4. Dairy and Eating sustainably
Dairy and Eating Sustainably / slide 2 of 14
Heads and Tails
Match the Images to the correct text
Grass-Based Dairy Production
Greenhouse Gas Emmisions
Food Production
Food Miles
Climate Change
Ireland has a mild and wet climate which gives us rich grasslands. This is ideal for grass-based dairy farming. Grass-fed animals are those whose diet consists almost entirely of grass.
Gases, such as CO2, that trap the heat of the sun in our atmosphere, causing it to heat up (just like a greenhouse).
Due to excess greenhouse gas emissions, the Earth is heating up, causing the climate to change.
The distance food travels from the farm to our plates. The further your food has to travel, the higher its food miles will be.
How our food is grown, processed and packaged.
Dairy and Eating Sustainably / slide 3 of 14
Sustainable Eating
Sustainable diets include foods that are nutritious, acceptable and affordable, while limiting impact on the environment. To eat more sustainably, we can:
- Look to the Department of Health's Food Pyramid for healthy choices.
- Opt for less packaging.
- Reduce food waste.
- Choose local and seasonal foods.
Dairy and Eating Sustainably / slide 4 of 14
Activity
Dairy and the Environment
PRESS TO GOFULL SCREEN
Now that you have learned about dairy and the environment, complete the following sentences using words from the vocabulary box below. Be careful! There are three extra words which shouldn’t be there! Can you find them?
Dairy and Eating Sustainably / slide 5 of 14
Nutrition & You Eating Sustainably
Listen carefully and answer all the questions
PRESSFOR NEXTQUESTION
1. What are the 6 things we should include in a healthy, sustainable diet?
2. Why is Ireland a good place for making milk in a way that’s good for the environment?
3. How much of the water used for Irish dairy comes from rain?
4. What’s one way we can stop wasting food at home?
5. What can we do to help the planet and use less energy?
Teaching Notes
For the Teacher
Dairy and Eating Sustainably / slide 6 of 14
Healthy Eating - Video Clip
Watch Video
Choose any four questions to answer
Q: What’s one way we can stop wasting food at home?
Q: What are the 6 things we should include in a healthy, sustainable diet?
A: Plan meals, use leftovers, and use all parts of food, like making soup from bones or pickling extra veggies.Timestamp: 2:55 - 3:12
A: A variety of fruits and veggies, whole grains, moderate dairy, nuts and beans, water, and eating the right amount of food to avoid waste.Timestamp: 0:42 - 1:12
Q: What can we do to help the planet and use less energy?
Q: Why is Ireland a good place for making milk in a way that’s good for the environment?
A: Walk or bike instead of driving, use things at home carefully, recycle, and avoid single-use items.Timestamp: 3:19 - 3:32
A: Because cows in Ireland eat grass, which helps the environment and makes the milk production more sustainable.Timestamp: 1:27 - 1:41
Q: How much of the water used for Irish dairy comes from rain?
A: 99%Timestamp: 1:51 - 1:54
Dairy and Eating Sustainably / slide 7 of 14
Key Words
Have you ever heard of any of these words?
Food Production: This is how we grow, get ready, and pack our food before we buy it.
Greenhouse Gases: These are gases in the air, like a blanket, that keep the sun's heat in.
Climate Change: People do things that make more of these gases, like driving cars. This makes the Earth warmer, so the weather changes.
Sustainable Eating: This means picking food that is good for us and the world around us. That includes the air, plants, and animals.
Grass and Cows: Ireland has good weather for grass to grow. Cows and other farm animals can eat this grass and be healthy (especially in Ireland).
How Far Food Travels: This is how far our food travels to get to us. If it travels far, it has more food miles.
Dairy and Eating Sustainably / slide 8 of 14
Where Does Our Food Come From?
Group Brainstorm
In small groups, create a mind map on:
How food production affects the environment
How eating sustainably helps
What makes Irish dairy farming sustainable
How to identify Irish-produced milk
Dairy and Eating Sustainably / slide 9 of 14
Class Discussion
Better choicesEat local, seasonal food, reduce packaging.
Food & emissionsFarming & transport contribute to climate change.
Look for the label Farmed in the Republic of Ireland supports local jobs
Irish dairy sustainabilityCows graze 300 days/year, rain provides 99% of water, low emissions.
Grasslands absorb carbon Helps reduce environmental impact.
Wrap-Up – Discuss:What surprised you? How can we eat more sustainably?
Dairy and Eating Sustainably / slide 10 of 14
Where in the world do we get this from?
List countries and continents
Dairy and Eating Sustainably / slide 11 of 14
Class Discussion
Discuss the following points on balancing nutritional and safe dietary choices to minimise the impact on climate change
Check labels for "Farmed in the Republic of Ireland" & "Responsibly Sourced Seafood.“ Look for the symbol to the right!
Choose Irish-produced milk, yogurt, cheese, fish, and seasonal fruits/veg.
Use Bord Bia’s seasonal calendar to buy local, in-season food.
Reduce food miles by choosing Irish over imports when possible.
Minimise plastic packaging—opt for loose produce & reusable bags.
1/3 of food is wasted globally—only buy what you need.
A balanced diet supports health and reduces waste.
Dairy and Eating Sustainably / slide 12 of 14
Activity
Shopping List
PRESS TO GOFULL SCREEN
Group Task – In small groups, create a "Sustainable Shopping Guide" with:5 local foods to choose 5 ways to reduce food waste 2 packaging alternatives to plastic
For the Teacher
Dairy In My Diet / slide 13 of 14
Extension Activities
1. Design a poster for your local milk brand or your School Milk Scheme. Include the Farmed in the Republic of Ireland guarantee. Create a slogan (a short and catchy phrase) and a description about your milk that will convince people to buy local! Display your poster in the classroom.
2. Grow your own plants in the classroom! Plant some herbs or vegetables with your pupils.
3. Encourage pupils to try and reduce their waste by making the most of what they have in their fridge. Milk and yogurt can be combined with some fast-ripening berries/banana to make a delicious fruit smoothie. Wilted broccoli or soft tomatoes that you might normally throw in the bin, can be used in a tasty vegetable soup.
Dairy In My Diet / slide 14 of 14
Bring it home
When do you consume dairy?
1. On your next visit to the market, try to find 3 food items that are grown or made in Ireland. Remember to look out for the Farmed in the Republic of Ireland guarantee on milk!
2. Share your Mindful in the Market activity sheet with your family and test it with some of the foods in your home. How far did these foods travel? Make a family contract to shop local for more food items in your home
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Transcript
4. Dairy and Eating sustainably
Dairy and Eating Sustainably / slide 2 of 14
Heads and Tails
Match the Images to the correct text
Grass-Based Dairy Production
Greenhouse Gas Emmisions
Food Production
Food Miles
Climate Change
Ireland has a mild and wet climate which gives us rich grasslands. This is ideal for grass-based dairy farming. Grass-fed animals are those whose diet consists almost entirely of grass.
Gases, such as CO2, that trap the heat of the sun in our atmosphere, causing it to heat up (just like a greenhouse).
Due to excess greenhouse gas emissions, the Earth is heating up, causing the climate to change.
The distance food travels from the farm to our plates. The further your food has to travel, the higher its food miles will be.
How our food is grown, processed and packaged.
Dairy and Eating Sustainably / slide 3 of 14
Sustainable Eating
Sustainable diets include foods that are nutritious, acceptable and affordable, while limiting impact on the environment. To eat more sustainably, we can:
Dairy and Eating Sustainably / slide 4 of 14
Activity
Dairy and the Environment
PRESS TO GOFULL SCREEN
Now that you have learned about dairy and the environment, complete the following sentences using words from the vocabulary box below. Be careful! There are three extra words which shouldn’t be there! Can you find them?
Dairy and Eating Sustainably / slide 5 of 14
Nutrition & You Eating Sustainably
Listen carefully and answer all the questions
PRESSFOR NEXTQUESTION
1. What are the 6 things we should include in a healthy, sustainable diet?
2. Why is Ireland a good place for making milk in a way that’s good for the environment?
3. How much of the water used for Irish dairy comes from rain?
4. What’s one way we can stop wasting food at home?
5. What can we do to help the planet and use less energy?
Teaching Notes
For the Teacher
Dairy and Eating Sustainably / slide 6 of 14
Healthy Eating - Video Clip
Watch Video
Choose any four questions to answer
Q: What’s one way we can stop wasting food at home?
Q: What are the 6 things we should include in a healthy, sustainable diet?
A: Plan meals, use leftovers, and use all parts of food, like making soup from bones or pickling extra veggies.Timestamp: 2:55 - 3:12
A: A variety of fruits and veggies, whole grains, moderate dairy, nuts and beans, water, and eating the right amount of food to avoid waste.Timestamp: 0:42 - 1:12
Q: What can we do to help the planet and use less energy?
Q: Why is Ireland a good place for making milk in a way that’s good for the environment?
A: Walk or bike instead of driving, use things at home carefully, recycle, and avoid single-use items.Timestamp: 3:19 - 3:32
A: Because cows in Ireland eat grass, which helps the environment and makes the milk production more sustainable.Timestamp: 1:27 - 1:41
Q: How much of the water used for Irish dairy comes from rain?
A: 99%Timestamp: 1:51 - 1:54
Dairy and Eating Sustainably / slide 7 of 14
Key Words
Have you ever heard of any of these words?
Food Production: This is how we grow, get ready, and pack our food before we buy it.
Greenhouse Gases: These are gases in the air, like a blanket, that keep the sun's heat in.
Climate Change: People do things that make more of these gases, like driving cars. This makes the Earth warmer, so the weather changes.
Sustainable Eating: This means picking food that is good for us and the world around us. That includes the air, plants, and animals.
Grass and Cows: Ireland has good weather for grass to grow. Cows and other farm animals can eat this grass and be healthy (especially in Ireland).
How Far Food Travels: This is how far our food travels to get to us. If it travels far, it has more food miles.
Dairy and Eating Sustainably / slide 8 of 14
Where Does Our Food Come From?
Group Brainstorm
In small groups, create a mind map on:
How food production affects the environment
How eating sustainably helps
What makes Irish dairy farming sustainable
How to identify Irish-produced milk
Dairy and Eating Sustainably / slide 9 of 14
Class Discussion
Better choicesEat local, seasonal food, reduce packaging.
Food & emissionsFarming & transport contribute to climate change.
Look for the label Farmed in the Republic of Ireland supports local jobs
Irish dairy sustainabilityCows graze 300 days/year, rain provides 99% of water, low emissions.
Grasslands absorb carbon Helps reduce environmental impact.
Wrap-Up – Discuss:What surprised you? How can we eat more sustainably?
Dairy and Eating Sustainably / slide 10 of 14
Where in the world do we get this from?
List countries and continents
Dairy and Eating Sustainably / slide 11 of 14
Class Discussion
Discuss the following points on balancing nutritional and safe dietary choices to minimise the impact on climate change
Check labels for "Farmed in the Republic of Ireland" & "Responsibly Sourced Seafood.“ Look for the symbol to the right!
Choose Irish-produced milk, yogurt, cheese, fish, and seasonal fruits/veg.
Use Bord Bia’s seasonal calendar to buy local, in-season food.
Reduce food miles by choosing Irish over imports when possible.
Minimise plastic packaging—opt for loose produce & reusable bags.
1/3 of food is wasted globally—only buy what you need.
A balanced diet supports health and reduces waste.
Dairy and Eating Sustainably / slide 12 of 14
Activity
Shopping List
PRESS TO GOFULL SCREEN
Group Task – In small groups, create a "Sustainable Shopping Guide" with:5 local foods to choose 5 ways to reduce food waste 2 packaging alternatives to plastic
For the Teacher
Dairy In My Diet / slide 13 of 14
Extension Activities
1. Design a poster for your local milk brand or your School Milk Scheme. Include the Farmed in the Republic of Ireland guarantee. Create a slogan (a short and catchy phrase) and a description about your milk that will convince people to buy local! Display your poster in the classroom.
2. Grow your own plants in the classroom! Plant some herbs or vegetables with your pupils.
3. Encourage pupils to try and reduce their waste by making the most of what they have in their fridge. Milk and yogurt can be combined with some fast-ripening berries/banana to make a delicious fruit smoothie. Wilted broccoli or soft tomatoes that you might normally throw in the bin, can be used in a tasty vegetable soup.
Dairy In My Diet / slide 14 of 14
Bring it home
When do you consume dairy?
1. On your next visit to the market, try to find 3 food items that are grown or made in Ireland. Remember to look out for the Farmed in the Republic of Ireland guarantee on milk!
2. Share your Mindful in the Market activity sheet with your family and test it with some of the foods in your home. How far did these foods travel? Make a family contract to shop local for more food items in your home