The Magnutracker system is designed to help children see the food choices they are making on a daily basis, and learn about nutrition in the process. Now parents, grandparents, caregivers, aunts and uncles, or anyone who wants to see a child grow strong and healthy has a tool to help promote making healthy choices TOGETHER. Children can learn the basics about foods and food groups monitoring the number of servings eaten, see the variety of foods eaten, learn about serving sizes, help with meal planning, and build skills to help them live a longer and healthier life. Figure Piece (12”x 18” paper steel) – An active boy or girl Figure with Food Pyramid dots on their clothing. The lower row within a color group indicates the minimum number of servings, and the total number of circles indicates the maximum servings per day for that group. For example, it is recommended that you have 6-11 grain servings per day. On the Figure Piece, there are 6 orange dots on the lower row to signify the 6 (minimum) servings. There are 11 total to indicate the upper limit of grain servings. The same is true for the other groups. Orange=Grain group (6-11 servings), Green=Veggie group (3-5), Red=Fruit group (2-4), Blue=Dairy group (2-3), Purple=Protein group (2-3). Pantry Piece (11”x 11” paper steel) – A Place to organize and store the Food Discs. It can be used to familiarize children with the classification of foods into their respective food groups.
72 Food Discs (7/8” diameter magnets) – The Food Discs represent the most commonly eaten foods. Their background color corresponds to the food groups they belong to and where they should be placed on the Figure Piece when that food is eaten. Each food group has an “other” Disc that represents a food in that food group that does not have its own Food Disc. Of the 72 Food Discs, some of the more frequently eaten foods are pictured on two Discs. Rice, for example, is on 2 Discs. Also, the Figure Piece has been designed in a way that any Disc can be placed to overlap 2 or 3 of the circles to indicate multiple servings of that food item. Component Materials
Both the Figure and Pantry pieces will be made of a sturdy, magnetized material called “paper steel.” Food discs magnets are easily placed and moved from the Pantry to the Figure piece and back. The Figure and Pantry piece were designed to be displayed on your refrigerator for easy access and as a reminder of what your kids have been eating. And because the paper steel is sturdy and durable, or if you have a stainless steel refrigerator, you may use the Magnutracker away from the frige as well! Simple Use – Tracking the variety of foods eaten
Most young children regulate the quantity they eat fairly well. So controlling how much they eat isn’t usually a problem. However, trying new foods and making healthy choices aren’t always easy for them. The chart can be used to show the variety of foods eaten during the day. If they are picky eaters, you can “reward” your child’s trying a bite of something by letting them place the Food Disc on the Figure! You can celebrate the accomplishment together! The next time that same food is served, perhaps two bites to get to post the food disc would be in order. Whatever works! More Complex Use – Tracking both the variety and quantity of foods eaten
You can use the MagNuTracker like a food journal by tracking both the type and quantity of food eaten. When a Disc is used, it would indicate that one SERVING of that food was eaten. Some serving sizes of the most popular foods are listed below. More information on the food pyramid and serving sizes is available at www.mypyramid.com. Suggestions for everyone! Use the Magnutracker for meal planning. Ask the kids to help plan dinner by asking them what types of foods need to be included to round out what they have eaten earlier in the day. And then have them help make dinner! At the end of the day, you can praise your children for the good choices they made, and make plans for tomorrow. Place a few “goal” Food Discs next to the boy/girl’s head for your kids to try over the next few days. Celebrate together when they try the new food and move the Disc onto the Figure. Quiz you kids about foods and food groups when shopping. Try to find some fruits and vegetables that aren’t specifically represented. Ask them which ones they want to try! Talk about breaking foods down into their simplest components. For example, pizza would be a bread Disc, a cheese Disc, and a tomato. Soup may contain many different veggies. Encourage your kids to eat foods in their most natural, unprocessed form. The form that you see on the Magnutracker disks.
