🍽️ Part 1: Understanding Meal Planning

1. What is meal planning? Write your definition below:

2. Circle all the benefits of meal planning:

Saves time during busy weekdays

Helps ensure balanced nutrition

Reduces food waste

Helps control food costs

Increases variety in meals

Reduces stress about "what's for dinner?"

🥗 Part 2: Australian Dietary Guidelines Food Groups

3. Match each food item to its correct food group according to the Australian Dietary Guidelines:

1. Brown rice

2. Salmon

3. Broccoli

4. Greek yoghurt

5. Apple

A. Vegetables and legumes/beans

B. Fruit

C. Grain (cereal) foods

D. Lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, nuts

E. Milk, yoghurt, cheese and alternatives

4. A balanced dinner plate should include foods from _______ different food groups to provide optimal nutrition for growth and development.

5. Which food group should take up the largest portion of your dinner plate?

Lean meats and protein foods

Vegetables and legumes/beans

Grain (cereal) foods

Dairy and alternatives

📅 Part 3: Creating Your Weekly Dinner Menu

6. Plan a balanced weekly dinner menu for 7 days. Include foods from all five food groups and ensure variety throughout the week:

Monday: ________________________________________________

Tuesday: _______________________________________________

Wednesday: _____________________________________________

Thursday: ______________________________________________

Friday: ________________________________________________

Saturday: ______________________________________________

Sunday: ________________________________________________

7. Choose one meal from your weekly menu above and list which food groups it includes:

Selected meal: _________________________________________

Food groups included:

Vegetables and legumes/beans

Fruit

Grain (cereal) foods

Lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, nuts

Milk, yoghurt, cheese and alternatives

🤔 Part 4: Reflection and Application

8. What did you find most challenging about creating a balanced weekly menu? Explain your answer:

9. How could meal planning help you and your family make healthier food choices? Give at least two specific examples:

10. Fill in the blanks: Meal planning supports healthy eating by ensuring __________ across all food groups, helping to control __________ and reducing __________ waste. It also saves __________ during busy periods and reduces __________ about daily meal decisions.

11. True or False: Circle the correct answer for each statement:

a) Meal planning means you must eat the same foods every week.

True

False

b) Including seasonal and local foods in your meal plan can be beneficial.

True

False

c) A balanced meal must include foods from all five food groups at every meal.

True

False