Educating children and young people about healthy eating is essential in helping them form positive habits from a young age. Enjoying a healthy diet can also be an opportunity to celebrate differences in culture in our communities and schools.

Schools play an important role in developing in young people the knowledge, skills and attitudes to make healthy dietary choices that support strong growth and development.

The mandatory PDHPE K–10 syllabus acknowledges the link between good nutrition and healthy lifestyle behaviour. Students develop skills that enable them to choose foods wisely and in an informed way.

In K-6 PDHPE, students explore:

• balanced eating habits and the importance of adequate nutrition
• making choices in regard to fast food
• influences of culture and media on food choices
• special dietary needs eg cultural and medical needs
• how positive health choices can promote wellbeing
• evaluating decisions.

In Years 7-10 PDHPE, students explore:

• healthy food habits, recommended dietary guidelines for children and young people and other sources of nutritional information
• the range of factors that influence food choices eg culture, gender and media
• the relationship between sense of self, body image and gender
• critical health literacy skills and health consumerism
• diets, exercise and energy balance
• fluid replacement strategies for participation in physical activity
• a range of positive management strategies to support good health and wellbeing.

For more information relating to the benefits of healthy eating, visit the following websites:

• Australian Guide to Healthy Eating
• Better Health Channel
• Cancer Council- Eat It To Beat It
• Healthy Kids Association
• Life Education Australia
• NSW Ministry of Health- Healthy Kids
• Nutrition Australia

Free apps available to download:

• Food labels with nutritional facts
• Smoothie Recipes
• Swap It Don’t Stop It
• Taste
• Traffic Light Food Tracker

For more information, contact:
Amy Harriman
Senior Curriculum Officer, PDHPE
amy.harriman@bostes.nsw.edu.au
(02) 9367 8317