Tool · Ages 4–9
Food Group Sorting Activity
Choose the food group for each food. Some foods fit more than one group — the feedback explains why. Best played side by side with an adult reading aloud.
Which food group?
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Keyboard: press 1–6 to choose a group, Enter for the next food. Nothing is recorded, saved or sent anywhere.
How the groups are described
- Vegetables: All kinds of vegetables — raw or cooked, fresh, frozen or canned. Beans, peas and lentils are vegetables too.
- Fruits: Fresh, frozen, canned or dried fruit. The guidelines encourage whole fruit and limiting juice.
- Protein Foods: Meat, poultry, eggs, seafood, beans, peas, lentils, nuts, seeds and soy foods such as tofu.
- Dairy: Milk, yogurt and cheese, including lactose-free versions. Fortified dairy alternatives are also options.
- Whole Grains: Grains that keep the whole kernel, such as oats, brown rice, barley, quinoa, whole-wheat bread and popcorn.
- Healthy Fats: Fats from whole foods such as nuts, seeds, olives and avocados, plus cooking fats such as olive oil.
The six groups follow the food-group names in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030 (released January 2026). Many classroom materials still use MyPlate, the 2011–2025 federal icon, which had five groups. See our food groups guide for sources and how the two compare.
Offline version
Prefer cards on the table? Print the sorting cards and the sorting mat.