Children and Nutrition: 14 to 16+ Years Old
Last time I outlined the fundamental principles behind food competence for young people, from the ages of 7 to 12 years of age. Today I will explain how this basic knowledge develops into practical application over the next 4 years and for the rest of the child’s life.
Age 14:
Children of this age should be able to use healthy eating advice in their choice of diet and physical activities. They should know that food provides energy and nutrients in varying amounts, that these nutrients have important functions in the body and that excess of deficiency of nutrients has implications for health. They should also understand that people need different amounts of nutrients at different times in their life.
Age 16+:
Students of this age should be able to apply their understanding of health and nutrition, together with healthy eating recommendations, to their own diet and the nutritional requirements of other people. They should be able to maintain a healthy weight throughout their life and understand how physical activity works in conjunction with diet to provide a healthy lifestyle.
Hopefully these guides have provided some insight into the practical side of food safety and outlined the basic principles behind food safety training for young people.
