April: The Month of Healthy Food

BALANCED DIET To have a good relationship with food there must be a balanced diet in order to keep in a healthy state. Our food, where possible, must be varied and balanced; in short we must buy all the different types of food in way of assuring that we receive all the necessary nutrients. Everyone has different needs depending on their type of work, physiology and their various states, such as pregnancy, adolesence and old age.

How much should we eat? In the last 50 years, good living has changed the type of food we eat in Italy. The Italian people eat a lot more and the percentage who are classed as obese has risen. To eat correctly means, from the start, to eat the right amount of calories that you will need throughout the day. In reality, harmful food does not exist. It is important not to exaggerate the quantity, like for example, if you eat too much salt it can bring about high blood pressure.

Nutritional Properties During the day it is ideal that we eat different types of food: Carbohydrates (bread, pasta, rice, potatoes) Protein (meat, fish, eggs, vegetables) Those that are rich in minerals, vitamins and fibre (fruit and vegetables) The fats that we receive from condiments, cheeses and meat are also necessary, but if they are eaten in excess they can facilitate obesity, affect the heart and create various other problems.

The Risks of Unhealthy Food It is better to avoid the excessive consumption of fried food because cooked fat is not healthy. One must also avoid products with a lot of sugar as it can overwork the liver, cause obesity and tooth decay. An excessive amount of alcohol is harmful to the liver, while the excessive consumption of sugary and gassy drinks can bring about diabetes.

During the month of healthy food…. Students developed the idea to create a poster, working closely with the technology teacher. The poster was concerned with detailing healthy food as well as highlighting food that we should avoid. The students attempted to involve their familes in encouraging them to eat healthy food. At the end of the month they compared their experiences.