Food adventurer Stefan Gates gets pupils thinking about the science linking their health and diet by preparing a crispy worm salad, in a video designed for use in Key Stage 2, 3 and 4 science and PSHE lessons.
Gastronuts presenter Stefan Gates prepares and eats a salad using crispy worms, jellyfish and giant ants. Stefan makes the point that although people may eat very different foods around the world, they still contain essential nutrients like protein and vitamins.
Stefan then explains how some foods are healthier than others, and he wonders if there's ever any reason why certain foods should be banned.
This introduction to the idea of choice and restriction of food, and how diet and nutrition are linked to health, can be used to encourage primary and secondary pupils to think about healthy and unhealthy foods and to debate how much control there should be over the food we eat.
Useful websites
Department of Health: Diet and nutrition surveys
The Department of Health is responsible for nutrition policy (since 1st October 2010)
The Food Standards Agency: Healthier eating
The Food Standards Agency was responsible for nutrition policy until 1 October 2010. See this link for archived information on nutrition
The School Food Trust: Research projects
The School Food Trust is an independent body with the unique remit of transforming school food and food skills
Fast Food Nation: Fast food facts and figures
FastFoodNation offers a unique reference point on fast food, our health and the alternatives
This website provides free resources to teach about healthy eating, cooking, food and farming from 3 to 16 years
The Economist: Economist debates, food policy
A debate as to whether the government should play a stronger role in guiding food and nutrition choices
The Guardian: Food and health - who has the guts to take on junk fare?
An article in The Guardian detailing how the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) educates consumers about what they're eating and curb some of the food industry's excesses
