The topic of nutrition is a good homeschool topic for your 10-14-year-olds or co-op. The middle years of life are a great opportunity to discuss nutrition and its effects on growth and our health. Early teens and tweens are particularly interested in the changes that adolescence brings. Nutrition is a safe topic for kids to consider how their choices will impact their future.
My older boys, now grown men, participated in a nutrition course based on topics from the book What Are We Giving Our Kids? Michael Jacobson. Although you could choose to read other books it helped us to know the title of each chapter and what information was needed to help us decide which topics we should cover.
These are my top twenty topics for middle schoolers to study nutrition units:
Processed meals that are typically served quickly. How is it made? What is the nutritional value of fast food compared to home-cooked meals? How important is fast-food in today’s economy How can we contribute to fast food’s growth?
Advertising food. How do TV and internet ads influence our eating habits
Eating lunch at school. How are schools able to choose what meals they serve their students? What influences school lunches’ content?
– What nutrients are needed. What is the daily requirement for protein, vitamins, minerals and carbohydrate? What are the best times to take vitamins? A daily vitamin is a good idea as “insurance”. What’s the ideal diet for growing teens? Is it different for toddlers and adults? How does diet influence how our bodies work?
– Vegetarianism. Why are some people vegetarian? What are the differences between vegetarian and vegan diets? How can vegetarians eat enough protein? Are there easy to prepare vegetarian and vegan meals?
– Food Production. How does food manufacturing impact the environment Why is there a chronic shortage of food in some countries? How are family farms and factories different in producing food? What foods are possible to make at home?
– Organic foods. What does this mean? Is it worth eating them? How does their consumption impact the environment
Labels on food items. How can we interpret information on food labels? What could be done to make food labels more useful? How has the food labeling evolved over time?
The withdrawal of food products from the market due to safety concerns. What are the main reasons why food is being recalled? How can you tell if your fridge, freezer, or pantry are affected by a recall? What laws govern food processing and how do they apply to you?
– Preserving and cooking. How can I make healthy food taste good? How can I keep it safe? How can I make jelly or pickles?
– Hunting and foraging. Are there natural foods I could find in my locality? Is it possible to hunt animals in the area for food?
– Local food. What is the concept behind the “locavore” movement? Is there a farmers market or harvest box in my area? Are farmers markets guaranteed to provide local food?
– Health, Weight Management, Exercise. What is a Calories? What are the interrelationships between exercise and food intake? What are the principles behind various weight loss diets like Atkins or Weight Watchers? What are the causes of obesity? Are there any health problems associated with being overweight?
Disordered Eating What is anorexia? What does disordered eating have to do with body image? What social pressures do you feel about body image (magazines, internet advertising, models of clothing, film)? What should you do if you suspect a friend/family member of disordered consuming? What do I do if my friend or family member is showing signs of disordered eating?
– Sweets, candy, or desserts. What role does sweets play in our diets? What happens when we consume foods high in fat and sugar? Can we have desserts without sugar or fat? Is it possible to make healthier desserts using unprocessed ingredients?
– Food ingredients. What are the origins and evolution of artificial sweeteners and modified fats as well as preservatives and colors in processed foods? Are these a potential risk? Why are they added to food products? Are they legal in every country? Are there any changes in regulations?
– Breastfeeding. What can breastfeeding do to help your baby get off on the right foot? What are the benefits of breastfeeding? Parents who are struggling to breastfeed should consult the experts. What is the ideal length of breastfeeding?
– Food sensitivities and allergies. What are the most common food allergies? Are there any members of our family that are allergic to nuts, gluten intolerance, dairy foods, or both? How can we eat together when there are restrictions on what people can eat?
– Cultural and international considerations What is the difference between eating habits of people from different countries and cultures?
How have their histories and their geographic locations influenced their diets. How healthy do diets differ in different countries? What happens when countries become more developed and “westernize” their diets? What does it mean to prepare and serve family meals in other countries, and what is their importance? How does inadequacies in diets affect the growth of children and the longevity of people?
– Money and food. How much money does our family spend on food? What is the value of “value-added” products for food producers? Do you think it is cheaper to prepare your own food? Why does food cost change so often? What are the past history of both government and non-profit programs that feed those who don’t have enough money to eat? What is “food insecurity?”
A semester or full-year course in nutrition can be built. Each topic will take one to three weeks. There are many documentaries on food today. You can view them all first. Some include explicit depictions of meat processing or factory farming. Others are not suitable for children.
Wonderful field trip opportunities are available at food co-ops, farmers markets and food co-ops.
You may also invite guest speakers. Breastfeeding moms can be responsive to their baby while she talks about the benefits of breastfeeding. Local chefs or teachers might speak about how to make your own food. Talk to a farmer about the difficulties he or she has in delivering high-quality food to the market.
It’s also possible to have hands-on learning opportunities by working with your co-op/homeschool group on nutrition (and some of these are already part of your daily lives — put your kids ahead nutrition-wise!) Some kids might join forces to plant a communal garden. One might work together to can blackberries or can vegetables. While these jobs are not easy if you have large gardens, it is possible to get a group of people together to can and freeze blackberries or other vegetables. It is also acceptable to allow children to take part in small-scale canning and freezing to better understand how food is stored.
Children learn about nutrition by sharing a meal and taking part in cooking and menu planning classes.
There are also opportunities to serve. Some children can help to prepare meals or take part in food drives. Others, such as older siblings, might volunteer in soup kitchens or host food packaging events through Stop Hunger Now. Stop Hunger Now distributes food worldwide. Sometimes children can volunteer at their local co-op and help with deliveries or sorting orders.
You should not miss this chance to discuss nutrition and your family. You can help your kids learn about these topics by using the suggestions and field trips.