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Quest
Activity room
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Nutritious food does not have to be expensive. Check out cheaper alternatives...
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Objectives of the lesson
Know about... economic problems, which can affect the supply of nutrition
Understand... how economic problems can lead to an inadequate supply of nutrition
Be able to... buy low cost foods with high nutritive value
Lesson Plan
Content: What you teach
Step 1: Economic factors affect nutrition
We have to spend a lot of money on food every day. Foods have different prices. Prices of food affects their availability and affordability. Food quality and nutrition becomes a low priority if food price is too high.
Step 2: The Food choice
It is difficult to decide how much money should be allocated to the different expenses in a family. And a very little money remains for food. The variety, amount and quality of foods available to people living below the poverty line is small.
Step 3: Ways to overcome this problem
People in the community need to be educated about the nutritional value of different foods and be made aware of their availability and prices. Some general rules are: Fresh and unprocessed foods are often cheaper than packaged or processed foods. Buying fresh foods from wholesale markets are often cheaper. Growing our own vegetables in the kitchen gardens is the cheapest and safest alternative.
Step 4: Choosing nutritious food to eat
We must always make positive food choices: Eat seasonal fruits and vegetables Try to get low cost foods for the family Buy from a cooperative store or a wholesale market Always keep the nutritive value of foods in mind.
Method: How you teach
Step 1: Economic factors affect nutrition
Exercise
The teacher allocates each student an imaginary amount of money for the family needs for a week. Each student then makes out a budget on how money may most profitably and most healthily spent.
The teacher can show a film on "Food for health".
Step 2: The food choice!
Role Play
They list the items of food they will choose in the market with the prices next to them, ensuring they do not go over the amount that was originally budgeted. The teacher emphasises the necessity of having low cost and easily available foods.
Analysis
Analysis is then made of each student's budget in relation to foods.
Step 3: Ways to overcome this problem
Small group discussion
The teacher divides the class into groups; each student discusses their shopping list and how easy or difficult they found the exercise. They can help each other to assess the nutritive values of their "purchases" and make suggestions.
Step 4: Choosing nutritious food to eat!
Demonstration
The teacher puts some whole grains, fruits and vegetables on the table and asks the group to prepare a nutritious meal. The students list the low cost foods available in the community.
To take home
The students tell their parents and siblings about low cost nutritive foods. They help parents to select foods in the markets or shop considering both nutritional value and by keeping in mind their economic situation.
Resources
Film on nutrition Fruits and Vegetables
Evaluation
Do the students know how economic conditions affect food choices?
Do they understand the importance of choosing inexpensive foods?
Are they able to choose low cost nutritious food to eat?
Courtesy: Schools Total Health Program
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