Contextualization

Food is a basic human need and plays a major role in a person's health and well-being. A proper diet, balanced and with a variety of nutrients is essential to avoid the occurrence of eating disorders. Eating disorders are serious conditions related to persistent behaviors in the way we deal with food and weight.

There are several types of eating disorders, the most common being anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Individuals with anorexia nervosa may have an intense fear of gaining weight and have a distorted body image. Individuals with bulimia nervosa have episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors, such as self-induced vomiting. Individuals with binge eating disorder experience frequent episodes of binge eating, but, unlike bulimia nervosa, do not engage in compensatory behaviors.

Introduction

The "Nutrition and Eating Disorders" project aims to explore this highly relevant topic by addressing important nutritional aspects in the prevention of these disorders. We will work with topics that involve the composition of food, the different groups of nutrients and their relationship with the needs of the human body. In addition, we will understand the importance of dietary balance and a healthy relationship with food.

We will also work with practical examples that illustrate the role of nutrition in the development of metabolic diseases, such as obesity and diabetes, in addition to nutritional diseases due to nutrient deficiency, such as anemia and rickets. Students will have the opportunity to discuss the causes of these disorders, forms of prevention and the impacts on the lives of individuals and society.

This project will integrate knowledge of Science, through the study of food and human anatomy, and Mathematics, in the analysis of the nutritional data of food and the calculation of human energy needs.

Practical Activity: "Seed to Plate: Understanding Nutrition and Eating Disorders"

Objective of the Project

The group of students will research, plan, plant and cultivate a small vegetable garden to experience the satisfaction of producing healthy food in a practical way. At the same time, they will study the nutrients present in the cultivated foods, as well as their importance for health and the prevention of eating disorders.

Later, students will prepare a dish with the cultivated foods and make a nutritional comparison between the in natura food and the processed food, which allows for reflection on eating disorders.

Finally, the students will prepare a detailed report with all the researched information, the planning and execution of the garden, the preparation of the dish, and the reflection on the concepts learned.

Detailed Description of the Project

Step 1: Garden planning (4 hours)

First, students should research different types of vegetables, their nutrients, and how they help promote health. After choosing which foods will be planted, they should plan the layout of the garden and estimate how long each plant will take to grow.

Step 2: Planting and caring for the garden (4 hours + 2 months of daily care)

They will then plant and care for the garden on a daily basis. They should record the entire process, taking notes and taking pictures regularly. This will include watering, fertilizing and, finally, harvesting.

Step 3: Plate preparation and nutritional comparison (4 hours)

With the food harvested, the students should create a healthy dish. They will need to research and compare the nutritional difference between the natural food and the same processed food.

Required materials

• Vegetable seeds
• Pots or flower beds
• Soil and fertilizer
• Water
• Gardening tools
• Camera or cell phone to record
• Kitchen with basic utensils

Step by step to carry out the activity

1. Research on food, their nutrients, and health benefits.
2. Garden planning considering available space and needs of each plant type.
3. Planting the seeds in pots or flower beds.
4. Daily garden care, including fertilization and watering.
5. Recording plant growth and project steps.
6. Food harvesting
7. Dish preparation with harvested food.
8. Research on nutritional difference of natural and processed food.
9. Comparison of the nutritional difference between natural and processed food.

Deliverables and Written Document

Once all steps are complete, students must prepare a report including:

1. Introduction: a brief description of the project, objectives, and the importance of studying nutrition and eating disorders.
2. Development: details on garden planning, daily care, harvest, and dish preparation. Also include here the nutritional comparison between the in natura food and the processed one.
3. Conclusions: reflections on what was learned, the importance of a healthy diet, and the link to preventing eating disorders.
4. Bibliography: references of materials and sources used to complete the project.

The students should also submit the pictures and records they made during the project, as well as a detailed description of the garden maintenance and dish preparation process. If possible, the final dish and the garden can be shown at school to other students.