Concept: People need many different
foods to be healthy and grow
Content
Even if we get enough food to meet our energy needs, we can still be
unhealthy if we do not get the right kinds of different foods that we need.
Because different nutrients are found in different foods, we have to eat many
kinds of foods to get all of the things that we need.
Most regions have a traditional or local pattern of eating that provides
the variety needed for health and growth. For instance, a staple food such as
rice, wheat, maize, cassava or potatoes will provide the main food, to which
smaller amounts of vegetables, meat, fish or poultry and sauces are typically
added. When the accompanying foods include a variety of vegetables,
meats or legumes (beans, peas and nuts), as well as sauces containing fat and sugar,
the traditional, local diet will provide the nutrients needed for health and
growth.
Activities
Tell students that people all over the world have very different ways of
eating. Pass out or hold up the picture We Need Many Different Foods
and describe the meal that is being served to this family. It is made up of
a large portion of a staple food such as a starchy vegetable or grain. Ask
students what it looks like (rice, cassava and potato). Ask the students
what else they see in smaller amounts (fruit, meats, vegetable slices and
sauces).
Tell students that this is how most people in the world eat. They have a
staple food, then add smaller amounts of accompanying foods. Discuss how
staple foods around the world are typically starchy foods such as rice and
other cereals, potato and cassava. Discuss how the accompanying foods may
be vegetables, beans, peas, nuts, meats, fish, egg or sauces made from
these foods.
Tell students that the accompanying foods provide the different kinds of
nutrients that we need to be healthy. And that we should try to eat different
ones every day. We should also try to eat fruits after meals or for snacks.
Ask the students what their meals are like and ask if they also have a
staple food with smaller amounts of accompanying foods like the family in
the picture.
Using the picture as a guide, ask students to create a list of their own
local staple foods and the accompanying foods they add. This activity can be
combined with the last activity and use the list of foods previously
created, if appropriate. Ask students to count how many different
accompanying foods they can list and explain how having many different kinds
of foods provides the variety of many different nutrients that
they need to grow and to be healthy.
