Activity 1

Understanding Health Information and Nutritional Value

This healthy eating lesson plan focuses on interpreting and evaluating health information, particularly regarding nutrition and dietary choices. Students will explore the essential nutrients found in various food groups and how these nutrients support overall health and well-being.

Through activities like creating educational games and analysing food packaging, students will develop critical thinking skills to assess the nutritional value of different foods. The goal of this healthy eating lesson plan is to empower students with the knowledge to make informed decisions about their diet, promoting sustainable and healthy lifestyle choices.

Upper Primary Health & Physical Education Lesson Plan: Learning Objectives

Level 1

Develop a basic understanding of the nutritional value in a range of food groups.

Level 2

Describe and explain the essential nutrients in a variety of food groups.

Level 3

Critically analyse a wide range of rainbow foods to highlight their nutritional value and health benefits.

Australian Curriculum Health and Physical Education Links

Making healthy and safe choices

• Interpret the nature and intention of health information and messages and reflect on how they influence personal decisions and behaviours (AC9HP4P09)
• Investigate different sources and types of health information and how these apply to their own and others’ health choices (AC9HP6P09)

Teacher Material Needed

• Access to internet (optional)
• Art materials
• Supermarket magazines or recipe books (optional)
• Digital creative tools such as Canva or Classrooms
• Food packaging

Understanding Nutritional Values

1. Set up a discussion about essential nutrients necessary for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and supporting our bodies to perform at their best. Record students’ thoughts and ideas as a brainstorm. Highlight the importance of a balanced diet that incorporates various food groups rich in vitamins, minerals, proteins, and healthy fats.
2. Expand on the concept of nutritional value and provide examples of food that contain a variety of essential nutrients, e.g. eggs contain a variety of B vitamins, vitamin A, D, E and K, and are a great source of protein and healthy fats. In pairs, challenge students to brainstorm other phytochemical foods that contain a variety of nutrients, such as leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and colourful vegetables, reinforcing the idea of "eating the rainbow" to ensure a wide intake of nutrients.
3. Provide a range of food packaging for students to explore to find health information and identify sources of a range of nutrients, for example, vitamin A, vitamin B12, Omega 3, protein. Are these nutrients present in all foods? Which are surprising or unusual sources? Guiding students in these questions will help them to understand the importance of reading food labels and making informed choices about a healthy diet.
4. Challenge students to create a game to teach others about nutrition using the following activity.

Learning Activity 1: Creating a Nutrition Game

1. In small groups, challenge students to generate a list of 30 different foods from a variety of food groups. You may choose to provide access to supermarket websites, magazines or recipe books for inspiration. Encourage them to include foods that span the entire "food rainbow," emphasising the importance of eating the rainbow for a balanced intake of essential nutrients.
2. Students research and gather health information on the nutrients, vitamins, minerals and other components present in each food. This step will help them understand the essential nutrients necessary for maintaining a healthy diet and the benefits of eating healthy.
3. Provide a template for a Top Trumps-style card.
4. Guide students in creating their own deck of Top Trumps cards to represent the health information and nutritional value of the food on their lists. Direct them to incorporate the following on their card:
   1. Food name
   2. Image
   3. Food group
   4. Rating system for sugar, salt and fat content
   5. Information on nutritional value, vitamins and minerals
   6. An overall health rating, e.g. a health star system
5. Ensure students have adequate time to create their deck of Top Trumps cards, as well as access to art materials or digital tools.
6. Invite each group to present their deck with health information to the class, highlighting their 5 most interesting cards. This will allow students to share their findings and learn from each other about the nutritional value of various foods.

Extension: Support students in exploring possible sponsorship opportunities for their podcasts from local health and fitness organisations and businesses.

Healthy Eating Lesson Wrap Up

1. Summarise the key concepts of nutritional information, for example, where our bodies can find key nutrients, which foods are sources of multiple nutrients, and what our bodies use different nutrients for. Highlight the importance of a healthy diet and the benefits of eating healthy by incorporating a variety of nutrient-rich foods into daily meals.
2. Provide an opportunity for groups to play with each other’s decks or combine all decks into a classroom resource and provide opportunities for students to play.
3. Over the next few weeks, challenge students to explore nutritional information on food packaging. Encourage them to identify a variety of sources of different nutrients, focusing on the benefits of eating the rainbow and how different foods contribute to their overall health.