Katie Marsico - Eat a Balanced Diet!

Published in the United States of America by Cherry Lake Publishing
Ann Arbor, Michigan
www.cherrylakepublishing.com

Content Adviser: Kevin Allen, NASM - CPT, Metabolic Technician, Life Time Fitness, Novi, MI

Reading Adviser: Marla Conn, ReadAbility, Inc

Photo Credits: MilicaStankovic/Thinkstock Photos, cover; Tatyana Vyc/Shutterstock Images, 4;
Yurkina Alexandra/Shutterstock Images, 6; AntonioDiaz/Shutterstock Images, 8; Amnarj
Tanongrattana/Shutterstock Images, 10; CandyBox Images/Shutterstock Images, 12; Arina P
Habich/Shutterstock Images, 14; R.Ashrafov/Shutterstock Images, 16; mama_mia/
Shutterstock Images, 18; alexskopje/Shutterstock Images, 20

Copyright 2015 by Cherry Lake Publishing
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any
form or by any means without written permission from the publisher.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
Marsico, Katie, 1980
Eat a balanced diet!/By Katie Marsico.
pages cm.(Your healthy body.)
Includes index.
Audience: 6-10
Audience: K to grade 3
ISBN 978-1-63188-983-7 (hardcover)ISBN 978-1-63362-061-2 (pdf)
ISBN 978-1-63362-022-3 (pbk.)ISBN 978-1-63362-100-8 (ebook)ISBN-13: 978-1-68444-453-3 (e-book)
1. NutritionJuvenile literature. I. Title.
RA784.M3614 2015
613.2dc23 2014021520

Cherry Lake Publishing would like to acknowledge the work of
The Partnership for 21st Century Skills.
Please visit www.p21.org for more information.

Printed in the United States of America
Corporate Graphics

Synchred Read-Along Version by:
Triangle Interactive LLC
PO Box 573
Prior Lake, MN 55372

contents

Fruit makes a smart addition to a healthy meal.

Lets Talk About
Lunch!

W hats growling? Its Jadas
stomach! Shes hungry for lunch. Jada stares
into the refrigerator. so many choices! What
foods should she put on her plate?

Think!

Think about everything you ate yesterday. What did
you have for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? How about
snacks and desserts? Why did you choose these foods?

Eating a variety of foods helps your
whole body.

brain

salmon, tuna,
sardines, walnuts

hair

green vegetables,
beans, salmon

muscles

bananas, red meat,
fish, eggs

eyes

corn, eggs,
carrots

lungs

broccoli,
Brussels sprouts,
Chinese cabbage

heart

tomatoes,
potatoes,
prune juice

skin

blueberries, salmon,
green tea

bones

oranges,
celery, milk

Luckily, Jadas dad offers to help.
Theyll make a meal that is both tasty
and nutritious ! lunchtime is the perfect
time to talk about eating a balanced diet.
Its based on eating the right types and
amounts of certain foods. Your body needs
these foods to grow and stay healthy.

Look!

Take a look at this diagram. Which of these foods do you
eat regularly? Which of them should you eat more often?
How do your favorite foods help you grow?

Milk and milk products keep your teeth and
bones strong and healthy.

Nutritionists and dietitians study
which amounts of each food group form
a balanced diet. A balanced diet features
all the food groups, spread throughout
breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack. The
groups are fruits, vegetables, grain, protein,
and dairy .

Make a
Guess!

Some people arent able to digest dairy products.
Guess what they pour on their cereal instead of cows milk.
Hint: Many stores sell milk and milk products made
from other foods. They include soy , almonds,
hazelnuts, oats, rice, and coconut!

Fruits and vegetables are full of different vitamins
that your body needs.

Helping Build a
Healthy Body

J ada searches for all the different food
groups in her kitchen. Some of the first
foods she finds are broccoli, carrots, corn,
and onions. She spots apples, strawberries,
blueberries, and cantaloupe as well.

Jadas dad explains that vegetables and
fruits contain nutrients . They help keep
a persons heart, blood, eyes, skin, and

Breads with natural and multiple grains have
more nutrients than white bread.

teeth healthy. These nutrients also support
digestion and immunity .

Grain products include rice, pasta,
bread, and cereal. They help a persons
body break down food into energy. The
nutrients in protein foods are used to create
tissue and blood cells. Poultry , beef, and
seafood are protein foods. So are eggs,
nuts, beans, and peas.

Dairy products include milk, cheese,
and yogurt. They help build healthy bones
and teeth.

Helping in the kitchen is a good way to learn
more about food.

The oils found in nuts, vegetables, and
fish contain nutrients, too. They support
skin and eye health. They also strengthen a