Welcome to The Two Bite Club!

Two Bite Club was developed to introduce to young children. MyPlate

When you finish reading the book with your children encourage them to 

try foods from each food group, just like the children in the story. 

In the back of the book you will find a coloring page, a blank MyPlate 

certificate for the Two Bite Club, fun activity pages for 

kids, and Tips for Growing Healthy Eaters.
The Two Bite Club was developed by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

FNS wishes to extend a sincere thank you to those individuals who nurtured this storybook from concept to finish.

Technical Reviewers: Adrienne Durrett, Mary Forster, Luanne Hughes, Bridget Penberthy, Bonnie Rickhoff, Sherry Romero, Jessica Williams

FNS: Ann Bartholomew, Heidi Bishop, Lori French, Diane Fulton, Gerry Howell, Ebony James, Elvira Jarka, Jane Mandell, Gina O’Brian, 

 Michelle Prettyman, Vicky Urcuyo

Project Manager: Jan Barrett Design Coordination: Arabella Juarez 

Illustration: Annie Lunsford 

 • 

• Graphic Design: Linda Lunsford, Lunsford Graphics, Arlington, Virginia 
Anna and Will ran into their house

 from playing outside. 

“I’m hungry!” shouted Will. 

“So am I,” said Anna. 

 Their mother said, “Wash your

 hands. I have a special game 

 planned for our lunch today. 

 We will find foods in our kitchen 

 from every food group.” 

2
3
“

What is a food group?”

asked Anna.

4
“

I know,” said Will. “We learned 

about this in school. There are 

five food groups in MyPlate. 

We need to eat foods from all food 

groups every day to be healthy 

and strong.”

5
“

Each color on the plate in the picture is a different food group. 

 My teacher told me that if we eat two bites from each food 

 group we can be members of the Two Bite Club!” said Will. 

“OK, but I might not like it,” Anna replied cautiously. 

 Mother said, “Anna, I know you can be a big girl and try two 

 little bites of each food, then you will be in the Two Bite Club!”

6
7
“

The first food group is 

 colored orange, and it’s 

 the Grains Group—see?” 

 said Will. “There are bread, 

 crackers, rice, and noodles.” 

“That’s right,” said Mother. 

“Can you find something 

 from the Grains Group ?”

8
Will grabbed a box 

 of whole-wheat 

crackers. “Let’s try 

these!” he said. 

9
“

Oh no,” said Anna, 

 “I don’t think I’ll 

like them.” But she tried 

two little bites.

10
“

I

 like them!” 

 Anna exclaimed. 

“I knew you 

 would,” Will 

 told her.

11
Then Mother said, “I bought some carrots, 

lettuce, and corn at the grocery store. 

They are all vegetables. Let’s see if you can find 

something else from the Vegetable Group.” 

It’s the green part of MyPlate.

12
13
Will opened the big refrigerator 

 door and peeked inside. 

“I’m looking for something,” he said. 

“Don’t find anything yucky,” called Anna. 

“How about some broccoli?” asked Will.

“Yes, broccoli is a vegetable,” 

 replied Mother.

14
“

Oh no,” said Anna, 

 “I don’t think I’ll like it.” 

“Just try it and see,” Will responded. 

 So Anna tried two little bites.

15
“

Ilike it!”

 Anna exclaimed. 

“I knew you would,” 

 Will told her.

16
“

Now we need to find 

 some fruit from 

the Fruit Group. It’s the 

red part of MyPlate,” 

said Mother.

17
“

Anna, can you help find 

 some fruit?”

18
Anna looked in the fruit bowl 

 and found a yellow apple.

19
“

I

 don’t think I like yellow 

 apples; I only like red 

apples,” Anna said, but she 

tried two little bites. 

20
“

I like it!” Anna exclaimed. 

“I knew you would. 

 Apples are yummy,”

 Will said.

21
“

You’ve told me about grains and vegetables and fruits,” said Anna. 

 “What are the purple and blue colors for?”

22
“

The blue circle is for the 

 Dairy Group. It has 

 lots of foods that are good 

 for you,” Will explained. 

23
Anna perked up and said, 

 “I like milk.” 

“Yes, I do, too,” said Will, “but let’s find 

 something different. How about 

 this yogurt?” 

“I know,” Anna exclaimed, “Yogurt is made 

 from milk, but I don’t think I will like 

 that yogurt.”

24
“

I will just try two 

tiny bites,” said Anna. 

25
“

I like it, Will !”

 Anna exclaimed. 

“I knew you would,” 

 said Will.

26
“

The last food group is the 

 Protein Foods Group, and 

 it’s purple,” explained Will.

27
“

What are you going to 

 find from that group?” 

Mother asked. 

“I know, I’ll eat a hard-cooked

egg,” said Will. 

Mother explained that eggs are in 

the Protein Foods Group, along 

with chicken, turkey, fish, and 

even peanut butter.

28
29
“

I don’t think I’ll like the 

egg,” said Anna. But she 

tried two bites. 

30
“

I like it !”

Anna exclaimed. 

“I knew you 

 would,” 

 Will told her.

31
Mother said, “You have found something 

 from every food group. That’s terrific! 

Let’s sit down and finish our lunch.” 

32
Anna exclaimed, “I’ve tried two bites from 

 every food group, and I love new foods.” 

“Yeah, you did it Anna!” said Will.

33
“

That’s great!’ said Mother. 

 “Thank you Will for teaching

Anna to try new foods. And thank 

you Anna for being brave enough 

to try something you thought you 

wouldn’t like! 

Here’s a certificate from the

Two Bite Club for each of you.” 

Anna

Will

A

A

34
35
“

Now we are members of the Two Bite Club .” said Will.

 “Let’s hang up our certificates.” 

Anna

Will

A

A

36
“

I

 am so proud of myself,” said Anna. 

 “I tried some new foods and I 

 learned about MyPlate.” 

37
“

Now let’s go 

 outside and play,” 

 exclaimed Will. 

 “That’s a great

 idea,” said Mother. 

 “I’ll bring the ball and 

 we can play together.”

38
39
Congratulations!

has tried two bites of a new food 

and is a member of the Two Bite Club
MyPlate Coloring Sheet
Circle all the foods you

might like to try.

spinach

black beans whole wheat crackers

cheese sticks

cantaloupe

hard-cooked eggs
Draw a line 

from the food to the 

correct food group.

whole wheat 

crackers

broccoli

yellow apple

low-fat yogurt 

hard-cooked 

eggs
 Tips for Growing Healthy Eaters

Parents and caregivers can be great role models for children. Let children see you trying and enjoying 

new foods. Kids copy what they see and hear. 

Have your child choose a new food as you shop; trying a new food is more fun for kids when they pick it out 

themselves. Letting kids help as you prepare food also improves children’s willingness to try new foods.

When you are introducing a new food to your children, encourage them to try at least a bite or two. 

But stay away from forcing your children to taste if they are not interested. Remember, try and try again. 

Some kids need to try a new food many times before they like it. It’s normal for kids to be cautious at first.

Family meals are important for everyone. Eat at a table. During mealtime, turn off the TV and your phone.

Time snacks carefully—at least two to three hours before meals, and keep snacks small. If your child is 

still hungry, he or she can ask for more. Skip the urge to offer a snack to quiet tears or reward behavior. 

These practices can lead to emotional overeating later on.

Healthy food choices aren’t the only thing needed to raise healthy kids. Children should be physically active 

at least 60 minutes each day. Limit screen time and media use (this includes watching TV, movies, playing video 

games, and computer time). The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly discourages media use for children 

2 years old or younger. For older children, the Academy advises no more than 1 to 2 hours per day of 

educational, nonviolent programs, which should be supervised by parents or other responsible adults in 

the home. They also discourage parents from placing a television set in their child’s bedroom. 

For more specific information on food and nutrition for you and your family, go to: 

www.choosemyplate.gov/preschoolers.html 
Find more fun resources at these websites:

www.teamnutrition.usda.gov

www.choosemyplate.gov/preschoolers.html

United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service

FNS 405, May 2009, Revised October 2012

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all of its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, 

and where applicable, sex (including gender identity and expression), marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, political beliefs, genetic 

information, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) 

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact 

USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). 

To file a complaint of discrimination, write to 

USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410; 

or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay). 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 
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