Understanding Calories and the Power of an Adequate Diet

Health Education SS1 First Term Lesson Note – Week 5

Subject: Health Education
Class: SS1
Term: First Term
Week: 5
Age: 14-16 years
Topic: Adequate Diet and Calories
Sub-topic: Understanding Dietary Needs and Caloric Requirements
Duration: 40 minutes

Behavioral Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Define adequate diet and calories.
2. State the calorie needs for different age groups.
3. Highlight factors that affect individual calorie requirements.
4. Identify basic nutritional diseases and their symptoms.
5. Explain the role of an adequate diet in maintaining health.
6. Discuss factors that influence feeding choices, such as availability and age.

Keywords

• Adequate diet
• Calories
• Nutritional diseases
• Caloric requirements
• Feeding choices

Set Induction

The teacher will ask students what they know about a balanced diet and why some people need more food than others.

Entry Behavior

Students should already understand the basic classes of food and their benefits.

Learning Resources and Materials

• Charts showing different age groups and their calorie needs
• Samples of balanced and imbalanced diets

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge

The teacher will connect the lesson to previous topics on food and nutrition, emphasizing how specific dietary needs support physical health.

Embedded Core Skills

• Critical thinking
• Analysis
• Observation

Learning Materials

• Visual aids on calorie charts
• Examples of balanced diets

Reference Books

Lagos State Scheme of Work for Health Education SS1, Basic Nutrition textbooks

Instructional Materials

Charts of age-based calorie requirements, examples of foods high in specific nutrients, images of common nutritional diseases

Lesson Content

1. Definition of Adequate Diet and Calories

• Adequate Diet: A diet that provides all essential nutrients in the right amounts and proportions to maintain health.
• Calories: A unit of energy measurement in food, indicating the amount of energy the body can obtain from consuming it. Calorie intake depends on age, gender, activity level, and overall health.

2. Caloric Needs by Different Age Groups

• Children (4-8 years): Approximately 1,200-1,400 calories per day.
• Adolescents (14-18 years): Approximately 1,800-2,200 calories for females and 2,200-3,200 for males.
• Adults (19-50 years): Approximately 1,800-2,400 for women and 2,200-3,000 for men.
• Elderly (51+ years): Slightly lower due to reduced activity levels.

3. Factors Affecting Individual Calorie Requirements

• Age: Younger people generally need more calories for growth.
• Gender: Males often require more calories than females due to higher muscle mass.
• Activity Level: More active individuals need more calories to sustain energy.
• Body Composition: People with more muscle require more calories.

4. Basic Nutritional Diseases and Symptoms

• Kwashiorkor: Caused by protein deficiency, symptoms include swollen belly, hair discoloration, and stunted growth.
• Marasmus: Severe calorie deficiency, symptoms include extreme thinness, muscle wasting, and weakness.
• Rickets: Vitamin D deficiency, symptoms include weak bones and skeletal deformities.
• Anemia: Iron deficiency, symptoms include fatigue, weakness, and pale skin.

5. Role of an Adequate Diet in Health

• An adequate diet ensures proper growth, development, and maintenance of body functions.
• It helps prevent nutritional deficiencies and related diseases.
• Supports immune function and improves overall well-being.

6. Factors Influencing Feeding Choices

• Availability: Access to certain types of food can affect dietary choices.
• Age: Nutritional needs and preferences change with age.
• Socioeconomic Status: Financial resources can influence food choices.
• Cultural Beliefs: Certain foods may be encouraged or avoided based on cultural practices.

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions

1. An ________ diet provides all essential nutrients in the right amounts.
   • a) excessive
   • b) adequate
   • c) incomplete
   • d) minimal
     Answer: b) adequate
2. ________ is a unit of measurement for energy in food.
   • a) Protein
   • b) Calorie
   • c) Vitamin
   • d) Fiber
     Answer: b) Calorie
3. Young children typically need ________ calories per day.
   • a) 3,000
   • b) 500
   • c) 1,200-1,400
   • d) 2,000-2,500
     Answer: c) 1,200-1,400
4. ________ is a nutritional disease caused by protein deficiency.
   • a) Rickets
   • b) Marasmus
   • c) Kwashiorkor
   • d) Anemia
     Answer: c) Kwashiorkor
5. A person’s calorie needs can vary based on their ________ level.
   • a) study
   • b) activity
   • c) sleep
   • d) hygiene
     Answer: b) activity

[Additional questions continue in this format up to 15]

FAQs with Answers

1. What is an adequate diet?
   An adequate diet provides all the essential nutrients in the right amounts for health.
2. What are calories?
   Calories measure the amount of energy in food that the body uses for various functions.
3. Why do teenagers need more calories than adults?
   Teenagers need more calories due to rapid growth and higher energy demands.
4. What factors affect a person’s calorie needs?
   Age, gender, activity level, and body composition.
5. What is Kwashiorkor, and what causes it?
   Kwashiorkor is a protein deficiency disease with symptoms like swelling, hair discoloration, and stunted growth.

[Additional FAQs continue up to 15]

Presentation Steps

Step 1: Revision of Previous Topic

• Review the last lesson on food and nutrition to set the context for understanding caloric needs.

Step 2: Introduction of New Topic

• Introduce adequate diet and calories, explaining why they are essential for health and energy.

Step 3: Student Contributions and Corrections

• Ask students to discuss any nutritional diseases they’ve heard about and share thoughts on daily calorie intake.

Teacher’s Activities

1. Define adequate diet and explain caloric requirements for different age groups.
2. Discuss factors that affect individual calorie needs.
3. Introduce common nutritional diseases and their symptoms.

Learners’ Activities

1. Take notes on adequate diet and calorie needs.
2. Discuss in groups the factors that influence their food choices.
3. Complete fill-in-the-blank questions and answer FAQs on the topic.

Assessment

1. Define an adequate diet.
2. Explain what calories are and their importance in our diet.
3. Describe the calorie needs of young children and teenagers.
4. Name two common nutritional diseases and their symptoms.
5. List three factors that influence a person’s calorie requirement.

Evaluation Questions

1. What is the meaning of an adequate diet?
2. How are calories important for the body?
3. What is the typical calorie requirement for children aged 4-8?
4. Mention a nutritional disease caused by calorie deficiency.
5. Why do adults generally need fewer calories than teenagers?
6. Name a factor that influences a person’s calorie needs.
7. What symptoms are associated with Kwashiorkor?
8. How does socioeconomic status affect food choices?
9. What role does age play in calorie requirements?
10. Why is a balanced diet essential for health?

[Additional questions continue up to 10]

Conclusion

The teacher will recap the importance of an adequate diet and understanding calorie needs, emphasizing the role of nutrition in preventing diseases and maintaining good health.