Gold Challenges (12 - 14 year olds)
Pupils should complete one of the following: Foods of the world, Catering for Health, Specialist diets, New kids, Party time
Foods of the world
Plan and prepare a range of recipes that use authentic ingredients from a country or region of your choice, e.g. Europe, Asia, Africa. Cook one recipe, emphasising its traditional aspect.
Ask pupils to find out about regional foods/dishes and what foods are produced locally nowadays. Use these foods to prepare a range of recipes.
Getting started
- Make a list of where your favourite meals originated for example pasta is Italian, noodles are Asian, curries have their roots in Indian, Thai & Malaysian cuisine and pierogi dumplings are Polish.
- Research with pupils in your class, where are their cultural roots and what traditional dishes do they eat at home?
Ideas for running the activity in your school
Ask pupils to find out about regional foods/dishes and what foods are produced locally nowadays. Use these foods to prepare a range of recipes.
Resources on the website to help you teach the challenge.
Catering for Health
Make a range of meal options for a school canteen that follow currently healthy eating principles and have pupil appeal. Current secondary school lunch recommendations for food and nutrition standards should be reflected.
Getting started
Find out what the eatwell plate and 5 A Day mean to the provision of food in school
Look at the School Food Trust Website and download the latest version of nutritional guidelines for schools
Ideas for running the activity in your school
Ask the canteen manager to talk to the group about food and nutrition standards and lunch recommendations.
Resources on the website to help you teach the challenge
Links
Specialist diets
Plan, develop and cook a main meal dish for: a person with an intolerance to wheat or gluten; a person with an intolerance to dairy products or a person with a nut allergy. Indicate how you have met the nutritional needs for the specialist diet, as well as achieving balance and variety.
Getting started
- Read the special focus provided on food intolerance and food allergies
- Find out if anyone in your class or you know suffers from this and ask them about their diet
- Research what foods are most likely to be problematic and what they could be replaced with
- Look in your local supermarket at the foods that have been developed for this group
Ideas for running the activity in your school
Challenge students to develop products for those on specialist diets. They could investigate needs by using the internet as well as evaluating existing commercial products.
Ask a parent of a pupil with a food intolerance or allergy to come and talk to the class about their experience. Find out what it means for sufferers when they go to parties or restaurants.
Resources on the website to help you teach the challenge
Links
Food Standards agency information on food intolerance
Food Standards Agency information on food allergies
Food Allergy UK - an information and support website to support food allergy sufferers
Coeliac UK is the leading charity working for people with coeliac disease with advice and recipe bank .
New kids
Develop an oily fish dish for kids that could be served as part of an evening meal at home. Show how the fish helps to meet their nutritional needs.
Getting started
- Investigate what species of fish contain oil such as salmon and mackerel
- Think about the sort of popular dishes they could be included in such as lasagna
- Research the health benefits of oily fish in the diet
- What other types of fish products can you buy other than fresh e.g. canned or frozen
Ideas for running the activity in your school
- See if your local fishmonger is able to come and talk to you about the oily fish he/she sells
- Offer to cook your dish for your family supper
Resources on the website to help you teach the challenge
Links
Party time
Plan, prepare and make a range of healthier finger foods that could be served at a party. The finger foods should be made using ingredients and cooking techniques which lower total and saturated fat, sugar and salt.
Getting started
- Make a list of all the party foods you normally eat
- Using the list think of healthier alternatives that would still be fun to eat
Ideas for running the activity in your school
Invite guests to share the party foods that have been prepare
Resources on the website to help you teach the challenge
Links
Healthy Snack ideas from the School Food Trust
Active Kids Get Cooking June 2009