Nutrition education equips students with important skills they can use to improve their health throughout life.
Food and Nutrition at The Meadows gives pupils the knowledge, skills and confidence to enjoy cooking meals at home in preparation for adulthood. Pupils will acquire, develop and secure a wide range of practical food skills over the two key stages in order to be competent in cooking for themselves and their families. The subject is based on the proposition that being able to cook is an essential life skill which empowers people to make changes that have benefits to health and wellbeing.
Curriculum Key Concepts
The curriculum is based on a framework comprising skills and knowledge which are the essential building blocks around the themes of diet and health, food safety and hygiene, influences on food choices and budgeting. The aim is to help children and young people to develop the skills and knowledge to make and implement healthy food choices.
KS3 Y7+Y8
understand and apply the principles of nutrition and health cook a repertoire of predominantly savoury dishes so that they are able to feed themselves and others a healthy and varied diet
Topics covered:
- Food safety and hygiene
- Balanced diets and the ‘Eatwell Guide’
- Licence to cook - practical skills modules 1-3
- Food preparation and handling
KS3 Y9
Year 9 Complete the NCFE Food and nutrition qualification alongside acquiring, developing and securing practical skills in readiness for KS4.
Topics covered:
- Healthy eating and hydration
- Food choices and healthy choices
- Planning healthy diets for themselves and others
- Eating disorders and the connections between food and feelings Food preparation and handling skills
KS4
Food and nutrition is a practical course and will provide pupils with the opportunity to learn about many concepts concerning food, ranging from healthy eating to dietary needs, economising when cooking and food safety. Most importantly, they will have the opportunity to develop their own food practical skills and knowledge by investigating and making a variety of different food products using a range of different ingredients.
Topics covered:
- Food hygiene and safety Food preparation skills
- Healthy eating
- Adapting recipes to follow healthy eating guidelines
- Eatwell guide
- Planning nutritious meals
- Economising when cooking
- Food presentation
Qualification Pathways
A range of qualifications and pathways are available to pupils.
Qualification |
Details |
BTEC Home Cooking Skills |
Level 1 & 2 qualification ● knowledge, understanding and confidence to cook meals at home ● an understanding of how to economise when planning a meal ● an ability to transfer skills learned to different recipes ● an ability to inspire others by transferring that knowledge. |
NCFE Health and Nutrition |
● increase understanding of the principles of healthy eating and the role of food in maintaining health ● increase confidence in planning and achieving a healthy diet ● provide an understanding of how an individual's dietary requirements change throughout their life ● raise awareness of the dietary requirements of particular individuals ● provide an understanding of food labelling and the ability to use information from food labels |
Food Hygiene Certificate |
This course, often referred to as the basic food hygiene certificate, is for anyone who works in a setting where food is cooked, prepared or handled. All food handlers can satisfy their legal requirement by taking this course. |