1. MyPyramid “Steps To A Healthier You”
Name_____________________ Important: Write down the day that you started so you can go back if
you didn’t finish on day one.
Procedures:
1. Log into www.mypyramid.gov
2. Using My Pyramid Tracker, log in and save. You will need to create a user and password.
3. Do profile.
4. Go to Food Intake Entry complete food intake for one day. After you have selected the food and
entered in quantities, press Save and Analyze.
5. On the menu bar at the top of the page, select Analyze Your Food Intake button.
Π Go to Calculate DG Comparison. Print of findings on how well you did with the dietary
guidelines.
Π Go to Calculate Nutrient Intakes from Foods. You will want to have an assessment on
how you did. Print this page. Note: When printing off this material, you may want to set up the page
for landscape so you get everything.
Π Go to Calculate MyPyramid Status. Print off this page.
6. On the menu bar at the top of the page, select Physical Activity Entry. Complete this section. Click on
Save and Analyze so that you can analyze your results.
Π Go to Calculate Your Physical Activity Score. You can print this off. Make sure to
include your percentage(s).
7. On the menu bar at the top of the page, select Energy Balance.
Π Print off results.
Remember:
Π Pages from above will be turned in.
8. Go to www.mypyramid.gov. or home if there is one. Scroll down to Spotlights and Inside the Pyramid.
9. Complete family history form. To be turned in.
What does each of the colors of the pyramid represent? List two tips for each that was suggested in eating
healthfully.
1.Orange-
2. Green-
5. Blue-
3. Red- 6. Purple-
4. Yellow-
7. What do the Steps on the diagram represent and why do you think it is in the design?
Created by Mary Wedig, Nutrition Education: Working Across the Curriculum, Summer 2005 UW Madison

2. 8. What do you think the design of the individual trianges represents besides a food group? Key: think
about big to small.
9. What healthful types of oils are suggested for a person to use?
10. What are the health benefits in ingesting healthful oils?
11. What food sources do the healthful oils come from?
Go to Subjects and then to My Pyramid Plan. Enter your age, sex and complete the following chart for you.
Activity Level Grains Vegetable Fruit Milk Meat and Oil
Beans
Less than 30
minutes
30-60 minutes
More than 60
minutes
12. How can the above information help you plan your food intake and activity over a week’s time?
The MyPramid food plan includes recommendations for physical activity. Teens are encouraged to
participate in some type of physical activity for 60 minutes most days. If you need to bring your weight back
into a healthy range, the recommendation si to exercise 90 minutes most days.
How many minutes a day do you exercise or do some form of physical activity?
How many more minutes a day do you need to exercise?
What could you do to increase you daily physical activity?
A. ________________________________________________
B. ________________________________________________
C. ________________________________________________
Based on a 2000 calorie diet, what is the recommendations for consumption of foods in the following
Created by Mary Wedig, Nutrition Education: Working Across the Curriculum, Summer 2005 UW Madison

3. catagories? This will be found on the For Professional site.
Grains Vegetables Fruits Milk Meat and Beans
2000 Calories
13. Why do you think that the 2000 calorie diet is used for this poster?
14. What nutrients are found in the different food groups?
a. Grains
b. Vegetables
c. Fruits
d. Oils
e. Milk
f. Meat and Beans
15. What are Discretionary Calories? Explain how this works in relationship to your diet and calorie
intake?
16. If you were to teach a seventh or eighth grader on how discretionary calories work, how would you do it?
Be creative.
Using the information from this activity and the print sheets you printed off, analyze how you are doing?
 How could you improve your overall food intake and food preparation and physical activity using the
Dietary Guideline for Americans, 2005.
 After reviewing your family health history, what steps can you take to have a better quality of life?
See rubric for a guide.
Created by Mary Wedig, Nutrition Education: Working Across the Curriculum, Summer 2005 UW Madison

4. Nutrition Education Lesson Plans
Grade: 9-12
Lesson #2
Topic: Critical Thinking Skills
Performance Standards: Analyze their dietary habits related to health.
Key Concept: Identify the need to balance healthful food choice and physical activity related to person
health.
Objectives:
 The student will identify health related issues in his/her own family in order to make healthful
decisions with his/her eating and physical fitness plan.
 The student will utilize the My Pyramid website in analyzing their food intake and physical activity.
 The student will acquire information in food selection and food preparation, and how to make
physical activity part of their life that they can utilize.
 The student will design a healthful plan of action related to food selection and physical activity.
 Student will evaluate their progress with their plan
Skills:
Internet: MyPyramid (using My Pyramid Tracker to analyze Food Intake and Physical Activity)
Knowledge of nutrients
Knowledge of family health history
Materials:
Computer
Internet
Paper
Procedure:
1. Student will complete a family health history form, either one that the teacher provides or one from
the internet.
2. Student will record a food intake for one day.
3. Student will complete the “MyPyramid” worksheet. He/she will then write a reflective paper on how
he/she could improve health and quality of life as he/she develops knowledge of nutrition and
physical fitness.
4. Discuss finding with class.
5. Grade reflective paper with “MyPyamid Summary Rubric”.
Note to teacher: On the MyPyramid Tracker Bar, there is a button that says Information. In here is some
very good information that you can use if you have question. The section that is called the FAQ is a good
resource to look at before you give out this project to your students.
This will help them get back into to where they were if they didn’t get done in one day. They will be able to
return to the site to complete it that certain day.
Created by Mary Wedig, Nutrition Education: Working Across the Curriculum, Summer 2005 UW Madison

5. My Pyramid Summary Rubric
Name_________________
Criteria Points
1 2 3 4
Content Paper is vague and fails to state Paper somewhat states the Paper is reflective and clearly Paper is reflective and
Knowledge the writer’s opinion/purpose: writer’s opinion/purpose: states the writer’s clearly states the writer’s
On written lacking relevant information &/ most information is relevant opinion/purpose and gives opinion/purpose and gives
report. or no solutions is suggested. and solution is suggested relevant information & relevant information &
Less then a 1 page. 1 page suggestions on topic suggestions on topic.
1 1/2 pages 2 pages.
Organizatio Didn’t get it at all. Paper id difficult to follow: Paper is fairly clear & easy to Letter is clear and easy to
n . main idea not clear; too follow; main idea is present: follow; center on a main
lengthy &/or poorly written. longwinded &/or avg. writing. idea; is concise and well
on written Didn’t include all parts of the Included all parts of the written.
report assignment assignment. Included all parts of the
Double space assignment.
and 12 pt.
Include
introduction
and closing.
Editing Work has four or more spelling Work has three spelling Work has one or two spelling Work has no spelling or
Grammar and/or grammatical errors. and/or grammatical errors. and/or grammatical errors. grammatical errors.
Spelling
Family History Mostly done. Turned in. and completed.
Form
Requirements All requirements were not turn All requirements were All requirements were covered All requirements were
in. covered and answered all the and answered all the questions covered and answered all
questions in summary page. in summary page. Turned in on the questions in summary
Turned in late. time. page. Went over and above
what was necessary.
Turned in on time.
**Printouts of Food Intake Entry Printouts
the Food (5 pts.)
Intake Entry  Calculate Nutrient
(3) and Intake From Food
Physical  Calculate MyPyramid
Activity Entry Status
and Energy  Calculate DG
Balance Sheet Comparison
an (1) for each Physical Activity Entry
were turned in. Printout (5 pts.)
 Calculate your
Physical Activity
Score
Energy Balance Sheet (1
pt.)
Completed ? on points Turned in with paper.
MyPyramid You can give credit to how
Worksheet much you want to give.
Total=
Created by Mary Wedig, Nutrition Education: Working Across the Curriculum, Summer 2005 UW Madison

6. http://www.stayinginshape.com/3osfcorp/libv/iform3.htm#
Created by Mary Wedig, Nutrition Education: Working Across the Curriculum, Summer 2005 UW Madison