Kids develop peculiar eating habits. You've heard of the purity rule: potatoes and carrots must never be touched, or they are 'contaminated'. Or the idea that any food is fine as long as it is peanut butter. I have even heard of youngsters who won't eat vegetables except in Chinese restaurants. But that has not stopped the experts at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) from coming up with a new set of guidelines, published in the form of a pint-sized food pyramid, to help parents and teachers encourage kids to eat a healthy, balanced diet.
At the base of the pyramid (for kids 2 to 6 years old) are foods that contain mainly of grains with the recommendation of 6 servings per day. Above the base are veggies (3 servings per day) and fruit (2 servings). Higher up the pyramid are milk and meat (2 servings per day). At the top of the pyramid are carbonated drinks and sweets which are the children's favorite, but which are to be avoided or to be served only sparingly.
Now before you say, "Oh, that will never work!" consider the following. A study out in the past month shows just how important it is to adopt good eating habits early in life. It found that children who gain a lot of weight as youngsters develop more risk factors for heart disease as adults. Findings show that the effort to instill healthy eating habits in your children is likely to pay off in the long run.
Overall, the new food pyramid for children is a winner. it is clear, engaging and has practical tips on everything from introducing your child to new foods (by making a game of choosing new fruits for the family) to helping 2- and 3-year-olds avoid choking (by cutting hot dogs lengthwise into thin strips). Another smart feature is the food pyramid's emphasis on physical activity. Vigorous play not only helps kids grow strong but also can make them hungry enough to try a wider variety of foods.
According to a survey data, 37% of children aged 3 to 5 years drink carbonated beverages. The mere fact of drinking soda is not a problem; it is how much a child drinks that can get him or her into trouble. It is determined that children who drink soda consume about 300ml a day, or 40 percent of their daily fluid intake. Most of that soda, of course, contains few if any nutrients and may displace healthier foods.
Even at that, you don't want too much fruit juice to displace other foods in your child's diet. Otherwise, he or she will miss out much on fiber, vitamins and other nutrients in whole fruit, and calcium from milk, yogurt and other dairy products.
Questions:
1) What is the use of the 'food pyramid'?
2) What are the types of food that are children's favorite and why should be they avoided or served only sparingly?
3) What does the expression 'to pay off' mean? Give one example of how healthy eating habits will pay off in the long run.
4) Do you think the new pyramid for children is a 'winner'? Explain
5) Find the word from the passage which means:
a) Scarcely - ___________________
b) teach - _______________________
c) energetic - _______________________
Directed Writing: Write a letter to your aunt, persuading her to follow the food pyramid for your cousin. Include the following points:
· Explain the food pyramid.
· Benefits of healthy eating.
· How do you plan to follow the food pyramid?
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