Vocabulary

Carbohydrate is any of a large group of organic compounds occurring in foods and living tissues and including sugars, starch, and cellulose. 
Fatty Acids consist of a hydrocarbon chain and a terminal carbowyl group, especially those occurring as esters in fats and oils.
Food is any nutritious substance that people or animals eat or drink, or that plants absorb, in order to maintain life and growth.
Health is a state of being free from illness or injury.
Nutrition is the process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth.
Proteins are large biological molecules, or macromolecules, consisting of one or more chains of amino acids residues. They make up body tissues such as muscle, hair, enzymes and antibodies.
Vitamins & Minerals are required for proper metabolism and do not directly provide energy. They can be destroyed by conditions including heat and light exposure.

Purpose - 
Nutrition for Health

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The right of every child to sufficient nutritious food is essential for their survival. 
In this sub-unit, children learn that the human body requires a sufficient amount of nutritious food in order for it to maintain optimal health, and a lack of nutritious food will ultimately threaten their right to life. The child identifies foods that contribute to a healthy body, and those that cause harm and disease. 
Child Asks: What is nutritious food and how much of it do I need to survive?
Children's Rights Education: Enables the child to identify the right to adequate nutritious food is for survival. 
Child Answers: There are right combinations of food to make me healthy and allow me to grow.

Classroom Learning Activities

1. Food Groups
Children research the different food groups and sort them into the broad categories. Use these questions to guide you:
  1. What kinds of foods are in each group?
  2. How do these foods contribute to your health?
  3. How much of each food group should you eat every day?
Carbohydrates  provide the major source of energy for the body. There are two major types of carbohydrates: simple carbohydrates called simple sugars that come from fruits and sweets,  and complex carbohydrates called starches that come from grains. 
Protein builds, maintains, and replaces the tissues in your body. Muscles, organs, and your immune system are mostly made up of protein. Protein comes from foods such as beef, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts, legumes, beans, and dairy products.
Fat is a component of food. Some foods such as most fruits and vegetables have almost no fat, while other foods have plenty of fat. These include nuts, oils, butter, and meats like beef. Some fats are very important for our brain and nervous system. 
Vitamins and minerals make people's bodies work properly. Although you get vitamins and minerals from the foods you eat every day, some foods are richer in vitamins and minerals than others. 

Relevant Convention Articles

Article 6
1. States Parties recognize that every child has the inherent right to life.
2. States Parties shall ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child.
Article 24
1. States Parties recognize the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health. States Parties shall strive to ensure that no child is deprived of his or her right of access to such health care services.
2. States Parties shall pursue full implementation of this right and, in particular, shall take appropriate measures:
(a) To diminish infant and child mortality;
(b) To ensure the provision of necessary medical assistance and health care to all children with emphasis on the development of primary health care;
(c) To combat disease and malnutrition, including within the framework of primary health care, through, inter alia, the application of readily available technology and through the provision of adequate nutritious foods and clean drinking-water, taking into consideration the dangers and risks of environmental pollution;
(d) To ensure appropriate pre-natal and post-natal health care for mothers;
(e) To ensure that all segments of society, in particular parents and children, are informed, have access to education and are supported in the use of basic knowledge of child health and nutrition, the advantages of breastfeeding, hygiene and environmental sanitation and the prevention of accidents;
(f) To develop preventive health care, guidance for parents and family planning education and services.
3. States Parties shall take all effective and appropriate measures with a view to abolishing traditional practices prejudicial to the health of children.
4. States Parties undertake to promote and encourage international co-operation with a view to achieving progressively the full realization of the right recognized in the present article. In this regard, particular account shall be taken of the needs of developing countries.

Online Resources and References

Kids Health Ontario Society of Nutrition Professionals in Public Health - Super Size Me Discussion Guide for EducatorsNourish Interactive is your free one stop resource for fun nutrition games for kids, interactive nutrition tools and tips for parents and health educators to use to promote healthy living for the whole family. Created by nutrition and health care professionals, Nourish Interactive's nutrition education website gives children and families the knowledge and skills they need to make healthy choices.
World Vision