**Lesson Plan for Home Economics: Healthy Feeding and Eating Practices (II)**
**Grade Level:** Junior Secondary 1
**Lesson Duration:** 60 minutes
---
### **Objective:**
By the end of this lesson, students will:
1. Understand the importance of balanced diets.
2. Identify different food groups and their nutritional value.
3. Learn about healthy eating practices.
4. Develop skills to prepare a simple healthy meal.
### **Materials Needed:**
- Chart of food pyramid
- Flashcards with food items
- Ingredients for a simple salad (lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, dressing, etc.)
- Cutting boards, knives, bowls
- Whiteboard and markers
### **Lesson Outline:**
**Introduction (10 minutes):**
- **Welcome and Objectives:** Greet students and present the lesson objectives. Explain that today they will learn about healthy feeding and eating practices.
- **Ice Breaker Activity:** Ask students what they had for breakfast and discuss if their choices were healthy.
**Theoretical Session (20 minutes):**
1. **Balanced Diet:**
- **Definition:** Explain what a balanced diet is.
- **Importance:** Discuss why a balanced diet is crucial for maintaining health.
2. **Food Groups:**
- **Explanation:** Present the food pyramid and explain the different food groups.
- **Nutritional Value:** Discuss the nutritional values and benefits of each food group (carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals).
3. **Healthy Eating Practices:**
- **Eating Regularly:** Explain the importance of regular meals and avoiding skipping meals.
- **Portion Control:** Discuss portion sizes and the dangers of overeating.
- **Hydration:** Stress the importance of drinking water.
**Practical Session (20 minutes):**
- **Activity:** Preparation of a Simple Healthy Salad:
- **Step-by-Step Guide:** Demonstrate how to wash and prepare the vegetables.
- **Student Participation:** Allow students to follow along, practicing their cutting and mixing skills.
- **Discussion:** Talk about the nutritional benefits of each ingredient used in the salad.
**Conclusion (5 minutes):**
- **Recap:** Summarize the key points of the lesson.
- **Q&A:** Allow students to ask questions and provide clarifications.
- **Assignment:** Ask students to keep a food diary for three days, noting what they eat and reflecting on their meal choices.
**Evaluation (5 minutes):**
- **Quiz:** Conduct a short quiz with questions on what a balanced diet is, the food groups, and examples of healthy eating practices.
- **Feedback:** Provide immediate feedback and any necessary corrections.
---
### **Homework:**
- **Food Diary:** As part of their assignment, students will maintain a food diary for three days, including all meals and snacks. They will also write a reflection on their eating habits and identify areas for improvement.
---
### **Additional Notes:**
- Ensure students handle knives and other kitchen tools safely.
- Encourage students to share their salads and discuss how they might make healthy changes to other meals they eat regularly.
---
By following this lesson plan, Junior Secondary 1 students will gain a practical understanding of healthy feeding and eating practices and be able to apply this knowledge in their daily lives.