Still teaching food with red, orange and green? There might be a better way.
This week on The PDHPE and CAFS Podcast, we are rethinking how NSW primary teachers teach food and nutrition in our classrooms and why the language we use matters more than we think.
Kate McGill is back for a second episode and this time we are talking about food and nutrition. We discuss the issues with the traffic light system, why good and bad food labels inject shame into eating and how to help your primary students build a peaceful relationship with all foods.
In this episode:
- There are no bad foods, only foods with different functions
- The trouble with sometimes foods and moralistic language
- Teaching food as fuel, fun, celebration and connection
- The RAVES model, focusing on the how, not just the what
- What to say when you hear disordered food talk in your classroom
If you teach primary or K-6 PDHPE, this conversation will change the way you talk about food with your students.
Want ready to use, primary PDHPE resources that save you hours of lesson planning and prep? Join the K-6 PDHPE Membership at thelearnnet.com/primary
Show Notes: About Our Guest
Kate McGill is an accredited practising dietitian and body image coach. She works with young people and adults experiencing disordered eating, consults with teachers on eating disorder safe nutrition education and does clinical and presenting work with the Butterfly Foundation.
Connect with Kate at Firefly Nutrition:
Website: www.fireflynutrition.com.au
Instagram: instagram.com/fireflynutritioncoaching
Facebook: facebook.com/fireflynutritioncoaching
Resources mentioned:
Body Kind Tips for Educators (Butterfly Foundation): butterfly.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Supporting-Positive-Eating-Environments-Body-Kind-Tips-for-Educators.pdf
The Division of Responsibility in Feeding (Ellyn Satter Institute): ellynsatterinstitute.org/how-to-feed/division-of-responsibility/
Resources
Looking for resources to save time & support your students?
Check out our full collection of resources in CAFS, HMS, EEC, Child Studies, SLR, PASS and Dance.
thelearnnet.com/resources
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