Have you ever wondered what makes you grow taller, run faster, and think harder at school? It's food! Think of your body like a car. A car needs gasoline to go, and your body needs healthy food as its fuel to go, go, go all day long.

Eating the right kinds of food gives you the energy to play with friends, helps your brain learn new things, and builds strong bones and muscles. Let's learn about the teams of foods that work together to keep you feeling great.

To make sure our bodies get everything they need, it's helpful to eat foods from five different groups. Think of them as five super teams! Each team has a special job to do to keep you healthy. Eating a little from each team every day is called having a balanced diet. It's the secret to being a superhero at school and on the playground.

Let's meet the teams:

• Fruits: This team is sweet and helps your body heal from cuts and scrapes. They are full of vitamins that fight off pesky germs. Apples, bananas, and strawberries are all on this team!

• Vegetables: This colorful team helps you see in the dark and keeps your skin healthy. Carrots, broccoli, and spinach are powerful players.

• Grains: This is your energy team! Grains give you the power to run, jump, and play. Bread, oatmeal, and rice are star members of the Grains team.

• Protein: This is the muscle-building team. They help you grow strong. You can find protein in foods like chicken, beans, eggs, and fish.

• Dairy: This team builds strong bones and teeth. Milk, yogurt, and cheese are all on the Dairy team, ready to make you tough.

Some foods are great for us to eat all the time, while others are best for just once in a while. Foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are packed with good stuff. They are like the star players on your team.

Foods like candy, chips, and soda have a lot of sugar and fat but not many vitamins. They are sometimes called "unhealthy" or "sometimes" foods. It’s okay to have them as a special treat, but they shouldn't be the main players in your meals. Eating too many of them can make you feel tired and sluggish.

What about how much to eat? A good way to know is to look at your own hand. A serving of meat or protein should be about the size of your palm. A serving of fruit or veggies is about what you can hold in your cupped hand. You don't need a giant plate of food to get the fuel you need!

Our bodies are mostly made of water. We need it for almost everything! Drinking plenty of water helps your brain think, keeps your body at the right temperature, and helps you have energy.

Try to drink water throughout the day, especially when you are running around and playing. Your body will thank you for it!

Now that you know the basics, you're ready to start building your own healthy plates.

Let's see what you've learned about fueling your body.

Eating healthy is a fun adventure. By choosing foods from all five food groups, you give your body the amazing fuel it needs to be its best.