HPE Curriculum Health Eating Strand
D2.1 Apply their knowledge of medical, emotional, practical, and societal factors that influence eating habits and food choices
D2.2 Apply their recognition of internal hunger and thirst cues and their knowledge of physical factors that influence the desire to eat and drink to develop personal guidelines for healthier eating
D3.1 Explain how healthy eating and active living work together to improve a person’s overall physical and mental health and well-being and how the benefits of both can be promoted to others
Key Concepts for Student Learning
- There are many influences on eating behaviours and food choices. Some of the factors that influence eating habits and food choices include social determinants of health, allergies, cost, preferences, taste, emotional state, media influences, access to and availability of food, family and cultural traditions, peers, environmental impact etc.
- Individuals make their own food choices based on their specific needs and situation.
- Our hunger, fullness and thirst cues tell us when we need to eat or drink. It is normal for appetite to vary during a day or a week depending on what you/your body are doing (growing, resting, after physical activity, if you are sick, before a meal, celebrating etc.). Removing distractions (like screens) can help us pay more attention to eating and enjoying food.
- Eating a variety of foods and getting physical activity can support our physical and mental health. There are also many factors outside of individual control that influence our health, such as income, environment, and genetics.
NOTE: Educators should be aware that food guide messages may not be appropriate for all students including those who are neurodivergent and/or have health, sensory or other exceptional needs that impact their relationship with food and eating. SMHO Resource on Mental Health Promotion at Schools: Classroom Considerations – Supporting Mental Wellness Amongst Students with Special Education Needs offers tips that can be applied to support learning about food and eating at school.
Classroom Activities and Lesson Ideas
Grade 6 Classroom Activities and Lesson Ideas
- Class discussion: How does society influence what foods we eat?
- Mindful eating lesson plan from Teach Nutrition
- A Guided Practice in Mindful Eating from TeachNutrition
- Take time to eat and enjoy by Health Canada
- Explore food systems and food waste with this Food Systems lesson from Growing Chefs Ontario
- Explore cultural aspects of food- have students share cultural foodways/traditions from different countries
- Traditional First Nations Foods – Gifts of the Peoples: Setting the Table from Teach Food First
- Taste like a Chef from Growing Chefs Ontario: Students learn to taste and describe foods using their 5 senses
- Anatomy of Taste from FanLit
- Examine personal and external factors that influence people’s food and beverages choices with the Case Studies lesson from Nutrition Education and Consulting
- Meals then and Now 2.0 from Food is Science
- “All about food allergy” school program for grades 4-6 from Food Allergy Canada
- Water Campaign from Teach Food First (importance of staying hydrated)
- Recipe Exploration from Teach Food First
- OPHEA Conversation Starter: Let’s Get Cooking Video
- Creating a Special Menu from Teach Food First
- Class discussion: What do hunger/fullness and thirst feel like in your body? What are early signs of hunger vs. later signs of hunger? Resource: Hunger Cues Canada’s Food Guide
- Class discussion: How can we make our classroom a welcoming and relaxing place to eat together? What are some ground rules our class could have to make eating together safe and pleasant for everyone? (I.e., not commenting on others’ foods, playing relaxing music, practicing mindfulness, etc.). What could we talk about while we eat? Brainstorm conversation starters to use at nutrition breaks (see this resource for ideas to get started).
- Book: Jarete Lerner – Hunger Heros