PSHE: 1a, 2a, 3a and 4a

You will need: Activity worksheet 1: Blank Balance of Good Health plate Activity worksheet 6: Diet diary. Activity worksheet 5: Diets of imaginary people.

Tell the children that they are going to keep a diet diary. Ask the children to use a blank copy of the Balance of Good Health plate (activity worksheet 1) to record all of the food that they eat/have eaten in 24 hours, making sure that they put the foods in the right food groups. They can draw the foods, write the food names or stick on the labels or packets of the foods that they have eaten.
A large diagram of the plate could be displayed on the classroom wall for all the children to add to which would represent the diet of the whole class.

This activity could be extended over several days to create a clearer picture of the children’s diets. Either ask the children to design their own record sheet or give them copies of the diet diary provided (activity worksheet 6).

Ask the children how their diets compare with the Balance of Good Health plate. What foods should they be eating more of and what foods should they be eating less of?

Maths, Activity 14: Bella’s food diary

	Teacher's notes The National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2000) of British school-age children (4-18 years olds) showed that on average over 90% of children ate diets containing more saturated fat than the maximum recommended amount. This fat comes from the fatty and sugary food group, the milk and dairy food group and the meat, fish and alternatives group. People need to choose lean and low fat options from these groups, such as lean meat, low fat youghurts, reduced fat cheeses and the vegetarian alternatives to meat which contain very low levels of saturated fat (beans, tofu etc.). People also need to eat fewer foods from the fatty and sugary food group. The National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2000) showed that too few foods are eaten from the bread, other cereals and potatoes group and the fruit and vegetable group. People need to eat more foods from these groups to achieve a balanced diet.

Explain that surveys have shown that lots of people are eating unbalanced diets; too much saturated fat, too many foods belonging to the fatty and sugary foods group, and not enough foods belonging to the bread, other cereals and potatoes group or the fruit and vegetable group. Discuss the possible damaging consequences for their health. Excess consumption of fatty and sugary foods is associated with heart disease, obesity and dental diseases. Bread, other cereals and potatoes provide energy and fibre and are important sources of some vitamins and minerals. Fruit and vegetables also contain fibre, minerals and vitamins which help us feel and look good. In particular they contain antioxidants which help to protect the body from some cancers and heart disease.

Activity worksheet 5 gives the children the opportunity to explore the diets of some imaginary individuals and allows the children to decide if their diets are properly balanced. The children should be encouraged to suggest improvements to these diets. These suggestions could be made through a role-play or letter writing exercise with particular emphasis being placed upon the need to pass on information and recommendations in a sensitive manner.

English, Activity 4: ‘You are what you eat’ is a poem comprehension English, Activity 11: ‘A day in the life of Ronald’ allows children to read about and modify and create the diet of an imaginary person.