Food that is seasonal is only harvested at certain times each year.

Food miles are the distance between the place where food is grown or made and the place where it is eaten.

The environment is the air, water, and land in or on which people, animals, and plants live.

Food miles (non-statutory)

Science

In this Healthy eating unit, pupils learn that animals, including humans, can not make their own food, they get nutrition from what they eat. In the Human circulatory system and Keeping healthy units, pupils will build on this knowledge to describe the ways in which nutrients and water are transported within animals, and the impact of diet on the way their bodies function

In the Healthy me unit, pupils learnt about the importance for animals, including humans, to eat the right amounts of different types of food. In this Healthy eating unit, pupils will build on this knowledge to learn that animals, including humans, need the right types and amounts of nutrition from food

Healthy eating

Depiction or discussion of famine, disease, natural disasters.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

How do farmers choose which foods to grow?

is only harvested at certain times of year.

The distance between where food is grown or made and the shop where it is sold.

The distance between where food is produced and where it is eaten.

The distance between the shop where food is sold and where it is eaten.

apples from New Zealand (11,426 food miles)

potatoes from a local farm (12 food miles)

The food miles of which of these foods will likely have the least harmful impact on the environment?

They have to travel further and this causes pollution.

They have to travel less far and this causes pollution.

They have to travel further and this takes a lot of time.

Why do foods with a greater number of food miles have a greater impact on the environment?

how many different shops you can buy it in

Which of these are factors we should consider when thinking about the environmental impact of food?

Which foods have to travel the greatest distance to get to us?

 food that is only available at certain times of year

Seasonal, local foods are easier to find in the shops than foods from abroad.

Seasonal, local foods are better for the environment than foods from abroad.

Seasonal, local foods are quicker to grow than foods from abroad.

Why should we eat seasonal, local foods? 

Almonds need a little water to grow and California receives a lot of rain.

Almonds need a lot of water to grow and California receives a lot of rain.

Almonds need a lot of water to grow and California does not have a lot of rain.

Almonds are grown in California in America. How can this be harmful to the environment?

They take a long time to grow or be ready.

The habitats of plants and wild animals are destroyed to make room for them.

They are only available at certain times of year.

How can foods that take up a lot of space to grow have a negative effect on the environment?

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Adult supervision required

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Food miles (non-statutory)

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.