Serving Up MyPlate is a program designed to integrate nutrition education into Math, Science, English Language Arts, and Health. This yummy curriculum introduces the importance of eating from all five food groups using the MyPlate icon and a variety of hands–on activities, including the Sugar Experiment and a Taste Test. Students also learn the importance of physical activity to staying healthy. Many resources are also sent home to the families to incorporate the things learned in the classroom at home. Through pre-tests and post-tests, data is gathered to determine knowledge gained by the 3rd grade students. Fruits and veggies are not as boring when you can “eat a rainbow”.

The 2016 Health Assessment identified that only 6% of Fulton County youth ages, 8 - 12, ate 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day. 30% ate 3 to 4 servings of fruits and vegetables per day and 57% ate 1 to 2 servings per day. The assessment also identified that about two-thirds (64%) of Fulton County children, ages 0 – 11, ate vegetables at least once per day during the past week. 5% of children had not eaten any vegetables in the past week.

To educate our children, youth and parents on the importance of getting the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables each day and doing so in a fun way, the Fulton County Health Department partnered with Fulton County United Way and the Four County ADAMhs Board  to bring Serving Up MyPlate to all Fulton County 3rd graders during the 2021-2022 school year.