Build a Healthy Plate Relay

In a relay, each team runs to a central market to collect food cards and build a balanced plate: half fruits and vegetables, a quarter grains and a quarter protein, plus water to drink. It builds locomotor skills and endurance while students learn about healthy eating.

How to play

1. Place about 90 food cards face down in the middle (the market): fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, fish, eggs, water and treats such as pastries and soda.
2. Make 5 teams of 5 lined up 15 m (50 ft) from the market. Each team has a hoop (the plate) divided with chalk into one half and two quarters (2 min).
3. On the signal, the first player in each line runs to the market, takes one card without looking and returns. The team decides whether it goes in a section of the plate or goes back.
4. The next runner returns any unwanted card to the market before taking a new one. Change the locomotor skill each leg: run, slide, skip or hop switching feet.
5. A plate is complete with 4 fruit and vegetable cards, 2 grain, 2 protein and 1 water card; then the team sits down.
6. Play 3 rounds: breakfast, lunch and dinner (5 min each). The teacher checks each plate and awards a point for every well-balanced one.

Rules

• Take only one card per trip, without looking at the others.
• Return cards face down to the market.
• Walk inside the market area to avoid collisions.
• Teams decide together; no arguing with other teams.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the student travels a shorter distance in a wheelchair or plays the team "nutritionist" who checks the plate.
• Autism or reading difficulties: each card shows a photo of the food as well as its name.
• Different fitness levels: each runner picks the locomotor skill for their leg from the teacher's options.

Learning goals

• Identify the food groups on a balanced plate.
• Stay active continuously using a variety of locomotor skills.
• Make team decisions that respect everyone's opinion.

Equipment for a class of 25

• hoops: 5
• cards: 90
• cones: 5

Teacher tip

Laminate the cards so they last. Avoid calling foods "good" or "bad": say "everyday foods" and "sometimes foods."

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