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Different Diets

Different Diets

Learning about different healthy or religious dietary requirements and planning a meal taking them into account.

This activity requires food cards. Contact us to find out more about how to get food cards for your school.

Food card activity
45-60 minutes
P5–P7

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  • HWB 2-29a - I enjoy eating a diversity of foods in a range of social situations.

  • HWB 2-30a - By applying my knowledge and understanding of current healthy eating advice I can contribute to a healthy eating plan.

  • HWB 2-32a - I understand that people at different life stages have differing nutritional needs and that some people may eat or avoid certain foods.

  • HWB 2-34a - Through exploration and discussion, I can understand that food practices and preferences are influenced by factors such as food sources, finance, culture and religion.

  • HWB 2-36a - By investigating food labelling systems, I can begin to understand how to use them to make healthy food choices.

  • HWB 2-15a - I am developing my understanding of the human body and can use this knowledge to maintain and improve my wellbeing and health.

  • SCN 2-12a - By investigating some body systems and potential problems which they may develop, I can make informed decisions to help me maintain my health and wellbeing.

  • SOC 2-16a - I can explain how the needs of a group in my local community are supported.

  • SOC 2-16c - I can discuss issues of the diversity of cultures, values and customs in our society.

  • RME2-06c - I can describe and reflect upon practices and traditions of world religions.

  • Show awareness of different health or religious dietary requirements.
  • Plan a meal which takes these requirements into consideration.

Resources

  • Food Cards*
  • Information sheet on different dietary requirements
  • Meal planning sheet
  • Food packaging samples showing allergy information and ingredients
  • Selection of foods that meet different dietary requirements
  • Teacher's notes on food allergies

*If your school does not have a set of Food Cards, please request them from us at resources@fss.scot.

Different Diets – Example of different diets PDF (24KB)

Different Diets – Meal planning PDF (748KB)

Setting up

  • Prepare space for displaying food packing and food substitutions for pupils to taste.

Cross-curricular links

Science – Body systems and cells

Social Studies – People in society, economy & business

RME – Practices and traditions

Assessment opportunities

DO – Can pupils identify suitable foods for specified dietary requirements?

WRITE – Is the planned meal suitable for the given diet?

Consider CfE Benchmarks, for example:

  • Identifies factors that may influence food choice, for example, religious, cultural, geographical, ethical factors.
  • Suggest why people might avoid certain foods, for example religion, culture, allergies, medical reasons.

Activities

  • Using dietary requirements information sheet, ask pupils to read about different dietary requirements that come from health, culture or religious reasons.
  • Spread food cards out over table or on the wall.
  • Pupils choose foods which meet the dietary requirements of each group mentioned on the factsheet.
  • Discuss suitable food substitutions which could be made for the different requirements – e.g. use of soya mince for vegetarians.
  • If selection of foods are available, pupils could experience blind tasting of different substitutions and compare tastes – e.g. soya mince instead of beef.
  • Pupils use meal planner to plan meals for a day for a particular dietary requirement.

Differentiation

Support 

Symbolic representation of dietary requirements matched already to foods, so pupils just need to find foods with appropriate symbols.

Challenge

Pupils could interview family member/friend/peer about their experiences living with a certain dietary restriction e.g. gluten free, dairy free.