Lesson plan

Lesson 1: A healthy, balanced diet

Objectives

• To know and be able to name the five main food groups
• To know and be able to name the nutrients contained in foods
• To be aware that different nutrients have different functions which help to maintain a healthy body
• To understand the meaning of a healthy, balanced diet.

Resources

• Interactive white board to run IWB 'Food on the plate'
• IP 'Eating for health' (could adapt to two OHP sheets, the first covering the information 'What makes a healthy diet?' and the second covering 'What’s a balanced diet?')

Starter activity: (10–15 minutes)

Run IWB 'Food on the plate'. Begin by discussing the five food groups, then run the rest of the programme allowing time for pupils to discuss the food groups.

Main activity: (30 minutes)

Using the information on IP 'Eating for health' on the OHP, work through this information with pupils, allowing time for questions, answers and discussion.

Ask pupils to draw and label a diagram of their own creation that illustrates how much of each food group should be eaten daily to maintain a healthy, balanced diet. (This task is based on the concept of the Balance of Good Health food plate, but allow pupils the chance to use their own creative skills.)

Plenary: (10–15 minutes)

Bring the class back together and share some of their work, recapping the main points. Show them a copy of the Balance of Good Health food plate from IP 'Eating for health'.