Pasifika Diet & Health Choices

Name:

Date:

🎯 Learning Goals

WALT: We Are Learning To make healthy food choices while honouring Pasifika traditions

Success Criteria: I can identify healthy foods, explain portion sizes, and plan balanced meals

📖 Dyslexia-friendly: Read aloud supported • Large text • Short lines

📚 Reading: Keeping Culture, Choosing Health

Vocabulary Box:

balanced = having the right mix • portion = serving size • fibre = helps digestion • active = moving your body

Pasifika families in New Zealand treasure their food traditions. Taro, cassava, breadfruit and coconut connect us to our islands. Fish, chicken and traditional dishes like palusami and lu'au bring families together.

But living in New Zealand brings new challenges. Processed foods are everywhere. Sugary drinks replace water. Portion sizes grow bigger. Many Pasifika youth face health problems like diabetes.

The good news? We can keep our culture AND choose health. Traditional foods are actually very nutritious. Taro and cassava give us energy. Fish provides protein. Coconut has healthy fats.

Small changes make big differences:

• Keep traditional meals but watch portions
• Add more vegetables to favourite dishes
• Choose water over fizzy drinks
• Stay active - dancing, rugby, walking

A balanced plate looks like this: half vegetables, quarter protein (fish/chicken), quarter starchy foods (taro/rice). This way we honour our ancestors while protecting our health.

Remember: food is love in Pasifika culture. We can show love through healthy choices that give our families energy and long life.

Comprehension Questions

1. Name three traditional Pasifika starchy foods mentioned:

_____________, _____________, _____________

2. What fraction of your plate should be vegetables?

One quarter

One half

Three quarters

3. Why might Pasifika youth face health challenges in New Zealand?

4. What does "food is love in Pasifika culture" mean in this context?

🍽️ Activities

5. Sort these foods: Write "Often" or "Sometimes"

Fresh fish: _______ • Fizzy drinks: _______ • Taro: _______ • Chocolate bars: _______

6. Circle the healthiest drink choice:

Coke • Orange juice • Water • Energy drink

7. Plan Your Plate - write one food in each section:

Protein: _____________

Starchy/Carbs: _____________

Vegetables: _____________

Drink: _____________

8. Reflection: One change I will try this week is:

Why this matters for my energy/health: ________________

✅ Quick Quiz

9. A balanced plate has:

Mostly meat

Half vegetables, quarter protein, quarter starchy

Only traditional foods

10. Which has added sugar?

Plain taro

Fizzy drinks

Grilled fish

11. Challenge: Explain one "trade-off" when choosing health and culture:

🎯 Answers

Comprehension: 1. taro, cassava, breadfruit 2. One half 3. Processed foods, sugary drinks, bigger portions 4. We can show love through healthy choices

Activities: 5. Often, Sometimes, Often, Sometimes 6. Water 7. Sample: fish, taro, broccoli, water

Quiz: 9. Half vegetables... 10. Fizzy drinks 11. Sample: Eating smaller portions of favourite foods