Issue 45: May 2005 - Youth Work Ireland

ice and pasta will make you put on weight.”Myth – These foods will fill you up and give youlots of energy. The problem withweight gain tends to come from usingtoo much fat in the cooking e.g. chipsare far more fattening than boiledpotatoes, or from adding fatty sauces.“Skimmed milk has less protein and calcium thanwhole milk.”Myth – All milk is a good source of calcium andprotein, when skimmed milk is made only the fat isremoved.“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”This is a bit of a trick question; we need to eat 5 portionsof fruit and vegetables a day, an apple onlycounts as one. Try to include a variety of fruit, saladand vegetables in your daily diet.“Potatoes can be counted towards the 5 portionsof vegetables a day.”Of course potatoes are a good source of vitaminsand minerals but their main benefit is that they are agood source of carbohydrate so they fit into thisfood group.“Vitamin and mineral supplements are needed tomake sure we get enough.”Myth – Eating a well balanced diet willgive you all the vitamins and mineralsyou need, buying supplements can beexpensive and if too many are taken can be dangerous.“Frozen foods count towards the five portions offruit/veg a day.”Fact – frozen foods such as corn, peas and broccoliall retain their vitamins and mineral when frozenand so count towards the five portions needed a dayDevelopment: Continue the debate of other commonstatements or proverbs about food with yourgroup.“HEALTHY HELEN ! ?”Aim: To engage young people in anactivity in which they identify healthchoices and the positive and negativephysical effects these can have on ayoung person.Age: 10+Materials: Flip chart paper, Markers, Paint &Material GlueMethod:Stick large sheets of paper together to makeit as tall as a person. Divide the group in twogive each paper.One member of the each group lies down onthis sheet and another group member drawsaround them.This drawing is going to become a character.The character must represent A) a healthyyoung person who makes positive choices interms of smoking, alcohol, nutrition exerciseetc and B) an unhealthy young person whohas made unhealthy choices.Before each group begins they must askthemselves the following questions:Is the character male or female?What is your characters name?What age are they?What do they look like?Where are they from?What type of clothes do they wear?What are their hobbies?What kind of personality do they have?What do they look like physically, hair, nails, andteeth?How do their physical characteristics representtheir health?The groups then use scraps of material to dress thecharacter. They must draw on their physical featuresand any otherimages thattell us more about theperson. Theymust try notto write any words onthe sheet but to useimagery to communicate their ideas for example ifthe character has bad breath draw the fumes comingout of their mouth etc.Irish Youth Work Scene 13 Issue 45, May, 2005