Unit 3: Food in a daily life
This unit investigates the many roles and everyday influences of food. Students explore the science of food – they consider the physiology of eating, the microbiology of digestion and appreciating food. They also investigate the functional properties of food and the changes that occur during food preparation and cooking. Students analyse the scientific rationale behind the Australian Dietary Guidelines and the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating and develop their understanding of diverse nutrient requirements.
Students also investigate how communities, families and individuals change their eating patterns over time and how our food values and behaviours develop within social environments. Students inquire into the role of food in shaping and expressing identity and connectedness and the ways in which food information can be filtered and manipulated. They investigate behavioural principles that assist in the establishment of lifelong, healthy dietary patterns. The practical component of this unit enables students to understand food science terminology and to apply specific techniques to the production of everyday food that facilitates the establishment of nutritious and sustainable meal patterns.
Unit 4: Food issues, challenges and futures
In this unit students examine debates about global and Australian food systems. Students focus on issues related to the environment, ecology, ethics, farming practices, the development and application of technologies, and the challenges of food security, food safety, food wastage, and the use and management of water and land. Students also investigate individual responses to food information and misinformation and the development of food knowledge, skills and habits to empower consumers to make discerning food choices. Students consider how to assess information and draw evidence-based conclusions, and apply this methodology to navigate contemporary food fads, trends and diets. Students’ food production repertoire reflects the Australian Dietary Guidelines and the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating.