Do we eat what we should?

 

This was all part of a unit of inquiry entitled “Getting to Know My Body”, but it wasn’t the only objective. Another major focus was promoting healthy eating habits and helping students become aware of the risks of overeating fatty foods.

 

 

Types of Fat

According to Medline Plus, fats are part of our diet, but some types are healthier than others. That’s the reason why it is advisable to choose vegetable fat instead of animal fat. This would, in turn, reduce the risk of having a heart attack, a brain injury or other major health problems.

 

 

All fat is comprised of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. And they are given certain names depending on the quantity of fatty acids they have.  The saturated fats are the ones that increase the levels of “bad” cholesterol and those are the ones you need to avoid.

 

Measures to reduce saturated fat intake

• Eat more fruits and vegetables. Recent surveys show that a great number of people don’t eat 5 portions a day, which is the recommended quantity.
• Eat more fish and chicken.
• Prepare food in the oven or on the grill instead of frying them. Try to avoid meat dipped in butter or vegetables coated in bread crumbs.

• Use skim or semi-skim milk instead of whole milk.

 

 

• In recipes, use two egg whites instead of the whole egg.
• Try to limit the consumption of hydrogenated fats (i.e. vegetable fat and pork fat) and animal fat (i.e. butter and cream).
• Read the nutritional information of all the products. Most of the non-fat products have many carbohydrates, which can increase  tryglicerides levels.
• Compare the fat content of similar products. One cannot be misled by terms such as light or lite that are often used to indicate that a product is low in calories. These terms frequently don’t have a scientific meaning.

International Baccalaureate Methodology

Thanks to this activity carried out in the school’s lab, our 3rd graders have developed some of the IB learner profile attributes. They were able to become more opened-minded, knowledgeable, inquisitive and well-balanced learners.

 

 

Casvi, as part of the IB community, takes challenges very seriously. The methodology is based on a constructivist approach, that encourages students to seek information using a variety of resources. Starting from three years of age, students learn how to face challenges, work cooperatively and apply skills to real life situations.

Casvi is among the few Spanish schools that implements the three programs (PYP, MYP and DP). With the implementation of these programs, the school achieves  maximum coherence and coordination that allows us to offer quality education to all students.

 

 

PYP at Casvi

In PYP, the learning focuses on the integral development of our students, and it fosters their capacity to investigate and discover, as they have done with this activity. This program also helps them develop their emotional welfare and encourages them to develop their own independence and responsibility when learning.