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Families

Families

Help your family make healthy choices together. 

As the decision maker in your household, you play an important role in guiding your family to build healthy habits. Use these tips, resources and tools to help you along the way.

Activity Ideas

  • Make your own food art and show kids that healthy foods can be beautiful and tasty.
  • Grow a family garden. Get kids of all ages involved in meals with gardening. Start small, with a window herb box in your kitchen or a garden in your yard. 
  • Food Critic Activity: Kids are more likely to try new foods when they take the lead. In this activity, kids pick a new food at the store, taste it, and rate it like a food critic. 
  • Kid’s Restaurant Activity: Let kids be the chef! They can use this printable template to plan out the meal and design a menu. 
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families eating together

Mealtime Tips

Enjoy a meal together with your family. It is a great way to connect and share. Here are some mealtime ideas to try:

  • Turn off the TV and ask the family to place their phones in a “parking spot” away from the table.
  • Have everyone share what they did during the day. Ask what made you laugh or what you did for fun?
  • Try new foods at home. Kids need many chances to taste a new foods to “get used to them.”
  • Have adults and older kids talk about the color, feel, and flavor of foods. It will make them sound more appealing to younger kids who may be picky.
  • On nice days, try a change of scenery. For example, go to a nearby park for a picnic.

Resources

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dad and his 2 kids

Healthy Eating for Families Tip Sheet

English    Spanish

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Take the MyPlate Quiz

English    Spanish

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Healthy Eating on a Budget, woman shopping for fruit

Healthy Eating on a Budget

View

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MyPlatePlan Widget graphic

Get Your MyPlate Plan

English    Spanish

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move your way fact sheet for parents

Move Your Way: Fact Sheet for Parents

English   Spanish

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Move Your Way

Move Your Way: Activity Planner

English    Spanish

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Meal plan worksheet surrounded by food

More Print Materials

English   Spanish

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Shop Simple home screen on a phone

Shop Simple with MyPlate

Find savings in your area and discover new ways to prepare budget-friendly foods.

Learn more

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Alexa Speakers and Devices

MyPlate on Alexa

Get MyPlate nutrition tips on Amazon Alexa devices or the free Alexa app.

Learn more

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Start Simple app on phone and watch

Start Simple with MyPlate App

Build healthy eating habits one goal at a time! Download the Start Simple with MyPlate app today.

Learn more

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MyPlate.gov is based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025