Build Your Own Food Plate

Good food and good habits are important parts of the Scouting program. Scouts learn to take care of their bodies so they can enjoy outdoor activities. They also learn to make healthy choices. This activity helps them see what a balanced plate looks like. It is simple and works well for a den meeting.

Cub Scouts enjoy activities where they can cut, sort, and glue pictures. This project gives them a hands-on way to learn about food groups. As they build their own plate, they begin to understand how different foods fit together. It also starts a conversation about healthy eating.

The activity also connects well with Scouting goals. Scouts work together, share ideas, and talk about the choices they make. Leaders can guide the discussion and help Scouts think about the foods they eat each day. It fits easily into meetings that focus on health or fitness.

You can also add a short discussion about exercise. Scouts can place pictures of people walking, hiking, or running around the plate. This helps them see that healthy eating and physical activity work together. These ideas support the healthy habits that Scouting encourages.

This activity gives you a simple way to talk about healthy food. Scouts see the different food groups in front of them. They start to notice that a meal should include several types of food. This helps them understand balance.

Scouts also practice making choices. When they pick a picture, they must decide where it belongs. They think about whether the food is a fruit, vegetable, grain, protein, or dairy food. This builds basic nutrition knowledge.

You can also talk about everyday meals. Ask Scouts what they eat for breakfast or lunch. Then ask which food group those foods belong to. This helps them connect the activity to their daily life.

The pictures of exercise help start another important talk. Scouts see that moving their bodies is part of staying healthy. Hiking, walking, biking, and sports all help keep the body strong.

This activity also builds simple teamwork skills. Scouts often compare their plates and talk about the foods they picked. These conversations help them learn from each other. You guide the discussion and help them think about healthy habits.

Materials

• Large poster board
• Markers
• Magazines with food pictures (or use the cards from the Food Pyramid Go Fish game)
• Pictures of people doing physical activities
• Scissors
• Glue

Instructions

1. Place the poster board on a table or wall.
2. Draw a large circle in the center of the poster board to make the plate.
3. Draw a small circle beside the plate for dairy foods.
4. Divide the plate into sections for grains, fruits, vegetables, and protein foods.
5. Give Scouts magazines or food cards and let them cut out pictures of food.
6. Have Scouts glue the food pictures into the correct sections of the plate.
7. Have Scouts glue pictures of people doing physical activities along the edge of the poster.
8. Talk with the Scouts about why people need different kinds of foods.
9. Ask them why exercise is also important.

Notes And Variations

• Younger Scouts may work together on one large poster.
• Older Scouts can each make their own small plate.
• If magazines are not available, printed food cards work well.
• You can turn the activity into a game by asking Scouts to place foods quickly in the right group.
• Remind Scouts to use scissors carefully and keep glue off the floor and tables.

Click here for a printable copy of the instructions for Build Your Own Food Plate

Crafts for Scouts

If your Scouts enjoyed this activity, you can find many more ideas on the activities page of the site. The page includes simple games, crafts, and group projects that work well for den meetings and pack events. Each activity includes clear directions and a short materials list. Many activities also connect with Cub Scout adventures and common meeting themes.

Leaders often need a quick activity that keeps Scouts active and interested. The activities page can help with that. You can browse ideas for indoor meetings, outdoor fun, or quick gathering activities. Take a few minutes to look through the list. You will likely find several activities that fit your next Scout meeting.

Crafting Connections: The Importance of Creative Projects in Scouting

What age group works best for this activity?

This activity works well for Cub Scouts of all ages. Younger Scouts may need help cutting pictures and placing them in the correct section. Older Scouts can work more independently. They can also help younger Scouts understand the food groups.

How long does the activity take?

Most dens can complete the activity in about 20 to 30 minutes. If you include a longer discussion about healthy eating and exercise, it may take a little longer. You can adjust the time based on the age of the Scouts.

Do I need magazines for the food pictures?

Magazines work well, but they are not required. You can also print pictures of food or use food cards like the ones shown earlier. The goal is simply to give Scouts pictures they can sort into food groups.

Should each Scout make their own plate?

That depends on the time and materials you have. Some dens work together on one large poster. Other dens give each Scout a sheet of paper so they can build their own plate. Both methods work well.

What if Scouts place a food in the wrong group?

Use it as a teaching moment. Ask the Scout why they chose that group.

This activity helps Scouts learn about healthy food in a simple way. They build a large poster that looks like a plate. The plate is divided into food groups. Scouts add pictures of foods to the correct part of the plate. They also place pictures of people doing exercise around the edges.

Scouts enjoy cutting out pictures and placing them on the poster. While they work, leaders can talk about the food groups. Scouts begin to see how different foods work together in a healthy meal. The pictures make the lesson easy to understand.

This activity also helps Scouts think about their own meals. They may talk about foods they eat at home or foods they eat at camp. These short talks help them connect the lesson to daily life.

Leaders can also talk about movement and exercise. The activity pictures show people hiking, running, and walking. Scouts see that food and activity both help the body stay strong. This fits well with many Scouting fitness goals.