Dr. Yum's Lunch Packing Map

Let’s talk about the four main food groups! At Lil Sunflowers, we love teaching children about healthy eating through fun food exploration.

The four main food groups — fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins — each give our bodies something special!

 Fruits and veggies provide vitamins that help us grow strong, grains give us energy to play and learn, and proteins (like beans, eggs, or chicken) help build strong muscles. We encourage families to mix it up and try different options from each group to keep meals colorful, balanced, and fun!  

Here are some examples of foods in each category!

Fruit

• Berries
• Raisins/Dried Fruit
• Pomegranate Arils
• Plain Yogurt with Fruit
• Unsweetened Applesauce
• Orange Sections
• Apples
• Banana

Grain

• Whole Wheat Bread
• Tortilla Chips
• Pita Bread
• English Muffin
• Whole Wheat Pasta
• Brown Rice
• Quinoa
• Sweet Potato
• Granola
• Whole Grain Wrap

Vegetable

• Carrot Sticks
• Broccoli
• Blanched Vegetables
• Frozen Edamame
• Sugar Snap Peas
• Cherry Tomatoes
• Vegetable Soup
• Kale Chips

Protein

• Yogurt
• Cheese
• Meats
• Hummus
• Bean Salads
• Bean Dip
• Meatballs
• Boiled Eggs
• Nuts or Nut Butters