Teenagers healthy does it matter

Lesson Objectives• Discuss the main issues with teenage

health and diet

• Identify healthy and unhealthy ingredients and understand why certain foods are healthier than others

• Explore the benefits of a healthy diet and the possible consequences of an unhealthy diet

• Learn how to create a healthy and delicious meal for teenagers

Success Criteria

• Participate in the discussion, arguing your point of view whilst respecting others

• Understand the importance of a healthy diet and the possible consequences of an unhealthy diet

• Identify healthy and unhealthy ingredients and place them in the correct categories on the worksheet

FIBRE for healthy digestive systemFRUIT AND VEGWHOLEGRAIN BREAD, PASTA, RICE, OATS

CALCIUM for healthy bones and teethGREEN LEAFY VEGOATSDAIRYADDED TO WHITE BREAD

PROTEIN for growthMEAT and FISHEGGS and BEANSNUTS/SEEDS and DIARY

IRON for energyRED MEATGREEN LEAFY VEGRED KIDNEY BEANSDRIED FRUIT

Children queuing for Salvation Army ‘Farthing Breakfasts’, about 1900

BackgroundIn 1900 there was a great deal of anxiety about the health of the people of Britain.The government and the armed forces found that many of the young men were too small or under-nourished to join up to fight for their country. Seebohm Rowntree carried out a survey of working class families in the city of York in 1901. He found that wages were often too low to ensure a decent standard of living. Children did not get the good diet they needed – partly because their parents were too poor and partly because parents generally did not understand what was needed for a healthy diet.

Some School Boards, notably the London School Board, began to offer cheap, or free, school dinners. Their motive was practical: hungry children cannot learn.The Liberal government, which was elected with a huge majority in 1906, was committed to reform. In 1907 they ordered School Medical examinations to be carried out, so as to catch ill children early. The Education (Provision of Meals) Act of 1906 was part of the government’s plan to ensure that British children grew up healthy – From 1907, when they began, school meals had to meet certain nutritional standards.





The Bad

Salty foods – which can cause high blood pressure, strokes, heart attacks, kidney disease

Fatty foods – which can cause obesity, and saturated fats can cause blocked arteries, heart attacks, strokes

Sugary foods – which can cause tooth decay, obesity and type 2 diabetes

It probably comes as no surprise that many teenagers eat badly. Does it matter?

The problem: A recent national survey shows that teenagers -

• don't eat enough fruit and vegetables (one in 13 eats the recommended five a day)

• scoff too much saturated fat and • don't get enough iron and

calcium.

What do you think?

•Yes it does matter

•No it doesn’t matter

•Can’t make up my mind

But, there are so many issues related to teenage years –

For example

What if, by focusing on food, it could tip someone into an eating disorder?

Food is the fuel and nutrition that teenagers grow up on,

so of course, if they want to grow up to be

strong and healthy adults

It does matter



