Using the Food Guide Pyramid to Build Healthful Eating Patterns for Kids Parents and children should remember that no individual food is good or bad. All foods can fit into a healthy eating style. Help children learn how foods fit into the Food Guide Pyramid and how each food group can help them grow. Even young children can identify foods from the Food Guide Pyramid's five food groups and understand how their bodies use the nutrients provided by the foods they eat.
Grain products contain carbohydrates, vitamins, iron, and fiber.
Children need grains as sources of energy to grow, develop, learn, and keep physically active. Complex carbohydrates and sugars are valuable energy sources for children. Remember, the more vitamins and minerals in a serving of food, the more nutrients are available for a child's growth and development. The middle section of the Pyramid shows fruits and vegetables, which provide carbohydrates, vitamins A and C, and folic acid to keep eyes, skin, and blood healthy. Enjoy 2 to 4 servings daily of fruits, such as strawberries, oranges, and peaches, and 3 to 5 servings of vegetables, such as carrots, winter squash, and broccoli.