Foundations of Nutrition: MyPlate

The School Nutrition Program Foundations of Nutrition: MyPlate online training.

Course Description

Learn about the MyPlate recommendations for a healthier lifestyle and how to apply them to everyday choices. Resources to transfer the concepts and key messages to students through classroom events and activities are also included. Finally, participants reflect on the MyPlate communication message calendar and identify classroom and after school activities to support key messages.

Course Number: 040
Training Length: 30 minutes
Certificate: Available at the end of the training
Target Audience: Food Service Director and Staff
Mandatory: No
Cost: Free
Date Recorded: August 2017

Online Course

Begin the Foundations of Nutrition: My Plate course.

Referenced Resources

The following resources are referred to throughout this online course:

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Choose MyPlate Coloring Sheet - Blank (PDF) handout
USDA Choose MyPlate Coloring Sheet - English (PDF) handout
USDA Choose MyPlate Coloring Sheet - Spanish (PDF) handout
Action for Healthy Kids Healthy Celebrations article
USDA Choose MyPlate Daily Checklist - 2,400 Calories (PDF) handout
USDA Choose MyPlate Graphic Resources
USDA Choose My Plate Tools
USDA Choose My Plate Resources
USDA Move to Low-fat Dairy
USDA Make Half Your Grains Whole
USDA What's Shaking Infographic (PDF)
USDA Vary Your Protein Routine

Crediting

Crediting: 0.50 hours

Key Area: Nutrition (100)
- Training Topic: General Nutrition (1300)
  - Learning Objective: MyPlate (1310)

For more information on crediting, access the USDA web document Professional Standards Learning Objectives (PDF).

Additional Information

For more information regarding the MyPlate recommendations, visit the California Department of Education (CDE) NSLP and SBP Meal Patterns web page.

General Resources

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and USDA 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans provides an Executive Summary, five over arching Guidelines, and supporting Key Recommendations.
USDA Choose MyPlate Guidance System provides access to a wealth of information and tools for personalizing your MyPlate plan.
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans provides information about the federal government’s 2008 physical activity guidelines for Americans.
USDA Team Nutrition provides classroom nutrition education or school food services resources. Get free materials for teaching about MyPlate and ideas for local school wellness policies.
USDA Serving Up MyPlate: A Yummy Curriculum classroom lessons to help teachers integrate nutrition education into math, science, English language arts, and health. This curriculum introduces the importance of eating from all five food groups using MyPlate. Students also learn the importance of physical activity to stay healthy. Each Teacher's Guide has three inquiry-driven lessons to teach nutrition, check students' understandings, and provide opportunities for students to reflect upon their learning. Songs, posters, and parent materials in English and Spanish are included (USDA 2013).