Three Meals Plus Snacks
Your body needs fuel throughout the day! A good meal plan includes:
BREAKFAST: Refuels your body after sleeping. Focus on grains and protein for lasting energy. Examples: oatmeal with fruit, eggs with toast, yogurt parfait.
LUNCH: Keeps you going through the afternoon. Include all food groups if possible. Examples: turkey sandwich with veggies, soup and crackers, bento box.
DINNER: The biggest meal for most families. Usually when you eat the most vegetables. Examples: chicken with rice and broccoli, pasta with meat sauce and salad.
SNACKS (1-2 per day): Bridge the gaps between meals. Keep them small and nutritious. Examples: fruit, cheese, crackers, yogurt.
The goal: by the end of the day, you should have eaten from all five food groups multiple times. If breakfast was light on veggies, load up at dinner. If lunch skipped dairy, have yogurt for a snack. Balance over the WHOLE DAY is what matters.