Tournament Day NUTRITIONIST DAY 3

 

NUTRITIONIST - DAY 3

Anubhav Group (Grade 6-8)


DAY 3 LEARNING SHEET: Building Balanced Meals

From Knowledge to Action

Days 1-2 you learned WHAT'S WRONG. Today you learn WHAT TO DO.


Part 1: What is a Balanced Meal?

A balanced meal gives your body everything it needs:

  • Energy (to move, think, play)

  • Building blocks (to grow muscles, repair cells)

  • Protection (to fight disease, stay healthy)

The traditional Indian thali had all three:

Component

Examples

What it does

Protein (Building)

Dal, rajma, chole, paneer, dahi, eggs

Builds muscle, repairs body

Carbohydrates (Energy)

Bhat, bhakri, roti, poha

Gives quick energy

Vegetables (Protection)

Bhaji, salad, pickle

Vitamins, minerals, fiber

Healthy fats (Energy + Brain)

Ghee, oil (small amount), nuts

Long-lasting energy, brain health

Hydration

Water, buttermilk

All body functions

Question 1: Look at what you ate for lunch today. Did it have all 5 components?

What you ate: _________________________________________________________________

Missing components: _________________________________________________________________


Part 2: Module-Specific Nutrition

Different activities need different focus. All need balanced meals, but with special attention to certain foods.

SPORTS MODULES (Kabaddi/Kho Kho)

What your body needs:

  • High energy (you're running, jumping, raiding)

  • Muscle recovery (after hard practice)

  • Hydration (you sweat a lot)

Best foods:

  • Before practice/match: Complex carbs (poha, upma, banana, dates)

  • After practice/match: Protein + carbs (dal-bhat, egg sandwich, milk with banana)

  • Hydration: Water, coconut water, nimbu pani (no cold drinks!)

  • Snacks: Chana, peanuts, fruit, dry fruits

Avoid before sports:

  • Heavy, oily food (makes you slow)

  • Too much sugar (quick spike, then crash)

  • Cold drinks (gas in stomach = painful while running)

Question 2 (Sports students): What will you eat 2 hours before a match?


Why this food? _________________________________________________________________


ART MODULE

What your body needs:

  • Brain power (creativity, ideas, focus)

  • Steady hands (for detailed work)

  • Eye health (looking at colors, details for hours)

  • Patience (good gut health = calm mind)

Best foods:

  • For brain: Badam, walnuts, eggs, fish (omega-3)

  • For eyes: Carrots, spinach, orange/yellow vegetables (vitamin A)

  • For steady hands: Protein (dal, paneer, eggs) + avoid too much sugar (causes shaking)

  • For calm mind: Dahi, fermented foods (good for gut = good for mood)

Avoid:

  • Too much caffeine (tea/coffee) - makes hands shake

  • Junk food - makes mind foggy

  • Skipping meals - low blood sugar = can't focus

Question 3 (Art students): What will you eat before a long art session?


Why this food? _________________________________________________________________


MUSIC MODULE

What your body needs:

  • Throat health (for clear voice)

  • Lung capacity (for strong breath)

  • Memory (to remember lyrics, notes)

  • Energy (for long practice, performances)

Best foods:

  • For throat: Warm water, honey, ginger, turmeric, avoid cold/fried

  • For lungs: Deep breathing + light food (heavy food = can't breathe deeply)

  • For voice: Hydration! Room temperature water throughout the day

  • For memory: Badam, walnuts, eggs, green vegetables

Avoid before singing:

  • Cold water/ice cream (tightens vocal cords)

  • Fried food (creates mucus/phlegm)

  • Dairy right before (can create throat coating)

  • Too spicy (irritates throat)

Question 4 (Music students): What will you eat/drink before a performance?


Why? _________________________________________________________________


THEATRE MODULE

What your body needs:

  • Memory (long dialogues, cues)

  • Energy (moving on stage, projecting voice)

  • Focus (staying in character for hours)

  • Voice strength (speaking loudly, clearly)

Best foods:

  • For memory: Badam soaked overnight, walnuts, eggs, green leafy vegetables

  • For energy: Balanced meal (not too heavy, not too light)

  • For focus: Good breakfast, no sugar crashes

  • For voice: Same as music - hydration, avoid cold/fried

Avoid:

  • Heavy meal before performance (makes you sleepy)

  • Too much sugar (energy crash during performance)

  • Skipping meals (can't focus when hungry)

Question 5 (Theatre students): What will you eat on the day of a big performance?

Morning: _________________________________________________________________

2 hours before show: _________________________________________________________________

Why? _________________________________________________________________


Part 3: Creating Your Module Menu

Today's task: With your module team, create a healthy menu.

SPORTS Menu Requirements:

  • 1 energy-boosting snack (pre-game)

  • 1 hydration drink (during/after game)

ART Menu Requirements:

  • 1 brain-boosting snack (for long art sessions)

  • 1 drink for focus

MUSIC Menu Requirements:

  • 1 throat-friendly drink

  • 1 snack for energy (that won't harm voice)

THEATRE Menu Requirements:

  • 1 memory-boosting snack

  • 1 light, energizing meal (before performance)


Part 4: Menu Planning Template

DISH 1:

Name: _________________________________________ (Make it creative! Connect to Dussehra/Diwali if possible)

Main ingredients:






Why is this healthy? (Which ingredients do what?)

Example: "Badam gives protein for muscles. Honey gives natural energy. Milk gives calcium for bones."

Your explanation: _________________________________________________________________


How does it help your module specifically?

Example (Sports): "Gives quick energy before the match and doesn't feel heavy in the stomach."

Your answer: _________________________________________________________________

Approximate cost: ₹ _______ (per serving)

Time to make: _______ minutes


DISH 2:

Name: _________________________________________

Main ingredients:






Why is this healthy?



How does it help your module specifically?


Approximate cost: ₹ _______ (per serving)

Time to make: _______ minutes


Part 5: Ingredient Exploration

Available ingredients (will be updated with actual school kitchen inventory):

Grains: Rice, wheat flour, poha, oats Pulses: Moong dal, toor dal, chana, rajma Vegetables: Seasonal vegetables (will be updated) Fruits: Banana, apple, orange, seasonal fruits Dairy: Milk, dahi, paneer Proteins: Eggs (if non-veg allowed) Nuts: Peanuts, chana (budget-friendly) Spices: Turmeric, jeera, dhania, ginger, garlic Sweeteners: Jaggery (gud), honey (small amount) Oils: Groundnut oil, ghee (small amount)

Your task: Using ONLY these ingredients, plan your 2 dishes.

Question 6: Which ingredients will you use? List them:

Dish 1: _________________________________________________________________

Dish 2: _________________________________________________________________

Question 7: Do you need any ingredients not on this list?


If yes, can you substitute with something from the list? _________________________________________________________________


Part 6: Label Your Food Honestly

Remember Day 2 - companies mislead with labels. YOU will label your food HONESTLY.

For each dish, write:

Ingredients: (Everything you used, in order of quantity)


Nutritional benefits: (What does it actually do?)


Best for: (Which module/activity?)


Allergen warning: (Contains nuts? Dairy? Gluten?)


Shelf life: (Eat within ___ hours of making)



Part 7: The Dussehra-Diwali Connection

Dussehra theme ideas:

Victory foods:

  • "Vijay Energy Balls" (dates + nuts + jaggery)

  • "राम's Power Poha" (poha with vegetables)

  • "Warrior's Hydration" (nimbu pani with gud and mint)

Diwali theme ideas:

Light-based names:

  • "दीप Energy Bites" (something that lights up your energy)

  • "Lakshmi's Blessing Bowl" (nutritious, prosperity-bringing meal)

  • "Festival Fuel" (healthy food for celebration)

Sound-based (for Diwali):

  • "Crackling Chana" (roasted chana - crunchy like crackers, but healthy)

Question 8: What will you name your dishes? (Use Dussehra/Diwali theme)

Dish 1: _________________________________________________________________

Dish 2: _________________________________________________________________

Why these names? _________________________________________________________________


Part 8: Presentation Matters

On tournament day, you'll present your food to guests. Make it attractive!

Think about:

Colors:

  • Use colorful vegetables/fruits

  • Garnish with coriander, mint

  • Make it look appealing

Plating:

  • Serve in clean, simple plates/bowls

  • Small portions (tasting size)

  • Neat presentation

Story:

  • Be ready to explain: Why did you make this? What's in it? How does it help your module?

Question 9: How will you present your dish? Describe:



DAY 3 GK FACTS

Nutrition Basics

  1. Protein needs: Growing kids (age 11-14) need 45-50g protein per day. 1 cup dal = 12g protein. 1 egg = 6g protein.

  2. Hydration: Your body is 60% water. Athletes need 2-3 liters per day. Musicians/actors need good hydration for voice.

  3. Brain fuel: Your brain uses 20% of your body's energy. That's why skipping breakfast makes it hard to focus in class.

  4. Muscle recovery: After exercise, muscles need protein within 30-60 minutes. That's the best time to eat dal, eggs, or milk.

  5. Gut-brain connection: 90% of serotonin (happy chemical) is made in your gut. Good food = good gut = good mood. This is why artists and performers need good gut health.

  6. Vitamin A for eyes: Artists need good vision. Orange/yellow/green vegetables (carrots, spinach, pumpkin) have vitamin A for eye health.

  7. Throat health: Warm water opens vocal cords, cold water tightens them. This is why singers avoid cold drinks.

  8. Memory foods: Omega-3 (found in walnuts, fish, flax seeds) helps memory. Good for theatre students learning long dialogues.

  9. Energy timing: Complex carbs (poha, oats) give slow, steady energy for 2-3 hours. Sugar gives a quick spike for 20 minutes, then you crash.

  10. Traditional wisdom was right: Haldi = anti-inflammatory (science proved). Tulsi = immunity booster (science proved). Gud = has iron (science proved). Our ancestors knew without laboratories!


DAY 3 HOMEWORK

Task 1: Finalize Your Menu

With your module team:

  • Decide on 2 dishes

  • Write complete recipes (ingredients, measurements, steps)

  • Assign roles (who does what in kitchen)

Task 2: Practice Explanation

Practice explaining your dish in 1 minute:

  • What's in it?

  • Why is it healthy?

  • How does it help your module?

Be ready to tell guests on tournament day!

Task 3: Shopping List

Make a list of exact quantities needed:

  • How many bananas?

  • How much dal?

  • How many students will taste?

  • Calculate accordingly

Bring this list tomorrow for kitchen planning.


End of Day 3

Remember: The best nutrition plan is one you'll actually follow. Keep it simple, tasty, and practical. कठीण करायचं नाही, योग्य करायचं आहे!


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Tournament Day Nutritionist Day2

Tournament Day Nutritionist Day1