Chapter Text
Once upon a time in a palace far far away lived King Henry the egg and Queen Annabanana, the King and Queen had two healthy children Princess Peapod and Prince Waffle.
The King's uncle and favorite advisor Sir.Milkford the scholar lived with them at the MyPlate palace and together they were known as the royal food family.
One day the royal food family was playing out in the courtyard, King Henry the egg was shooting baskets, Princess Peapod was skating, Prince Waffle was jumping rope and Queen Annabanana was swimming in the pool.
All of a sudden they heard a strange and terrible sound.
The noise was dreadful.
King Henry the egg missed a clear shot with his basketball, Princess Peapod skates spun out of control, Prince Waffle tripped on his rope and Queen Annabanana had to climb out of the pool.
People from all over the kingdom heard this horrible noise and became frightened. The villagers hurried to the MyPlate palace to seek advice from the king but King Henry the egg did not know what was making that sound but he knew exactly what to do.
He must find his Uncle Sir.Milkford right away “Surely, Sir. Milkford will recognize this frightful noise.” thought a worried King Henry.
King Henry the egg found Sir.Milkford in his study “Uncle, Uncle Milkford!” Cried the King “What is that awful sound?”
“I don’t know your highness,” replied Sir.Milkford “it sounds like it’s coming from up in the mountains, it's a good thing we ate a healthy breakfast because we’ll need that energy to hike up the mountain and see what’s causing that monstrous racket.”
With that the entire royal food family set out to find what was causing that noise. As they climbed higher the noise grew louder.
“Hey!” Prince Waffle shouted “It’s coming from that cave!”
They crept silently to the cave’s entrance drawing their swords as they tiptoed toward the opening, suddenly they saw a lot of garbage.
“What a mess!” cried Princess peapod.
The floor of the cave was littered with empty soft drink cans, empty potato chip bags, candy wrappers, cookie crumbs and a half eaten cake.
“Who’s there?” asked Sir.Milkford as he lifted his lantern.
“Run!” Shouted King Henry the egg “It’s a-”
(this is where the teacher asks the students what they think it is)
“It’s a dragon!”
“Please!” moaned the dragon “Help me. I’m very sick and my body hurts all over, especially my tummy.” The dragon put his head down and laid very still.
“Put away your swords!” Yelled King Henry the egg “He couldn’t hurt us if he tried, he’s much too sick.”
(This is where the teacher asks the class why they think the dragon is so sick)
“Can we help him?” Asked Princess Peapod.
“Of course,” said Sir.Milkford “We’re the royal food family, we represent the five food groups. That’s what this little dragon needs to get healthy and stay healthy.” Sir.Milkford began to draw some pictures on the wall of the cave to show the dragon what he needed to eat but the dragon began to cry.
“Why are you crying?” asked Sir.Milkford
“I can’t see what you’re writing.” The dragon replied “It’s too dark in here.”
“Poor night vision.” Sir.Milkford sighed “Princess Peapod, give this poor dragon what he will need to help him see in the dark.”
Princess Peapod searched her knapsack, found some nice crunchy carrots and handed them to the dragon. “Here,” cried Princess Peapod “Eat these carrots.”
The dragon looked at the carrots for a moment almost afraid to eat them but then he gave them a try and said “mmm” as he crunched away on his carrots he asked if his vision would really get better.
“Of course.” Replied Princess Peapod “Everyone knows that carrots and other vegetables help your eyes see in the dark.”
(teacher exercise)
“I never ate carrots before” said the dragon, the princess was shocked “Never ate carrots, well it’s about time.”
Sir.Milkford placed his lantern next to the dragon, the dragon looked terrible he was too weak to hold his head up, his teeth were in poor shape and his skin was full of cuts and bruises.
Sir.Milkford stepped closer to the little dragon and smiled “We’re gonna help you little guy.” he said then he reached into his pack “Do you like milk?” Sir.Milkford asked. “I don’t know,” answered the dragon, “I’ve never tried it.”
“Never tried milk?” Sir.Milkford was very surprised “Next you’re going to tell me that you didn’t know that milk and other dairy group foods help build strong bones and teeth.”
“They do?!” Said the dragon in amazement
“Yes, they do. Here take a taste.” Said Sir.Milkford handing the dragon a bottle of milk he pulled from his pack.
The dragon drank the milk and said “Mmm.”:)
“Have another.” Said Sir. Milkford “If you start eating foods from the dairy group your bones and teeth will get stronger and healthier.”
(teacher exercise)
Next Queen Annabanana gave the dragon her mirror.
He gasped at the sight of himself.
“Oh my dear, you’re filled with fear!” said Queen Annabanana
“Of course I am.” said the dragon “My skin is all black and blue and I’ve fallen a lot lately and I’m cut and bruised and I can’t see any of my beautiful scales. How can I get my color back?”
Queen Annabanana reached into a pocket in her robe and handed the dragon a large orange “If you want to heal a cut or a bruise, please pay attention to the food you choose, foods from the fruit group will help your skin heal. Just eat this orange and see how you feel.”
The dragon ate the orange and said “These oranges taste good and they’re good for me too?!” exclaimed the dragon.
Queen Annabanana reached into a pocket and then gave the dragon another orange to eat
(teacher activity)
As the dragon finished the oranges he heard laughing and shouting outside his cave. “What’s that noise?”
“It’s just some children playing soccer.” Said the King. Prince Waffle asked the dragon if he wanted to join the game
“I’ve never played soccer…” replied the dragon.
Prince Waffle told the dragon that he would teach him.
They all went out into the fresh mountain air and began to play soccer.
Things were going okay until it was the dragon’s turn to kick, the muscles in his legs were so weak he had no power behind his kick.
King Henry the egg explained to the dragon that he needed strong muscles to play sports and protein group foods are important to help build strong muscles. King Henry shared his hamburger with the dragon “Try this.” Said the King.
“I like this hamburger” said the dragon “This tastes good.”
Excellent” Said King Henry “Not only do you need to eat a variety of foods you also need to stay active every day to keep your body and muscles strong and healthy.”
(Teacher activity)
The dragon said “I don’t know how to be active.”
“You just did!” Replied Prince Waffle “Playing soccer is great exercise.”
“So is roller skating!” Added the Princess.
“I like to swim,” said the Queen, “it keeps me strong.”
“I think I would like to do all those things but I’m always so tired.” said the dragon “I just don’t have any energy.”
Seeing the little dragon so sad Prince Waffle said that he could help him to gain more energy “Dragon,” said the prince “This is my speciality if you want more energy you need to eat more grains from the grain group, here try this whole grain waffle, it’s my favorite.”
The dragon didn’t know what grains were but he ate the whole waffle and said “Mmm”
(teacher activity)
By this time the little dragon was feeling better. King Henry the egg looked at him and said “Well I guess it’s time for us to go home.”
“Wait!” Said the Dragon “I feel so much better now that you’ve given me something to eat from all the five food groups but what am I going to do tomorrow? How will I ever remember what foods to eat to keep me healthy?”
“Little Dragon” said Princess Peapod “Why don’t you just come home with us then, we can all teach you about the five food groups and staying healthy.”
“Little Dragon” said Prince Waffle “It would be awesome for you to come to the myPlate palace.”
“Could I?” Asked the dragon looking at Sir.Milkford, King Henry the egg and Queen Annabanana, they all smiled “Of course.” They said “By the way little fellow what is your name?”
“I don’t have a name.” said the Dragon
Then the king said “Then we shall call you Little D, because you are a little dragon.” and henceforth this little dragon was known throughout the kingdom as Little D.
Sources:
Youtube the podfic is from: https://youtu.be/1g2rg7BfpLA?si=YGvBe3Fbo7lEjvul
Online documentation: https://issuu.com/angelbolli/docs/stroryunit5
Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20111011183118/http://school.fueluptoplay60.com/tools/nutrition-education/view.php?id=23445811
Wayback Machine-PDF download: https://web.archive.org/web/20111114092349/http://school.fueluptoplay60.com/documents/nutrition-education/lessons/littled/Little_D-Lesson1.pdf
My memory (Which is fallible, if I missed something or misremembered something, let me know)