HEALTHY EATING CULTURE

THE IMPACT AND PRESENTATION OF HEALTHY EATING CULTURE IN SCIENCE LESSONS ON STUDENTS

Abstract:

Nutrition during school age plays a significant role in physical and mental development. Therefore, school canteens and dining halls need to be equipped with healthy foods and managed efficiently. In addition to healthy eating during our time at school, acquiring and implementing this culture at home with family members is crucial. Parents have a great responsibility in this regard. Family, school, and students should act in the same direction in acquiring these values. We are together with our students in the school environment from September, when the school opens, until June, when it closes. Although it may not be noticeable in very large crowds, when examined at the school and even classroom level, it is observed that students do not come to school or have difficulty concentrating during lessons at various times. There are days when sometimes 3, sometimes 5, and sometimes even 10 students from the same class cannot come to school. When you ask questions about this situation, you often hear phrases like "illness," "I don't feel well," or "I'm sleepy." A student misses out on a lot of information every day because they don't come to school or can't focus in class. The impact of science lessons becomes crucial in this regard. Starting with the importance of microscopic organisms in our lives in 5th-grade science class, we begin to understand the importance of good and clean nutrition for our bodies with the topic of systems in 6th grade. We see that healthy eating brings academic success, reduces illnesses, and minimizes distractions in class.

For the vital functions in our bodies to continue regularly and healthily, balanced nutrition is necessary. Balanced nutrition means consuming sufficient amounts from each food group. These food groups are meat, milk, grains, vegetables, and fruits. Incorrect and unbalanced nutrition leads to excessive weight gain, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and many other ailments. Nutrients; Foods can be categorized as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water. In science class, my students learn about these nutrients and how they are stored in the body through hands-on experience. Students who are heavier than their peers have concluded that the building block of carbohydrates is glucose.

In science class, my students learn about the food pyramid and how much of each food we should consume. The food pyramid has four levels. They realize that the grain group (level 1), which occupies the largest space, is the food group we should consume the most of. The fat and sugar group (level 4), which occupies the smallest space, is the food group we should consume the least of. With a balanced diet, the need for popular snacks like biscuits, chips, and chocolate bars, which are high in fat and/or sugar, has decreased. Many of my students also experience dental problems. The increased consumption of sugary products, especially recently, has accelerated this situation. I have students who crack hard foods like walnuts and hazelnuts with their teeth. The harmful effects of these should be discussed, and the importance of brushing teeth at least twice a day should be practically demonstrated to the students. In this way, they realize that even dental health is directly related to nutrition. The question of why fats are used second only to carbohydrates in the body, even though they provide more energy, should be posed to students, and they should be encouraged to think about it. Because fats are more difficult to burn in the body than carbohydrates, their energy-providing role is secondary. This shows that students in their developmental years must consume sufficient amounts from every food group. Students are taught that protein is the nutrient group involved in building and repairing the body, and which foods contain it. In this way, students who consume protein-rich foods realize that wound healing time is shorter and understand its importance for growth and development. They have reached the conclusion and become aware that proteins serve the same function for the body as bricks do for a building. Similarly, they have become aware of the importance of water, vitamins, and minerals during development and growth periods, as learned in science class.

Thanks to science class, they have learned:

We should pay particular attention to consuming food that is natural, unpackaged, and fresh. Because packaged foods contain preservatives and colorings.

We should wash food thoroughly before eating it.
We should check expiration dates.
We should check if food has a TSE certificate before buying it.
We should ensure that food is stored in a suitable environment and should not consume stale food.