Meet the Five Food Group Friends

We eat many foods.
Foods can be sorted into groups.
This is called food groups.

There are five food groups.

1. Fruit Group
2. Vegetable Group
3. Grains Group
4. Protein Foods Group
5. Dairy Group

Eating foods from all five groups helps us stay healthy.

The Fruit Group

Apples and oranges are fruits.
Fruits come from plants.
Fruits can be many colors.
Fruits often taste sweet.
Fruits help our bodies grow.
Fruits help heal cuts and scratches.
Fruits help keep our teeth and gums healthy.

The Vegetable Group

Broccoli and sweet potatoes are vegetables.
Vegetables come in many colors too.
Some vegetables are green, orange, or red.
Some vegetables are crunchy, like carrots.
Vegetables help heal cuts and scratches.
Some vegetables help our eyes see well.
They even help us see better in the dark!

The Protein Foods Group

Chicken and peanut butter are protein foods.
Protein foods help build strong muscles.
Muscles help our bodies move.
Some protein foods come from animals.
Fish comes from fish.
Beef comes from cows.
Ham comes from pigs.
Some protein foods come from plants.
Beans, nuts, and tofu are protein foods too.

The Dairy Group

Milk and yogurt are dairy foods.
Cheese is a dairy food too.
Milk often comes from cows.
Milk can also come from sheep and goats.
Dairy foods help make bones strong.
Dairy foods help make teeth strong.
Our bones make up our skeleton.
Our skeleton helps us stand up.
It protects our brain and heart too.

The Grains Group

Bread and rice are grains.
Grains come from plants like wheat and oats.
Grains can be made into flour.
Flour makes bread, tortillas, and noodles.
Grains give us energy.
Energy helps us move and play.

Sometimes Foods

Some foods are not in any food group.
Candy, soda, and butter are like this.
These foods have extra sugar or fat.
Cookies and ice cream are less healthy too.
We should only eat these foods sometimes.
That is why we call them "sometimes foods."

Our Food Group Friends

We have five Food Group Friends to help us remember!

• Farrah Fruit is made of fruits, like apples and bananas.
• Reggie Veggie is made of vegetables, like carrots and broccoli.
• Jane Grain is made of grains, like bread and rice.
• Dean Protein is made of protein foods, like chicken and beans.
• Mary Dairy is made of dairy foods, like milk and cheese.

Some foods can belong to two groups.
Beans are a protein food.
Beans are a vegetable too!

Washing Our Hands

We wash our hands before we eat.
We wash our hands before we cook.
We wash our hands after we cook too.
Washing hands keeps us healthy.