Teacher's notes

This activity explores some of the messages about food and diet that the children may have already absorbed. Children will probably have ideas about what constitutes 'healthy' and 'unhealthy' food types and it is worth exploring these concepts. The terms 'healthy' and 'unhealthy', however, when used for foods, are controversial.

The case for NOT using the terms 'healthy’, ‘good', 'unhealthy’ and ‘bad' foods:
The messages around diet given by government, many health professionals and the food industry avoid the use of the terms 'healthy' and 'unhealthy' foods. The argument is that it is not the individual foods that are 'healthy' or 'unhealthy' but the overall balance and variety of foods that are eaten that result in 'healthy' and 'unhealthy' diets. The case is also made that using the terms 'unhealthy' and 'bad' for foods can lead to problems such as people feeling guilty about some of the foods they eat. This may encourage restricted eating among some groups which in the long term can lead to disordered eating patterns, possibly resulting in conditions such as obesity and bulimia. Conversely, it may lead some children to eat more 'junk' food, as an act of defiance against 'good' food.

The case for using the terms 'healthy’, ‘good', 'unhealthy’ and ‘bad' foods:
Others take the view that there are such things as 'healthy' and 'unhealthy' foods. How do people eat an unhealthy diet (containing too much saturated fat, sugar and salt) without eating unhealthy food (i.e. food containing too much of these components)? While children are always likely to eat 'junk' foods (fatty and sugary foods) they are not a necessary part of an adult's or a child's diet. While 'unhealthy' food will always need to be balanced with 'healthy' food to make a healthy diet, there is no need to "balance" a healthy diet comprising of 'healthy' foods by adding 'unhealthy' ones. It is important that the healthy eating message communicated to people, including children, is positive rather than negative, e.g. "eat more of the 'healthy' items such as fruit and vegetables, cereals and breads", rather than "eat less 'junk'". However, this does not mean that the terms 'healthy' and 'unhealthy' can not be used effectively and accurately. They can help to reinforce people's belief that they should eat less 'junk' food. Indeed, if these terms are not used, the food industry's advertising for such foods is more difficult to challenge.

Terms used by the Grab 5! pack:
It is important that health messages given to children and the public are consistent. The Grab 5! project has consulted widely with health and education specialists. The terms used in this pack are consistent with those in other widely accepted and used educational materials.