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Food Groups KS2

Teach your KS2 class about the different food groups with this ready-to-teach lesson. In this Food Groups KS2 DT lesson, your Year 3 class will explore each of the different food groups, finding out which types of food each contains and how much of each they should be eating to form a healthy diet. They will then start to relate this to sandwiches and consider which ingredients comprise a healthy, balanced sandwich.

This Food Groups KS2 DT lesson includes:

  • a detailed lesson plan with differentiated activities
  • a slideshow for the teaching input
  • a range of printable resources for independent learning activities

This lesson is part of our Sandwich Snacks DT scheme of work for Year 3.

Food Groups KS2 Lesson Pack

£2.99

Scroll through the pictures for a preview of the lesson's resources:

Food Groups KS2 slideshow example 1
Food Groups KS2 slideshow example 2
Food Groups KS2 slideshow example 3
Food Groups KS2 slideshow example 4
Food Groups KS2 slideshow example 5
Food Groups KS2 worksheet example 1
Food Groups KS2 worksheet example 2
Food Groups KS2 lesson plan example 1
Range of fresh foods

Food Groups Facts for Teachers and Kids

How many food groups are there?

There are five main food groups: carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables, protein, dairy products, and oil and spreads.

What are the food groups?

Carbohydrates - e.g. bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, cereal

Carbohydrates are an important source of vitamins and iron. They contain sugars that give us energy. Some carbohydrates, such as wholegrain cereal, give us fibre to keep our digestive systems working properly. Potatoes are not classed as vegetables but as a carbohydrate because they contain a lot of starch. 

 

Fruits and Vegetables - e.g. onions, lettuce, carrots, bananas, oranges, berries

Fruits and vegetables are low in fat and contain natural sugars to give you energy. They contain lots of different vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to keep you healthy. You should eat a wide range of fruit and vegetables, and aim to eat at least five portions a day.

 

Protein - e.g. beans, pulses, meat, fish, eggs, nuts

Protein helps the body to repair itself and to grow. Foods such as meat and fish also provide iron and minerals. It is important for vegetarians to ensure they get enough protein by replacing meat and fish with eggs, pulses and soya, which are good alternatives.

 

Dairy products - e.g. milk, cheese, yoghurt, cream, soya drinks

Dairy products contain lots of calcium which is essential for keeping your bones strong. It also helps to keep your teeth healthy. Dairy products also have some vitamins in and some contain proteins.

 

Oils and Spreads - e.g. vegetable oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, margarine

We should only have a very small amount of oils and spreads in our diet. Unsaturated fats are healthier and include vegetable, rapeseed, olive and sunflower oils.

 

Fats and sugars are necessary in a diet but in very small amounts. You can usually get the fats and sugars you need from other food groups. Junk food like crisps, sweets, cakes and chocolate might taste nice but they don't have many nutrients in them to help the body and too many can be very unhealthy. 

What is the Eatwell Plate?

This is a balanced plate. It shows you which food groups you should eat a lot of food from, and which food groups you should eat a little food from, in order to achieve a healthy, balanced diet.

An example of an Eatwell Plate

An example of an Eatwell Plate.

When should children learn about food groups?

According to the National Curriculum DT objectives, children should:

  • Key Stage 1 - use the basic principles of a healthy and varied diet to prepare dishes
  • Key Stage 2 - understand and apply the principles of a healthy and varied diet

 

According to the National Curriculum Science objectives, children start to learn about food groups in KS1. It is assigned as compulsory learning in Year 2 under the 'Animals including humans' strand of learning.

In Year 2, children should learn to:

  • describe the importance for humans of exercise, eating the right amounts of different types of food, and hygiene.

In Year 3, children should learn to:

  • identify that animals, including humans, need the right types and amount of nutrition, and that they cannot make their own food; they get nutrition from what they eat

The non-statutory activities suggest that children might research different food groups and how they keep us healthy and design meals based on what they find out.

 

These Science objectives are covered in our Year 2 Growth and Survival scheme, and our Year 3 Health and Movement scheme.