in Spanish), 

and a set of 6 Dig In! posters. (Grades 5-6)

School Posters 

School Posters

Team Nutrition Elementary School Poster Set

Set of four posters about trying new foods, fruits and vegetables, and breakfast. 

Horizontal posters are 24” x 36”. Vertical posters are 36” x 24”. 

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School Posters

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Team Nutrition Middle School Poster Set

Set of four posters about breakfast, snacks, and fruits and vegetables. 

Horizontal posters are 24” x 36”. Vertical posters are 36” x 24”.

Eat Smart To Play Hard With 

MyPlate Mini Poster

Two-sided mini poster (81/2”x 11”) showing 

the MyPlate icon on one side and foods in the 

five food groups on the reverse.

Eat Smart To Play Hard With 

MyPlate Poster

Two-sided poster (24”x 36”) showing 

the MyPlate icon and foods in the five 

food groups. A blank MyPlate icon is on 

the reverse.
School Posters

School Games

School Games

MyPlate Blast Off Game

Computer game where kids practice reaching 

Planet Power by fueling their rocket with physical 

activity and foods from the five food groups. 

Available online and on a disk as part of Serving 

Up MyPlate Level 3.

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MyPlate for Kids: Make Half Your Plate 

Fruits & Vegetables Poster

A 36” x 24” poster displaying photographs of real 

MyPlate meals with entrees from the Recipes for 

Healthy Kids Cookbook.

MyPlate Posters

Double-sided (20”x 16”) posters of the 

MyPlate icon featuring different placemat 

colors.
Track and Field Fuel Up Challenge

Computer game where kids pick their player 

and progress through four track and field events 

including the javelin, high jump, long jump, and 

the dash. To win, players must quickly pick the 

right answer to questions about healthy eating and 

nutrition. Available online only.

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The Two Bite Club E-Book

Interactive, illustrated e-storybook that introduces 

young children to MyPlate and shows how trying 

new foods together as a family can be fun. Features 

audio narration and highlighting of story text 

to promote literacy and engagement. Contains 

interactive activities throughout the book, as well as 

activity pages, a certificate for trying new foods, and 

a parent handout at the back of the book. English 

and Spanish versions available for free download 

online as e-pub files for computers, tablets, and other 

mobile devices. Also available in print or pdf.

Discover MyPlate E-Books

Set of six emergent reader interactive e-books to 

help preschool and kindergarten children build 

literacy skills while learning about the five food 

groups and MyPlate. Features audio narration, 

highlighting of story text, and interactive activities 

to promote literacy, engagement, nutrition 

knowledge, and adoption of healthy eating and 

physical activity behaviors. Available for free 

download online as e-pub files for computers, 

tablets, and other mobile devices. Also available 

in print or pdf.

School Games
School Stickers

School Stickers

2”round stickers in rolls of 200. Make Today a Try-Day!, Launch Your Day With Breakfast, 

and High Five stickers. High Five stickers are available only to Team Nutrition Schools.

Additional School Resources

These materials provide information for school staff, parents, and other community 

members on Smart Snacks requirements, fundraising, and other school wellness efforts.

Team Nutrition Popular Event Ideas 

Booklet

Booklet featuring nutrition and physical activity 

event ideas for elementary and middle schools.

Recipes for Healthy Kids: 

Cookbook for Homes

Thirty delicious, kid-approved recipes that 

yield 6 servings per recipe. (All grades)

Additional School Resources School Stickers

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Best Practices for Healthy School 

Fundraisers

Four-fold brochure providing information on 

healthier fundraising ideas that align with the 

Smart Snacks in Schools standards. Available 

online only.

What You Can Do To Help Prevent 

Wasted Food

Booklet discussing ways to reduce, recover,

and recycle food before it goes to waste. Includes 

ideas for school nutrition professionals, teachers, 

parents, students, and school administrators. 

Packs of 25 booklets.

A Guide to Smart Snacks in Schools

Colorful booklets on Smart Snacks nutrition 

standards. Packs of 25 booklets.

Additional School Resources

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Training and Technical Assistance 

Materials for Schools

Team Nutrition training and technical assistance materials help school nutrition 

professionals provide students with tasty and nutritious meals that meet meal pattern 

requirements. These resources also provide guidance on using sound business practices 

to ensure continued availability of healthy meals as well as the financial viability and 

accountability of school meal programs

 Training and Technical Assistance Materials for Schools

Guide to Professional Standards for 

School Nutrition Programs

Twenty-four page booklet to assist State agencies, 

school food authorities, and apply the professional 

standards final rule.

Recipes for Healthy Kids: Cookbook 

for Schools

Thirty delicious, kid-approved recipes that have 

been standardized and yield 50 or 100 servings 

per recipe.

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Training and Technical Assistance Materials for Schools

Food Buying Guide for School 

Nutrition Programs

Information to help school nutrition 

professionals buy the right amount and types 

of food for their programs. It also helps 

schools determine how foods credit toward 

program meal pattern requirements. Available 

online only. 

What’s Shaking? Sodium Reduction 

Infographic for School Nutrition 

Professionals

One-page flyer highlighting statistics, research, 

and practical tips on reducing sodium in school 

meals. Available online only.

Whole Grain Resource for the National 

School Lunch and School Breakfast 

Programs

Training resource that reviews whole grain-rich 

criteria for school meals. Provides skill-building 

examples to help school nutrition professionals 

correctly identify foods meeting whole grain-rich 

criteria. Provides tips on how to incorporate whole 

grain-rich foods in menus. Available online only.

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Nutrition Education Materials for 

Child Care

These nutrition education materials focus on early childhood and take into 

consideration children’s developmental and cognitive abilities during early 

childhood. Activities are designed to involve children’s bodies and minds through 

physical movement, music, arts and crafts, gardening, and hands-on activities 

featuring foods from the five MyPlate food groups. All of our child care materials 

are reviewed by experts in early childhood development and education. 

Nutrition Education Materials for Child Care

Discover MyPlate Emergent Reader 

Mini-Books

Set of six emergent reader mini-books to help 

children build literacy skills while learning about 

the five food groups and MyPlate. Originally 

designed for kindergarten, many child care 

providers find these materials to be appropriate 

for children in their care as well. Also available 

as e-books.

Discover MyPlate Look and Cook 

Recipe Cards

Set of four pictorial recipes that offer kids 

a simple and visual way to prepare healthy 

snacks. Recipes have been “kindergarten tested” 

by teachers and students. Each color recipe is 

printed in English on one side and Spanish on 

the reverse.

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Grow It, Try It, Like It! Nutrition Education Kit Featuring MyPlate

Garden-themed nutrition education kit that introduces children to six fruits and vegetables. 

Includes seven booklets, featuring three fruits and three vegetables, with hands-on planting 

activities, a CD with supplemental information, and a DVD with Cool Puppy Pup’s Picnic and 

Lunch Parties.

Nibbles for Health: Nutrition 

Newsletters for Parents of Young 

Children

Nutrition tips for parents of young children 

presented in a fun, easy-to-read manner.

Newsletters, which feature a large font and 

friendly tone, focus on topics such as children’s 

appetites and growth, handwashing, and ways 

to be active when it is cold outside. Available 

online only.

Nutrition Education Materials for Child Care

The Two Bite Club

Illustrated storybook that introduces young 

children to MyPlate and gently shows how 

trying new foods together as a family can be fun. 

Contains activity pages, a certificate for trying 

new foods, and a parent handout. Also available 

in Spanish and as an e-book.

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Training and Technical Assistance 

Materials for Child Care

Team Nutrition’s training and technical assistance materials help child care centers 

and day care homes meet Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) requirements 

and provide healthy environments for children in their care. Materials are based on a 

comprehensive needs assessment that included feedback from centers and family day 

care home providers.

Training and Technical Assistance Materials for Child Care

CACFP Promotional Flyer

Eye-catching flyer that highlights benefits of 

CACFP. Customize the flyer with agency or 

organization information on the back side. 

Available in packs of 100.

Crediting Handbook for the Child and Adult 

Care Food Program

Supplements the Food Buying Guide for Child 

Nutrition Programs with additional information

on creditable foods in child and adult care centers, 

outside-school-hours care centers, and family day

care homes. Available online only.

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Feeding Infants: A Guide for Use in the 

Child Nutrition Programs

Information on infant development, nutrition 

for infants, breastfeeding and formula feeding, 

preventing tooth decay, feeding solid foods, 

drinking from a cup, choking prevention, food 

safety, and some Infant Meal Pattern requirements. 

Available online only.

Training and Technical Assistance Materials for Child Care

Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition 

Programs

Information to help child care professionals

buy the right amount and types of food for their

programs. It also helps them determine how foods 

credit toward program meal pattern requirements. 

Available online only.

Nutrition and Wellness Tips for Young 

Children: Provider Handbook for the 

Child and Adult Care Food Program

Child care providers can create healthier 

environments for children 2 through 5 years old 

with this collection of 15 tip sheets that focus 

on building healthy meals and promoting active 

play. The handbook also provides success stories 

and links to additional resources. Also available 

in Spanish.

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Nutrition, Physical Activity, and 

Electronic Media Use in CACFP

Easy-to-read booklet that summarizes key findings 

from research on nutrition, physical activity, 

and electronic media use in the Child and Adult 

Care Food Program. The research looked at 

current practices, perceived challenges, technical 

assistance needs, and preferred delivery formats of 

training and resources. Available online only.

Recipes for Healthy Kids: Cookbook 

for Child Care

Thirty delicious, kid-developed and approved 

recipes that have been standardized and yield 25 

or 50 servings per recipe.

USDA Recipes for Child Care

Informational booklet and database of recipes that 

yield 25 and 50 servings. The booklet discusses 

topics such as recipe adjustment, nutrient 

information, recipe substitutions, and safe food 

handling; and contains many helpful reference 

charts. The database of recipes is housed at the 

Institute for Child Nutrition Web site and can be 

accessed through the Team Nutrition Resource 

Library. Available online only.

Training and Technical Assistance Materials for Child Care

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Nutrition Education Materials for Summer Meal Programs

Nutrition Education Materials for 

Summer Meal Programs

New nutrition education resources are now available for the Summer Food Service 

Program and schools participating in the Seamless Summer Option of the National 

School Lunch Program. These resources are designed to encourage healthy food 

choices and physical activity during the summer months and to promote greater 

participation in summer meal programs.

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Parents’ Guide – This Summer, 

Eat Smart to Play Hard

A colorful brochure that informs parents of the 

importance of healthy food choices and physical 

activity for school-aged children during the summer, 

contains a healthy summer-themed recipe, and 

encourages families to engage in a nutrition and 

physical activity focused “family challenge.” This 

brochure is designed to be distributed by schools 

at the end of the school year to raise awareness of 

healthy habits during the summer and to inform 

families on how to locate a nearby summer meal 

site. Available separately in English and Spanish. 

(All Grades)

Infographic – Take a Healthy Summer 

Break

One-page informational graphic (infographic) 

contains brightly colored illustrations and 

statistics to convey information to parents about 

the importance of healthy food choices and 

physical activity for school-aged children over the 

summer months. This infographic is designed to 

be distributed by schools at the end of the school 

year to raise awareness of healthy habits during the 

summer and to inform families on how to locate a 

nearby summer meal site. Infographic is English on 

one side and Spanish on reverse side. (All Grades)
Nutrition Education Materials for Summer Meal Programs

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Summer Food, Summer Moves

Engaging and fun activities for summer meal sites. Each kit includes 30 activities (divided into 6 fun 

summertime themes), 7 educational posters, 6 types of promotional fliers, an activity placemat, 

and educational handouts for parents. Activities can be customized based on the ages of participating 

children, time available, and the summer meal site setting (indoor or outdoor). All materials are 

available separately in English and Spanish. (All Grades)
How To Get Team Nutrition Materials

All Team Nutrition resources are available on the Team Nutrition Web site 

in our Resource Library: http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/resource-library. 

Schools, child care providers (centers, sponsors, and family day care 

providers), and summer meal sites that participate in USDA Child Nutrition 

programs may request free printed copies of certain materials. Printed 

materials may also be requested by the State agency administering the 

USDA Child Nutrition programs and school districts. Eligible entities may 

request printed copies using our online order form at http://pueblo.gpo.

gov/TN/TNPubs.php.

If you have questions about Team Nutrition materials, please contact us at 

teamnutrition@fns.usda.gov or by phone at (703) 305-1624.

History of Team Nutrition

USDA launched Team Nutrition as a comprehensive nutrition education 

initiative in 1995. The goal of Team Nutrition is to support USDA 

Child Nutrition Programs through training and technical assistance for 

foodservice, nutrition education for children and their caregivers, and 

school and community support for healthy eating and physical activity. 

Over the past 20 years, Team Nutrition has produced hundreds of resources, 

training materials, and nutrition education lessons for schools and child care 

providers across the country. 

Since its inception, Team Nutrition has also provided Team Nutrition 

Training Grant funds to State agencies that implement USDA Child Nutrition 

Programs. These funds have helped States train school nutrition professionals 

on meal pattern requirements, create Smarter Lunchrooms, and implement 

nutrition education activities and wellness policies.

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U.S. Department of Agriculture

Food and Nutrition Service

FNS-616 August 2016

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.