Eat the Rainbow

Activity Overview

This activity integrates the mathematical practice of measuring and sorting data with an all-important struggle that young children face - eating healthy foods. Through the game-like tracking activity listed below, children will be exposed to nutrition, our responsibility for taking care of ourselves, and why grown-ups are always encouraging them to eat their vegetables!

What You Need

• Alex Eats the Rainbow: A Book about Healthy Eating by Kerry Dinmont

• Rainbow Food Tracker printed

• Crayons, markers, or colored pencils

• Healthy foods to enjoy!

Steps

1. Ask your student to name as many colors as they can. If needed, point to objects in their space and ask them to name the color of the object.

2. Explain that you will read a story about a child who eats foods that are different colors. Read Alex Eats the Rainbow: A Book about Healthy Eating by Kerry Dinmont. As you read, discuss the different colored foods Alex eats and ask your student what foods they have eaten of the same color. Use the guiding questions to establish a connection between the colored foods and the nutritional characteristics of these foods.

3. Tell your student that they will have the opportunity to identify the colored foods they eat just as Alex did in the story. Show your student the Rainbow Food Tracker and ask what they notice. Ask your child if they can think of a(n) idea(s) of how to use the rainbow to keep track of the healthy foods they eat.

4. Guide your student to color in a small section of the rainbow as they eat a food of that color. For example, when your student eats blueberries they can color in one blue rectangle on the blue band of the rainbow.

5. Help your student post the rainbow on the refrigerator or kitchen table for quick access. Consider setting small goals to further engage your student in eating more colored foods and coloring in more colors of the rainbow. For example, when your child colors all rectangles in the green band, they could celebrate by going to the park, riding their scooter, having a living room dance party, helping to plan and cook a special meal, reading their favorite book, going to the library, or going for a swim.

Guiding Questions

• What color is this?

• What is Alex eating? What color is it?

• Have you eaten something [red]? What food was it?

• What do you notice about the foods Alex eats?

• Do the foods Alex eats help Alex to grow healthy and strong?

• Do you eat foods that help you grow healthy and strong? What foods?