Global Plates, Local Choices
Welcome slide to introduce the extended lesson. Highlight the importance of comparing global dietary guidelines and how such comparisons can help make informed nutritional decisions. Introduce the session's longer duration and deeper exploration.
Provide an overview of the lesson goals, explaining that today's extended session will dive deeper into comparing and analyzing the impacts of various diets on multiple aspects of life.
Begin with a deep dive into the USDA Dietary Guidelines. Discuss key food groups and the philosophy of balance and moderation. Invite students to think about local dietary habits compared to the USDA's recommendations.
Harvard Healthy Eating Plate
Explain the Harvard Healthy Eating Plate. Highlight how it differs from the USDA guidelines by emphasizing healthy fats and whole grains. Ask students to identify the strengths and possible gaps in this model.
Introduce the Mediterranean Diet. Discuss its cultural history, key dietary practices, and overall health benefits, especially for heart health and longevity.
Mediterranean Meal Example
Provide a specific example of a Mediterranean diet meal. Use this slide to walk through a typical meal and highlight its components. Ask students how this meal aligns with the dietary recommendations discussed.
Additional Cultural Examples
Present additional cultural examples. Provide a few examples of non-Western dietary practices, such as traditional Asian diets or Latin American nutritional practices, emphasizing local ingredients and customs.
Comparing Dietary Guidelines
Show the Dietary Guidelines Comparison Chart to facilitate discussion and group analysis. Prompt students to compare both the common elements and the unique features of each dietary guideline while considering impacts on various life aspects.
Deep Discussion & Reflection
Facilitate discussion and reflection by posing deeper questions for analysis. Encourage students to think critically about the connections between dietary choices, cultural values, and overall well-being.
Conclusion & Key Takeaways
Summarize the session by reviewing key takeaways from the discussion. Reiterate the importance of understanding diverse nutritional practices and their multifaceted impacts.
Conclude with instructions for the reflection activity. Ask students to individually jot down which guideline or cultural example they found most impactful and why, then invite a few students to share.
