Food & Nutrition

Why do we teach Food and Nutrition at Sikh Heritage Girls School?

How does learning to cook shape a child’s future? What if the skills children learn today in the kitchen help them make healthier choices, build independence, and foster a love of food for life?

At Sikh Heritage Girls School, we believe that the kitchen is a place of learning, creativity, and community. Our Food and Nutrition curriculum teaches our pupils not just how to cook, but why good nutrition and healthy food choices matter. We want our pupils to understand the value of nourishing their bodies, mindfully using kitchen utensils, and preparing meals with pride and purpose.

We believe in empowering our pupils with skills that last a lifetime. Born to love, live to do—through cooking, our pupils learn to love food, live with care for their health, and do the important work of preparing nourishing meals for themselves and their families.

Intent: What are we aiming for?

Our Food and Nutrition curriculum helps pupils to:

• Learn how to prepare healthy, balanced meals with a focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients.

• Understand the nutritional value of food and how to make informed choices for their health.

• Build practical cooking skills—using kitchen equipment safely and confidently.

• Develop an appreciation for different cuisines and cultural food traditions.

• Promote independence by empowering pupils to cook for themselves and their families.

• Cultivate a sense of pride and accomplishment through creating meals and understanding the importance of food in life.

Through these activities, pupils will also reinforce their reading and mathematics skills. For example, they will read recipes, measure ingredients, and work out quantities—integrating literacy and numeracy in a meaningful, real-world context.

We want to instil habits of healthy living, creativity in the kitchen, and the ability to cook simple yet nourishing meals that promote physical well-being and personal satisfaction. By the end of their time with us, pupils will be well on their way to confidently creating healthy, balanced, and vegetarian meals that support both their health and their ethical values.

Research supports the value of early cooking skills in children's health. A study by the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behaviour (2017) found that children who participate in cooking activities are more likely to make healthier food choices, understand nutrition better, and show improved attitudes toward food. The study highlighted the importance of hands-on learning to foster lifelong healthy eating habits (Dahl et al., 2017). Our curriculum is designed with this in mind, reinforcing that early exposure to cooking leads to long-term positive health outcomes.

Implementation: How do we bring this to life?

Food and Nutrition is taught through hands-on cooking sessions, where pupils are given regular opportunities to develop and apply their skills. Lessons are designed to be engaging, practical, and educational, ensuring that pupils feel confident using kitchen tools and understand how to handle ingredients safely.

Key areas of focus include:

• Basic Cooking Skills: Learning to chop, mix, stir, and cook using a range of kitchen tools.

• Nutrition Education: Understanding the role of different food groups in a balanced diet and the benefits of healthy eating.

• Meal Planning and Preparation: Encouraging pupils to create their own healthy menus and cook meals independently.

• Cultural and Global Foods: Exploring the wide variety of foods and cooking methods from around the world.

• Kitchen Safety: Teaching how to use knives, heat sources, and other kitchen equipment safely.

• Mathematical Skills: Pupils will use measurement skills when following recipes and calculating quantities. They will also explore ratios and fractions when adjusting recipes for different serving sizes.

• Reading Skills: Pupils will practice reading recipes, instructions, and nutritional information to ensure they can follow steps accurately and safely.

Seva and Langar are values that form an important part of our curriculum. Pupils are taught about the importance of giving back to the community, just as the Sikh tradition encourages selfless service to others. Through cooking, pupils will gain an understanding of how food can be shared and how cooking for others is an act of love and service. They will have opportunities to work together to prepare meals for charity or school events, promoting the spirit of seva.