Bringing Nature Home
This session will explore the power of plants. Students will investigate their importance first as a food source and explore the benefits of a more plant based diet in being sustainable for our planet. Secondly students will analyse the medicinal properties of plants in comparison with pharmaceutical drugs. Finally, students will also undertake a practical gardening session that will explore the physical and emotional health benefits from growing your own food to working with soil and worms!
ACTIVITY: NATURE IS HOME
Watch one of the below videos that demonstrates the importance of nature to us as humankind, but that we offer nature little in return. Look at opening discussion around the concept of 'sustainability'. What does it mean to live a sustainable life?
Watch one of the below videos that demonstrates the importance of nature to us as humankind, but that we offer nature little in return. Look at opening discussion around the concept of 'sustainability'. What does it mean to live a sustainable life?
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ACTIVITY: WHAT DOES A HEALTHY & SUSTAINABLE DIET LOOK LIKE?
The good news is that by and large a healthy diet is also better for the environment and therefore more sustainable. The United Nations Food & Agriculture Organisation (UN FAO) defines sustainable diets as:
“Those diets with low environmental impacts which contribute to food and nutrition security and to healthy life for present and future generations. Sustainable diets are protective and respectful of biodiversity and ecosystems, culturally acceptable, accessible, economically fair and affordable; nutritionally adequate, safe and healthy; while optimizing natural and human resources.” |
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But what does that mean in practice?
- Eat more plants - enjoy fruit and veg;
- Waste less food - up to 30% of what is brought home is waste;
- Eat less meat - Meat, be it red or white, can be a tasty complement rather than just a centre piece of a good meal
- Eat less processed food - as they tend to be more resource intensive to produce and often contain high levels of sugar, fat and salt
- Eat certified food - buy food that meets a credible certified standard.
Credit: Eating Better
ACTIVITY: JAMIE OLIVER CHALLENGE
Each group will be given a Jamie Oliver plant based food dish and a list of ingredients in that dish. You will then have to investigate the benefits of eating those food items and ingredients that is present within that dish. As a group you then have to write a description of the dish for a Jamie Oliver's new book and not only sell the dish for how it tastes, but also for the benefits of its ingredients. This will give the you an opportunity to practice your descriptive writing skills, which you will need to focus on when you write your field guide and sell your destination. |
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