Mea, the fictional character in this book, is reading the myplate website to learn more about food. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025, nutrition is linked to health.  It points out that regardless of age, proper nutrition is important for maintaining health, and for prevention of diseases.  She loves the paper on dietary guidelines. It can be found at: 

https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2021-03/DGA_2020-2025_ExecutiveSummary_English.pdf Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 202Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 20025, by the

The paper covers important information on scientific evidence on healthy nutrition. It is very informative. Mea wants to be healthy and strong so she can go to her favorite dance classes. Whenever she is sick she is not happy. 

She is curious about what others are eating and how their health is. The paper goes on on discussing policies and education of general public. This seems very important. Mea feels happy to be getting the latest  scientific information. 

Besides reading the complex information, she decides to observe her friends to see what they eat and how they are...

Mea's favorite foods are tangerines, chocolate,

cupcakes, hamburgers and pistashios. 

Her friend Anna the apple eater is full of energy. She loves to eat apples. Apples are in the fruit and vegetable category. 

                                 Anna the apple eater

Mea likes Anna. Anna smiles a lot and she is always in a good mood. She always carries some apples with her. Apples fit the nutritional quidelines well, because they do not have added sugar and they do not have saturated fats. 

She likes the pages on :                                   Apples

https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/2020-2025-dietary-guidelines-online-materials/top-10-things-you-need-know

Complex carbohydrates are found in foods such as: oats, brown rice and fruit. They are nutritious and healthy.  They are recommended by the dietary guidelines. Mea found more detailed information on:

 https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/ 

website. 

There are many resources and information on nutrition for all ages, including her baby brother and her great grandpa.

                     Raisins          Banana          Oats

Her friend Peter the pea eater is full of energy. He loves to eat protein rich green peas. Mea notices that Peter is very strong and muscular. He can jump and run really well. He even has healthy green eyes, like two peas. Mea wants to have energy and be strong like Peter.  

                               Peter the pea eater

Peas have protein in them. Other protein rich foods include meat, poultry, fish, beans, legumes and dairy. Mea likes pea soup, pea protein burgers and pea protein smoothies. She is excited to learn about the importance of eating protein. 

She realizes that it is easy to eat protein rich food, once she knows what they are.  She likes that peas are not expensive. Guidelines talk about the importance of oods being budget friendly. 

Her friend Nina the nut eater is full of energy. She is very nice. She loves to eat nuts, becuase they taste delicius and are easy to take with you as a snack.  She is very smart. Nuts have healthy oils in them that are good for the brain, so she says.

 Cashew nuts      Nina the nut eater  Sunflower seeds