Food for thought

Learning objective & outcomes

Programme of Study

DfE statutory guidance

Key stage 1 (Year 1-2)

Keeping healthy with food and drink

To learn about food and drink that can help keep people healthy.

Pupils will be able to:

• identify where some food and drink come from
• describe how food and drink can be changed before it is eaten or drunk
• suggest some foods and drinks that help to keep people healthy
• identify times when someone can make choices about what to eat and drink

Healthy lifestyles

H1. about what keeping healthy means; different ways to keep healthy

H2. about foods that support good health and the risks of eating too
much sugar

Healthy eating

• what constitutes a healthy diet (including understanding calories and other nutritional content).
• the principles of planning and preparing a range of healthy meals.
• the characteristics of a poor diet and risks associated with unhealthy eating (including, for example, obesity and tooth decay) and other behaviours (e.g. the impact of alcohol on diet or health).

Key stage 2 (Year 3-6)

Lesson one: Healthier eating and drinking habits

To learn about why healthier eating and drinking is important.

Pupils will be able to:

• identify food and drink that should be consumed often and food and drink that should be consumed less often, or in smaller amounts
• explain the effects different food and drink have on the body and the importance of a balanced diet
• describe some healthier eating and drinking habits

Lesson two: Healthier eating — choices and influences

To learn how to manage influences when choosing what to eat or drink.

Pupils will be able to:

• identify different choices people might make about what to eat and drink
• describe different influences on food and drink choices
• explain how people can manage less helpful influences when making choices about food and drink

Lesson three: Ready, set, cook!

To learn how to plan and prepare a healthy meal.

Pupils will be able to:

• describe some of the benefits of cooking at home
• evaluate ingredients to decide on the healthiest option
• explain how to prepare a healthy meal safely

Healthy lifestyles

H1. how to make informed decisions about
health

H2. about the elements of a balanced, healthy
lifestyle

H3. about choices that support a healthy
lifestyle, and recognise what might influence
these

H4. how to recognise that habits can have both
positive and negative effects on a healthy
lifestyle

H6. about what constitutes a healthy diet; how to plan healthy meals; benefits to health and wellbeing of eating nutritionally rich foods; risks associated with not eating a healthy diet including obesity and tooth decay.

Learning objective & outcomes

Programme of Study

DfE statutory guidance

Key stage 3 (Year 7-9)

Making healthier choices

To learn about nutrition and how to make independent, informed decisions about what to eat.

Pupils will be able to:

• identify the benefits of, and barriers to, making healthier food choices
• analyse different influences on someone’s food choices
• analyse strategies for making independent, healthier choices about food 

Self-concept

H5. to recognise and manage internal and external influences on decisions which affect health and wellbeing

Healthy lifestyles

H17. the role of a balanced diet as part of a healthy lifestyle and the impact of unhealthy food choices

H18. what might influence decisions about eating a
balanced diet and strategies to manage eating choices

Physical health and fitness

• the characteristics and evidence of what constitutes a healthy lifestyle, maintaining a healthy weight, including the links between an inactive lifestyle and ill health, including cancer and cardio-vascular ill health.

Healthy eating

• how to maintain healthy eating and the links between a poor diet and health risks, including tooth decay and cancer.

Key stage 4 (Year 10-11)

Making informed choices

To learn how decisions about food are influenced by a range of factors, and how to make healthier food choices

Pupils will be able to:

• explain the benefits of maintaining a healthier diet
• identify factors that can influence the food choices someone makes as they become more independent
• analyse barriers to making healthier choices
• evaluate strategies to overcome these barriers and make healthier choices in future

Self-concept

H4. strategies to develop assertiveness and build
resilience to peer and other influences that affect both how they think about themselves and their health and wellbeing

Health-related decisions

H11. to make informed lifestyle choices regarding sleep, diet and exercise

H13. To identify, evaluate and independently access reliable sources of information, advice and support for all aspects of physical and mental health

H18. the ways in which industries and advertising can influence health and harmful behaviours