Healthy Eating Habits

Summary of the Lesson

In this lesson, Year 1 students will explore the importance of healthy eating and how different foods help their bodies grow and stay strong. The lesson will introduce the idea of balanced meals, different food groups (such as fruits, vegetables, proteins, and dairy), and making healthy food choices. Through interactive discussions, a hands-on activity, and reflective exercises, children will begin to understand how food affects their energy and well-being.

This PSHE lesson aligns with the UK National Curriculum for Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Education, focusing on Health and Wellbeing, specifically aimed at developing awareness of a healthy, balanced diet.

---

Lesson Objectives

Pre-Knowledge

• Children may already be familiar with some common foods they eat at home.
• Some students may have basic ideas about "healthy" and "unhealthy" foods but may not fully understand why.

Concepts and New Knowledge

By the end of this lesson, pupils will:
✔ Understand that eating a variety of foods keeps them healthy and strong.
✔ Identify different food groups and their benefits (e.g. fruits and vegetables, dairy, proteins, and carbohydrates).
✔ Recognise the importance of drinking water and limiting sugary snacks.
✔ Make simple choices about healthier foods to eat.

---

Future Learning

This lesson will build a foundation for:
✅ Future discussions on exercise and well-being.
✅ Learning about food chains and where food comes from in science.
✅ Understanding how to create a simple balanced meal in future PSHE topics.

---

Differentiation

To support all learners:

• Visual learners will have food pictures and colourful food plate diagrams.
• Auditory learners will engage in discussions and listen to a simple food song.
• Kinesthetic learners will participate in an interactive food-sorting activity.
• For higher-ability learners, encourage discussion about how food helps different body parts (e.g. milk strengthens bones, vegetables help to fight illness).
• For lower-ability learners, simplify by focusing on distinguishing between "healthy" and "sometimes" foods using real-life examples.

---

Lesson Structure

1. Introduction (5 minutes)

Hook: Start with a simple question:
"What did you have for breakfast today?"
Encourage pupils to briefly share their answers. Then, ask:
"Do you think your breakfast helped your body stay strong and full of energy?"

Show two contrasting pictures: a healthy breakfast (fruit, porridge, milk) and an unhealthy one (sweets, crisps, fizzy drinks).

• Ask: “Which breakfast do you think is better for our body and why?”
• Introduce the key word "healthy" and explain we will learn about what makes food good for our bodies.

---

2. Lesson Development (15 minutes)

Activity 1: Food Sorting Game (7 minutes)

• Show children pictures of different foods (e.g. apples, crisps, fish, chocolate, rice, milk).
• Hand out two large hoops or create two categories on the board: Healthy Food and Sometimes Food.
• As a class, sort the food pictures into the correct group.
• Discuss choices as they go along: "Why is milk good for us?" "When do we eat chocolate?"

Activity 2: The Healthy Plate Discussion (5 minutes)

• Introduce the idea of a balanced plate, using a large poster or drawing.
• Show different food groups:
  • Fruits & Vegetables 🥕🍎 (help us fight illness)
  • Proteins 🐟🥚 (help us grow)
  • Dairy 🥛🧀 (makes our bones strong)
  • Carbohydrates 🍞🍚 (give us energy)
• Ask the children to name foods from each category and where they might have seen them.

Mini Discussion: Water and Sugar (3 minutes)

• Ask: “What do we drink when we feel thirsty?”
• Show a bottle of water and a fizzy drink.
• Explain that our bodies need water to work properly. Too much fizzy drink or juice can upset our teeth and bodies.

---

3. Consolidation (5 minutes)

▶ Quick Think-Pair-Share: Ask children to turn to a partner and share one healthy food they will try to eat today.
▶ Healthy Snack Choice: Show two options—a piece of fruit and a chocolate bar—and ask: “Which one is the better choice for our body? Why?”
▶ Sing a brief healthy eating song, reinforcing the lesson in a fun, memorable way.

---

Reflection (5 minutes)

• Ask pupils: “What is one new thing you learned today?”
• Hold up a thumbs up or thumbs to the side to gauge how much they enjoyed the lesson.
• Encourage children to share at home one healthy food idea they discussed today.
• Suggest a challenge: “Try to eat one more fruit or vegetable tomorrow!”

---

Teacher Reflection Questions:

• Did students engage with the activities and discussions?
• Did they make connections between healthy eating and their own food choices?
• Were any students struggling with the concept of "sometimes food" instead of "bad food"?
• Did the differentiation strategies work effectively?

---

Final Thought

This 30-minute PSHE lesson is packed with interaction, hands-on activities, and discussion to make healthy eating an exciting and relevant concept for Year 1 students. Teachers will leave students excited and confident about choosing nutritious foods—and maybe even inspire some family conversations about balanced eating at home! 🍎🥦🥛