Food Facts: Sugar
#5 in Food Facts Series
What’s inside...
This book explores the dual nature of sugar, detailing how it can be both a beneficial source of energy and harmful to our health. It includes activities, investigations, and recipes, and is part of a culturally diverse library collection aimed at boosting literacy and promoting reading. The book supports the mission of Library For All to provide equal access to knowledge.
Discussion points
What are some of the different foods you noticed in the book that contain sugar?
How do you think too much sugar can affect our bodies?
Why do you think it's important to know about the sugars in our food?
Can you think of any healthy alternatives to sugary snacks that you might enjoy?
How can we make better food choices by understanding the effects of sugar?
Tip: Role play these questions
Keep the conversation light and exploratory, allowing your child to express their thoughts and feelings about sugar and food choices.
Use real-world examples, such as checking the sugar content in your kitchen's food items together to make the discussion more tangible.
Encourage your child to think critically by asking them to consider how their body feels after eating sugary versus non-sugary foods.
Highlight the importance of balance and moderation, ensuring the conversation doesn't create fear but awareness and informed choices.
Commend their curiosity and encourage them to ask questions throughout the reading process, making it interactive and engaging.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding Healthy Eating Habits
Explanation: Through engaging narratives and visuals, 'Food Facts: Sugar' explains the differences between natural and processed sugars, demonstrating how they affect the body.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this knowledge by making healthier food choices, distinguishing between beneficial and harmful sugars in their everyday diet.
Example Lesson: Importance of Moderation
Explanation: 'Food Facts: Sugar' emphasizes the concept of moderation, showing through various scenarios how excessive sugar intake can lead to health issues.
Real-World Application: Kids learn to balance their diet and can practice self-control by limiting high-sugar treats, fostering long-term healthy habits.
Example Lesson: Critical Thinking About Advertising
Explanation: The book presents various advertisements and teaches children to analyze and question the marketing of sugary foods targeted at them.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to think critically about the commercials they see and make informed decisions rather than being swayed by persuasive advertising.
Example Lesson: Science of Sugar
Explanation: The book educates about the scientific aspects of sugar - its types and its role in our bodies, using simple experiments and explanations.
Real-World Application: Children can conduct their own simple experiments at home or school to see the effects of sugar, reinforcing their understanding and curiosity about science.