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Understanding Food Groups

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Understanding Food Groups

Use the food-group guide to complete the activities. Foods can contain nutrients from more than one group; classify each by its main role in the meal. Consider variety, balance and practical choices rather than labelling foods as ‘good’ or ‘bad’.

Five food groups: a quick guide

Vegetables and fruit: fibre, vitamins and minerals (e.g. kūmara, apples). Grain foods: carbohydrate for energy; choose wholegrain options often (e.g. oats, bread). Protein foods: protein and other nutrients (e.g. beans, eggs, fish). Milk and milk products: protein and calcium (e.g. milk, yoghurt); fortified alternatives may also provide calcium. Healthy fats and oils: unsaturated fats (e.g. avocado, olive oil); use modest amounts. Water is important too, but is not one of these five groups.

Food-truck menu challenge

A food truck is planning a filling lunch for a busy school sports day. Use the menu and your food-group knowledge to help make balanced, varied choices.

Wholegrain roll

Grilled chicken

Hummus (chickpeas and tahini)

Spinach and grated carrot

Plain yoghurt

Avocado

Apple

Water

1.Match each menu item to its main food group: wholegrain roll; grilled chicken; spinach and grated carrot; plain yoghurt; avocado. Write the five group names in order.

Wholegrain roll
Grilled chicken
Spinach and grated carrot
Plain yoghurt
Avocado

Protein foods
Vegetables and fruit
Milk and milk products
Grain foods
Healthy fats and oils

2.Hummus contains chickpeas and tahini (sesame paste). Which two food groups can it contribute to, and why?

3.Which option adds a grain food to a lunch of chicken, spinach and yoghurt?

Wholegrain bread roll
Apple
Avocado
Water

4.True or false? Water is one of the five food groups in the guide. Give one reason water still matters.

TrueFalse

5.The truck has a wholegrain roll, chicken and spinach. Suggest one menu item from the options that would add a different food group, and name that group.

6.A customer does not eat meat. Choose a suitable protein-food option from the menu and explain briefly why it fits.

7.Choose one menu item that provides dietary fibre. Name it and explain how fibre can support health.

8.Create a lunch from at least four different menu items that includes vegetables or fruit, a grain food and a protein food. List your choices and identify the food group each represents.

9.A friend says, ‘Avocado is a vegetable, so it cannot belong with healthy fats and oils.’ Explain why foods can be sorted in different ways and identify avocado’s main group in this guide.

10.In two or three sentences, explain how knowing food groups can help someone plan meals without treating any single food as a complete measure of health.