JANUARY 2021 SEMESTER

MODULE CODE : MPU3412

MODULE NAME : SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PROJECT

PROGRAMME/ : BACHELOR
PERINGKAT

NAME :

MATRIC NO

PROGRAMME

ACADEMIC
FACILITATOR

LEARNING CENTER : AEU SUBANG JAYA

 Declaration

I, declare that the assignment submitted is my own work. I have fully

referenced all sources of information used during the completion of my assignment, and I am
aware that failure to do so constitutes an assessment offence.

There were no use of food representing as materials during this project. Everything is made
and cut out by paper as an image display.

Not forgetting, I ensure that the school has comply to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
by maintaining social distancing of 1 meter apart from each student with no social contact.
Hence, making sure that all students are to wear mask at all times.

Date: 28th March 2021

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 MPU 3412

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
PROJECT

“A BALANCED DIET: FOOD

PYRAMID”

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 TABLE OF CONTENT

Declaration ………………………………………………………………………………… 2

1.0 Theme ……………………………………………………………………………… 6

2.0 Project name ………………………………………………………………………. 6

3.0 Date/ duration of the project ……………………………………………………… 6

4.0 Manpower involved ………………………………………………………………. 7

5.0 Objective of the project ……………………………………………….……….…. 7

6.0 Execution of the project ……………………………………………………….…. 7

6.1 Research Questions .................................................................................... 7

6.2 Agenda of The Project ................................................................................ 8

6.3 Background of this project: Parent’s opinion and management on Balance

Diet for their children ................................................................................ 8

6.4 What is Balanced Diet? ............................................................................. 10

6.5 Food Pyramid ........................................................................................... 12

6.6 Importance of Balanced Diet for young ones ......................................... 16

7.0 Planning ............................................................................................................... 16

7.1 Execution of activity .............................................................................. 16

7.1.1 List of activities on Balanced Diet ........................................... 18

a) Food Classification or Grouping Game (Balanced Diet- Food Pyramid)

b) Eatwell Basket Game (Healthy Food vs Unhealthy Food)

c) Eatwell Plate Game (What Is in My Plate?)

d) Circle Time (Sharing Session on Balanced Diet)

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 7.1.2 Creating awareness to the community on social media pages of
Balanced Diet ............................................................................... 29

7.2 Reflection .................................................................................................. 31

8.0 Suggestions .......................................................................................................... 32

9.0 Appreciation ....................................................................................................... 33

10.0 Reference list ...................................................................................................... 34

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1.0 THEME

With the impact of COVID-19, the community is currently facing hardship and struggling
times. Therefore, the theme chosen specifically for this social responsibility project is strongly
encouraged to educate the community in general about health and nutrition. The theme chosen
is “A Balanced Diet: Food Pyramid”. This theme has put lots of thought and time into it and it
is formed as way of giving back towards community of some informational and educational
insights of why Balanced Diet is important in our daily lives and how this will impact and not
only will affect children at a young age when growing up and also for all ages as well.

2.0 PROJECT NAME

The project name is simply called as “Balanced Diet”. It is an extremely vital and it is an
insightful topic with incredible dose of knowledge for anyone whom is able to receive. The
reason behind for choosing such project name is mainly emphasizing on ‘health and safety’.
The wellbeing and health of the citizens are very crucial and to not take it for granted as we
may never know how poorly one has failed to take care of one’s health. The word ‘Balanced’
measures up to the concept of using a balanced scale. The food intake should be way as
balanced. Anything taken should be at the right proportion. Nothing more and nothing less.
‘Diet’ is defined as an individual showing the ability of self-control, discipline in cutting down
the intake of particular food that can caused serious health challenges. As a whole, the message
delivered is “Healthy Eating, Healthy Life”.

3.0 DATE/ DURATION OF THE PROJECT

The duration of the project is typically based on the number of activities that was conducted in
this project. Thus, it is crucial that no lesson was rushed and causing children to feel restless or
boredom. Importantly, making sure that children are able to understand and receive the
knowledge shared to them about Balanced Diet. Not forgetting, making learning fun and
engaging. Therefore, the project was executed in the period of 3 days in 30 minutes for each
lesson starting from Wednesday, 17 March 2021 to Friday, 19 March 2021.

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4.0 MANPOWER INVOLVED

The number of manpower involved was not many. I only required one additional helping hand
to assist me in executing this project. The manpower involved, namely myself,
and my teacher, acting as the photographer during the
duration of the activities conducted and needed to execute this project. With extra helping hand,
I am able to run the presentation and lesson smoothly without any disruption or having to stop
in between to take pictures and run back and forth to conduct the lesson. Help was much
needed! Nothing is impossible is a lesson to learn.

5.0 OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT

a) To understand how unhealthy eating and unbalanced diet can affect an individual’s
health and cause alarming health complications and diseases.
b) To be able to classify and identify a group of different food in the Food Pyramid.
c) To participate in game activities pertaining on Balanced Diet such as Healthy Food
versus Unhealthy Food with teamwork.
d) To understand the positive impact of food consumption of the components or food
classified in the Food Pyramid.
e) To be able to receive the amount of knowledge and previous knowledge on
Balanced Diet: Food Pyramid to capture better understanding, sharing and
educating the community.

6.0 EXECUTION OF THE PROJECT

To execute the project, there ought to be a purpose or a core reason that is known to be a
backbone to this project. A source of motivation that challenges me on the task I am to face.
My purpose of doing this project and this specific topic on Balanced Diet is mainly out of
curiosity. The thought of curiosity does shed light to some unanswered questions.

6.1 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1) Do children understand the concept or the topic of Balanced Diet and healthy eating?

2) Do children know what is on their plate and are they considered a healthy meal?

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 3) How unhealthy eating and unbalanced diet can affect children’s health and cause
alarming health complications and diseases?
4) Do children possess sufficient enough of previous knowledge on Balanced Diet from
their families educating them at home?

5) How can children bring back and put to practice of what they have learned about
Balanced Diet?

6.2 AGENDA OF THIS PROJECT

No Day & Date Time and Duration Types of Activities

of Activity
1 Wednesday, 17 March 2021 10.00am to 10.30am - Introduction (Balanced Diet
(30 minutes) Presentation)
- Food Classification or Grouping
Game (Balanced Diet- Food Pyramid)
2 Thursday, 18 March 2021 10.00am to 10.30am - Eatwell Basket Game (Healthy Food
(30 minutes) vs Unhealthy Food)
3 Friday, 19 March 2021 10.00am to 10.30am - Eatwell Plate Game (What Is in My
(30 minutes) Plate?)
- Circle Time (Sharing Session on
Balanced Diet)

Table 1: Agenda of this project (Activities on Balanced Diet)

6.3 BACKGROUND OF THIS PROJECT: PARENT’S OPINION AND

MANAGEMENT ON BALANCE DIET FOR THEIR CHILDREN

Parents these days are forgetting of how important to start or encourage children healthy eating
from early years of age. Some believe that they are only young children. It is perfectly fine to
let them eat anything that they want to consume. This is a wrong approach and not advisable
in promoting and encouraging healthy eating to have a balanced diet. It starts from a young age

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of healthy eating to establish a healthy long life. If this is approached wrongly by allowing
children dictate parents, quoting, “I want donuts”, “I don’t want vegetable, he or she cries”, “I
don’t to eat this food, I want ice cream” and others.

Looking at the current generation of children in their early childhood, the pattern and behavior
of eating or consuming food is being determined by their family and most importantly, it has a
definite impact on their health and may cause potential health complications such as tooth
cavity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, High cholesterol, growth and development difficulties
and many more if not take care well. It almost sounds unbelievable that so much can actually
impact a child negatively if Balanced Diet is not considered in their Healthy Eating plan. Over
the last two decades, research is necessary understand how parents affect their children's diet
and lifestyle has expanded, resulting in over 75 research papers on the creation of specific diet
coaching instruments (O’Connor, Mâsse, Tu, Watts, Hughes, Beauchamp and Vaughn13,
2017). The majority of the studies is mainly concentrating on specific topics such as food
parenting strategies or parent’s influence on children’s behavioral eating habits on their daily
intake (O’Connor, Mâsse, Tu, Watts, Hughes, Beauchamp and Vaughn13, 2017).

What is even shocking, not surprising is that children having obesity has created an alarming
rate over the years all around the world due to unhealthy dieting. Since 1971, there seems to be
a corresponding change in the rates of obesity in developed countries; unsurprisingly, it is also
rising in emerging regions (Koo, Poh, and Abd Talib, 2018). In the year 2006, the Malaysian
Ministry of Health has conducted a National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) to find out
and collect raw data of the rate of children with obesity. Results has showed that there is an
estimate rate of 5.4 percent of children under the age of 18 are having obesity (Koo, Poh, and
Abd Talib, 2018). Gradually, every year the figure seems to be increasing which is very
alarming and something parents should take seriously. To avoid future health problems, it starts
at early childhood to take matters seriously that is how to eliminate the risk of potential ciaos
of heath diseases in the child’s body system (Koo, Poh, and Abd Talib, 2018).

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6.4 WHAT IS BALANCED DIET?

Picture 1: A Balanced Diet

A healthy diet can make a life-span longer if well taken care of. Such diseases like heart disease,
obesity, stroke, and diabetes are all considered as long-term chronic diseases that can have a
major impact on your life at later stage in life. It can be very painful, mentally stressful and
draining when older to deal with such complications that was not taken care at young times.
However, a healthy diet has its pros and cons. You can’t eat too many unhealthy foods, nor eat
less. It has to be balanced just as the image to the platter meal above. Truthfully, if you fall sick
that is because there is insufficient of healthy dieting in your system to help recover faster. Not
only eating healthy meal can promote healthy lifestyle but also doing regular physical activity
and drinking plenty of water adds to the balanced diet.

Most importantly, a balanced diet provides sufficient amounts of nutrients to the child’s body
for it function accordingly and appropriately. Children are known to be very active in their
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younger days due to the food they consume because the food they consumer gives them lots of
energy. Therefore, it only makes sense that an active child should at least consume 1000 to
2000 of calories per day in their meal intake. The reason being is that calories in your system
allows your body to function such as walking, talking, breathing, thinking and others.

A balanced diet is best viewed through a ‘Food Pyramid’. In the food pyramid contains foods
on different levels and each level represents how much a child should consume on a daily basis
in order to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle. The foods in the ‘Food Pyramid’ are
Carbohydrates (starchy foods) such as bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, etc., fruit and vegetables,
Milk and dairy foods, protein foods that contains of meat, fish, eggs and other sources of protein
such as nuts, tofu, beans, pulses and etc.

One important motivation saying is:

A BALANCED DIET = A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

(HEALTHY MIND, BODY AND SOUL)

What makes up to a healthy diet?

The number one rule is that vegetables, fruits and starchy foods should be taken more than
others. Milk and dairy foods, as well as protein foods, can make up the rest of your diet. But
what should be consumed less is numerous of food and drinks that contains high in fat and
sugar. High in fat and sugar can cause two major diseases such as Cardiovascular disease (Heart
disease) and Diabetes.

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6.5 FOOD PYRAMID

What is a Food Pyramid?

Picture 2: Food Pyramid

Children, all in all, require nutritious and well-balanced foods to support their growing bodies.
Healthy diet consists of roughly equal quantities of foods from different but essential food
groups, such as fruits, grains, and so on. A food pyramid is used to keep things simple when it
comes to defining balanced food. It's a pyramid-shaped illustration that shows the different
foods that children must consume, as well as their proper ratios on how much to consume. In
simplified way, it's a nutrition diagram that outlines the amount of fats, vitamins, minerals,
proteins, and carbohydrates that your child needs in a daily basis for a better and healthier
lifestyle with limit of complications (Nair, 2018).

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A food pyramid comprises of four levels that address five nutrition type. The recommended
number of servings per day for each food group is indicated beside each group. Each food
group gets smaller as you go up the food pyramid, meaning that you should eat more of the
foods at the bottom and less of the foods at the top (Health Online Unit, Ministry of Health
Malaysia, 2021).

Type of Food Amount to Consume

Cereal, Bread, Potatoes, Pasta and Rice Eat every day

vegetables, salad and fruit Eat every day

milk, yogurt and cheese Eat every day

meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans and nuts Eat every day

fats, spreads and oils Very small amounts

Table 2: 5 basic food groups in the Food Pyramid (Health Service Executive, 2020)

Carbohydrates

When we eat carbohydrates, it gives us the most energy and fibre amongst other foods in the
Food Pyramid. Carbohydrates has been classified into two groups such as complex
carbohydrates and simple carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates food are the starchy foods
such as bread, pasta, rice and potatoes. Whereas, simple carbohydrates are the foods that is
sweet and sugary (Knott, 2020). Carbohydrates has some B vitamins that helps get energy in
food.

Servings (Health Service Executive, 2020):

Age 1 to 2: 3 to 4 servings a day

Age 3 to 4: 4 to 6 servings a day

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are recommended for young children to eat plenty. According to new
findings, consuming at least seven servings of fruits and vegetables a day lowers the likelihood

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of diseases, including stroke, heart disease, and some cancers (Knott, 2020). In an ideal
situation, the diet will consist of more vegetables than fruit. Fruit and vegetables, in addition
to these advantages, produce a lot of fibre, which helps keep the bowels safe (Knott, 2020).
Constipation and diverticular disease are far less likely to develop as a result. They are rich in
vitamins and minerals, which are essential for good health. One good thing is that it is naturally
fat-free. They leave you feeling satisfied after a meal while being low in calories.

Servings (Health Service Executive, 2020):

Age 1 to 2: 2 to 3 servings a day

Age 3 to 4: 4 to 5 servings a day

Milk and Dairy Foods

Milk, as well as other dairy foods including cheese and yoghurt, are important in your diet
since they contain calcium, which is vital for strong teeth and bones. They're also full of protein
and contain minerals and vitamins that are beneficial to your health. 'Milk and dairy foods' also
include calcium-fortified soya milk and fromage frais (Knott, 2020). However, foods such as
cream and butter are considered as non-dairy foods (Knott, 2020). They are high in fat and falls
under the group of fatty foods.

Servings (Health Service Executive, 2020):

Age 1 to 2: 3 servings a day

Age 3 to 4: 3 servings a day

Protein Foods (including beans and nuts)

Meat, fish, eggs, and plant-based protein sources were a few of the protein-rich foods. Nuts,
seeds, tofu, beans like red kidney beans and canned beans, and pulses like lentils and chickpeas
are all rich in protein from plants (Knott, 2020). To remain safe, you need a certain amount of

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nutrients. Protein is required for energy, as well as growing and repairing in the body. Iron and
vitamins, such as B vitamins and vitamin D, can be found in these high-protein foods (Knott,
2020). Most people tend to consume much more protein than they should. It is important to be
mindful that certain meats contain a lot of fat. You should rather choose lean meat or poultry,
such as chicken. Examples of protein balanced meals are Baked beans on toast, rice, nun, dhal,
a bowl of cereal with milk and others.

Servings (Health Service Executive, 2020):

Age 1 to 2: 2 servings a day

Age 3 to 4: 3 to 4 servings a day

Fats, Oil and Sugar

Obesity and plenty of other health conditions have long been dependent on the fat content we
consume. This makes perfect sense since fat has approximately twice the number of calories
per gramme as carbohydrate or protein (Knott, 2020). Recent analysis, however, indicates that
the scenario is more complicated than that. It implies that carbohydrate plays a significant role
in obesity than originally believed. It is best to avoid fried foods, pastries, cookies, cakes and
others. It is healthier for foods to be oven baked and grilled (Knott, 2020).

Secondly, don’t eat and drink too many sugary foods and drinks. Sugary foods and beverages
are high in calories, and consuming too many can cause children gain weight and harmful to
the body. Too much sugary food (sweets, etc.) is bad for teeth, even though it's just a small
amount because it can cause tooth decay, cavity, bacterial infection. Not only that, diabetes is
another potential disease that the child can potentially have in the future. Hence, as for drinks,
water is always the safest and healthier choice of drink. There is no sugar or calories. On top
of that, its gives energy after doing physical activities.

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6.6 IMPORTANCE OF BALANCED DIET FOR YOUNG ONES

To achieve maximum health benefits, it's critical to find a balance between these different
nutrients. A well-balanced diet provides the nutrients your body needs to function properly.
Diseases, illnesses, exhaustion, and poor results are more likely if you don't eat a well-balanced
diet. Children who practice to consume healthy foods will potentially experience health
problems with growth and development, academic performance, and infection. They can
also develop the struggle of eating habits that will last till adulthood if this doesn’t
change. However, the pros of having a balanced diet is that children are able to fi ght
diseases due to healthy eating which certain nutrients can help boost the immune system
to activate the antibodies in the body. Secondly, children will be able to control their
weight from being obesity. Thirdly, children will now have more energy to d o physical
activities like running, walking, thinking, talking and others. These requires plenty of
energy and balanced diet helps with that.

7.0 PLANNING

As you all know that having a balance diet is very crucial and should be paid with more
attention as important as taking daily vitamins or drinking water. Learning about having a
balance diet is never ending. There are always new and update facts on balance diet. For
example, certain food has founded additional vitamin which didn’t had earlier in some food.

Though I have explained and presented PowerPoint slides with facts and images of Balanced
Diet, did children understand what was taught? In order for us to know, a short Q&A session
will be conducted at first to gather information of their previous knowledge on Balanced Diet
or what they already know that was taught by their parents, families, community and friends.
And, followed by several other fun and engaging activities that can help stimulate children’s
mentality and decision making on Balanced Diet.

7.1 EXECUTION OF ACTIVITY

During the execution of this project, I have come up with a few fun and engaging mind
stimulating games to help better deliver so that children are able to understand the message that

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I am sending out to them about what is Balanced Diet, why it should be taken seriously, what
happens when Balanced Diet is poorly managed. Some of the activities are:

1) Food Classification or Grouping Game (Balanced Diet- Food Pyramid)

2) Eatwell Basket Game (Healthy Food vs Unhealthy Food)

3) Eatwell Plate Game (What Is in My Plate?)

4) Circle Time (Sharing Session on Balanced Diet)

Before conducting or proceeding with those activities, there will be a 20 minutes introduction
session (presentation) about Balanced Diet for children to understand so that it makes it easier
for children to do the activities later on and put their knowledge to the test. During the
introduction session, I will be explaining what Balance Diet is all about through presentation
slides with some graphic pictures so that children will feel easier to grasp the understanding
and the knowledge rather than having slides that are mainly based on facts that may seem very
boring to children. Though the slides may contain full information; children are children at the
end of the day. We educators are not expecting them to receive 100% of the knowledge or to
be an expect in the topic of Balanced Diet but show at least some understanding on the concept
and put use of the knowledge to differentiate between healthy food and unhealthy food; what
should eat most, eat more, eat moderate and eat less; what food to avoid and what food is
encourage to eat more of it. As long children understood those concepts, I can say that I have
executed this project. It is not all about just completing some paper but also ensuring the
knowledge given must be received, appreciated and accepted. That is my GOAL!

After a 20-minute introduction, I will proceed with the activities mentioned in the agenda of
this project following the set timeframe accordingly. As for activities, it is important for me to
plan and prepare ahead of how I am going to proceed or go through the activity with the
children. Usually, it will take me about less than a week to plan what kind of activity that is
simple yet informative and engaging for children. Next, a day before I will be conducting the
activities, I will start to prepare the materials and printouts to be cut, draw and paste.
Preparation is essential as things will be run smoothly in an organized manner. As for
preparation, all activities are to be related back to the objective of this project. To ensure that
this presentation and project is in line and co-related to the subject matter.

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7.1.1 LIST OF ACTIVITIES ON BALANCED DIET

These types of activities help nurture children’s mind and making future changes and forming
new habits in their daily lives. There is multiple reason and benefits for why children should
cultivate this habit. For instance, to promote longer shell life, reducing the risk and
complication rate of getting infectious diseases and other illnesses and many others.

At below are some of the activities that can help children better and be able to participate in
hands-on activities rather than just listening to the teacher speaking.

a) Food Classification or Grouping Game (Balanced Diet- Food Pyramid)

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 Picture 3: What is in the Food Pyramid?

What did teacher do?

At start, I will explain to children what Food Pyramid is all about. While explaining, I will
draw on the whiteboard while explaining to children this is what and how a Food Pyramid will
look like and what each tier has. After explaining each tier and what food each tier contains
and belongs to. It is important for children to understand what they should it eat most, eat more,
eat moderately and eat less. Not only that, I will also stress on the importance of staying
hydrated and being physically active at all times after a meal or a day of eating.

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 Picture 4: Children sticking food items onto the Food Pyramid

What did children do?

In this activity, I will call children one at a time so that everyone is given a chance to do this
activity. With activity, they are able to classify the foods into their specific group or level in
the Food Pyramid. The children will be taking cut-out images and sticking them onto the
whiteboard with tape placed at the back of the paper to make it easier for them to stick. Before
sticking, the children will have to pick one image and tell me what is that and where does it
belong in the Food Pyramid then only, he or she will stick. At times, children will get it wrong
because they have not done this activity before. The children will learn from their mistakes
along the way.

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b) Eatwell Basket Game (Healthy Food vs Unhealthy Food)

Picture 5: Eatwell Basket Game

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What did teacher do?

In this second activity, the teacher will provide large cut-out images of different kinds of food
that all belongs in the Food Pyramid and place it on the table for children to pick from a basket
prepared for them at the side of the table so that it is an easy access for them. After teaching
children, the comparison between healthy food and unhealthy food, children by now should be
able to tell the difference between them. This activity is a good activity to test children’s critical
thinking ability and decision-making ability to decide where does which belong under? Does
it belong in healthy food or does it belong in unhealthy food?

Picture 6: Children classifying healthy food and unhealthy food

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What did children do?

This activity shown above clearly describes that this activity will put children’s knowledge to
the test on whether they understood what is healthy food and unhealthy food and also can they
tell the difference between the two of them. Not only that, a question will be thrown to them
asking which food do you think is healthy to eat? Children will be able to answer the difference
and also is able to tell that how much should they consume. For example, eat most, eat more,
or eat less.

c) Eatwell Plate Game (What Is in My Plate?)

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 Picture 7: Eatwell Plate Game

What did teacher do?

In this Eatwell game, I will prepare again small cut-out images for children to do the activity.
But before that, I will have to explain on the presentation slides of how yummy our Eatwell
plate can be. Not only that, I will also draw and create the Eatwell plate for each student to
bring back home and show to their families. In each Eatwell plate, it is decided like a pie chart
with percentages of how much should you consume in a daily basis. This activity is a take
home activity to be practiced at home as well, not only for listening and understanding but to
apply it in their daily life to promote healthy lifestyle.

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 Picture 8: Children sticking food on their Eatwell plate

What did children do?

At here, you can see that children are guided in this activity because it is a new topic to them.
However, most of the sticking and understanding came from children itself. They were very
excited to do the pasting activity though they might be new to it. Surprisingly, most of the
students have independently done their own Eatwell Plate without any guidance which this
clearly shows to me that they are progressing and taking in the knowledge well than expected.

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d) Circle Time (Sharing Session on Balanced Diet)

Picture 9: Sharing session on Balanced Diet

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What did teacher do?

After conducting a few fun and engaging activity, I will conclude the lesson with a group
sharing session where we seat in a circle and reflect back to what we have learned. I will show
some sample of food and drinks images and ask questions like ‘Children is fried chicken
healthy or not?’, ‘Is coca cola a healthy or not?’ These questions that a thrown to children helps
stimulate their brains respond effectively and efficiently. Each children will be given a question
of their own to answer me about Balanced Diet and relating Balanced Diet to their meal brought
to school also.

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 Picture 10: Children participating in the Sharing session

What did children do?

During the group sharing session, children are able to confirm that they understand what I as a
teacher has taught them during the period of this project. Children are actively answering
questions that I have raised during the questions and answer session. Not only that, I was caught
by surprise that they even threw back some questions to me which I answered leaving surprised.
I appreciate and like it when children raise questions. At the end of the day, the children will
bring back the knowledge to spread to the community and even spread to their families.

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7.1.2 CREATING AWARENESS TO THE COMMUNITY ON SOCIAL MEDIA
PAGES OF BALANCED DIET.

Picture 11: Creating awareness on Balanced Diet

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One thing about this social responsibility project has taught me is that, it is important to spread
the word of mouth by creating awareness. Creating awareness is a public service to do good
and help those in need or everyone in need. This awareness here is all about promoting good
health and wellness. Despite the limitations and difficulties that we are currently facing as a
community, this service here is to shed light on good health and how good health with healthy
food can bring a long way in life. This awareness is important not only to the children but also
to the public by educating them how important balance diet can be life changing.

My approach in creating this awareness is by publishing on the social media platforms mainly
on Facebook and Instagram as parents mostly viewed updates, news any exciting events that
has taken place in our school. Not only that, our page is public and so as all our feed post.
Facebook is a very good platform to spread the awareness because you are able to know as a
result that the public has engaged in the post, commented and even like the image or video by
showing reactions. This result gives us the satisfaction knowing that we have done our part in
this community service initiative and continue to do more.

This in a way is giving back something good in an act of kindness towards the community by
giving a helping hand despite the situation as a whole community we are facing this pandemic
together. And, encouraging others to have a Balanced Diet to boost their immune system may
result good health and potentially save someone from illness. This video and image that has
been published online gives great knowledge on what eating healthy is beneficial, how
unhealthy food can cause problems to your health and why should you stay away from
unhealthy food.

It is definitely difficult for parents to adapt to changes in terms children’s meal intake because
it is understandable that children can be difficult and sometimes a bit fussy with what they want
to eat. At young is the best time to start molding them either wise they will grow to dislike
healthy foods like vegetables, some fruits, nuts and others.

The step has been taken with children by educating them in school with this lesson and now it
is time that the public turn to proceed in making a change in their eating behavior and lifestyle.
The younger generation are looking up to the older generation especially in their families. It is
about time to aspire them of eating healthy.

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7.1 REFLECTION

In my opinion, having to do this project was highly appreciated as I was not only given this
opportunity but a whole experience of shaping young minds. It is said that children minds or
whomever it can be that they can easily be manipulated or convinced with what they see and
hear and strongly leans towards comfort and easy feeling/ approach to any action. During my
observation while conducting the lesson, I have conducted a questions and answers session to
gather some insights of whether the children understand what is Balanced Diet all about.
Hence, this question will be able to answer most of the research questions listed above. This
questions and answers session has no right and wrong. Most importantly, all their answer is
original and was never forced upon them to say.

In my presentation slides, I have attached images for children to understand better as they might
not be able to grasp everything in one go. The children felt very shock and afraid seeing the
pictures that I have shown them. I told the children to not be afraid as this can be avoided if
you eat healthy and limit sugary foods. I also told them you can still have you sugar donuts or
any other sugar foods and drinks but must be very less in consumption. Surprise, children did
understand what I have said. Not only that, I have conducted several activities in class to make
understanding much easier and most of all fun. That is the whole point, fun and engaging. But
there is one particular activity called the ‘Eatwell plate’ that was given to each student to do
and bring back home and use it as a guide when there are preparing the meals. What I have
noticed it that the activities were effective because some children have prepared balanced diet
meals for the breakfast which took me by surprise and the children told me that “My mother
stick the Eatwell plate on the fridge so that she can look at it when preparing food, me to bring
to school”.

Moving on, as for challenges while doing the activity, the children were not educated properly
on balanced diet or specifically on healthy eating. Children struggle to provide previous
knowledge on balanced diet during the questions and answer session on balanced diet that
taught at home. Next, there is a bit of confusion in terms of healthy foods versus unhealthy
foods. Some children things that fruit juices are the healthier option than freshly squeezed juice.
Besides that, there is a limitation in terms of group activities due to social distancing in placed
because of the infectious disease that is currently spreading around the world. Therefore,

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children are limit to touch any physical or actual item of the game. Everything is from paper
and will be dispose at the end of the day.

8.0 SUGGESTIONS

My recommendation is order to solve the challenges faced is to provide graphic presentation

slides and have a two-way communication with children so that I am able to confirm that
children are leaving school to home with sufficient of knowledge on balanced diet. Not only
that, to ensure that this knowledge is remained with them, I have asked children after school to
go and ask your parents ‘What is Balanced Diet?’ and also tell them ‘What is Balanced Diet
and what I have learned in this activity in school today’. It is perfectly understandable that
children are very clueless and unsure how to respond what is Balanced Diet and sometimes
fear takes control. I will then remind children that there is no right and wrong here. All answers
are accepted whether right or wrong but of course I as a teacher will correct them comparing
what is considered healthy food and unhealthy food. Next, I as for the confusion on healthy
food versus unhealthy food, I will always remind children to look back at the food pyramid and
tell me where does it belong in the food pyramid.

It is unavoidable that group activities have its limitation but that did not stop me from having
and making this lesson fun with children. By now, children are very much used to the social
distancing strictly in placed in school. Hence, there were no difference as the knowledge
transferred to children does not affect them because social distancing.

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 9.0 APPRECIATION

First and foremost, I would like to thank God, the man above who watches over me for blessing
me the wisdom of knowledge and giving me the strength and good health to wake up to another
day to complete my social responsibility project of contributing something in a form of
kindness and good gesture towards to community which is very helpful and beneficial with this
current state that we as a community that is battling against covid-19 daily.

I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to my family for giving me the confidence
and courage to complete this project. My husband, who
has always been my biggest supporter and source of encouragement that has results to me
enrolling myself into this course in early childhood education. Not only that, who is an
inspiration to me, who gave me the courage to further study on this interesting topic that
stresses on the importance of health and safety. And, also my three children,
, and for continuously giving
support, believing in me and motivating me to do this paper.

Lastly, I would like to extend my gratitude and a special thanks to my academic facilitator,
for guiding and assisting me in this social responsibility project by
answering and clearing all my questions and doubts. Most of all, ensuring that I am on the right
path in completing this paper. I would also like to say thank you for being very responsive and
efficient in this project when I need your guidance the most. Thank you for having the patience
to assist me during completion of this project and also allowing and encouraging to not be
afraid to shoot questions to you when in doubt. Moving on, I will not forget to extend my
thanks to you for giving me the chance to participate in this module called Social Responsibility
Project and also allowing me to participate in this service of giving back to the community.
This has helped me in many ways such as improving my writing skills, learning and updating
my knowledge on subject matter, and others. Hence, I have always valued this project and
paper as this is an important knowledge as a whole community should learn and accept facts
that are beneficial to one’s health.

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 10.0 REFERENCE LIST

Health Online Unit, Ministry of Health Malaysia (2021). Malaysian Food Pyramid. Retrieved
26 March 2021, from http://www.myhealth.gov.my/en/malaysian-food-pyramid-2/

Health Service Executive. (2020). Food portion sizes for 1 to 4 year olds. Retrieved 26 March
2021, from https://www2.hse.ie/wellbeing/child-health/food-portion-sizes-for-children-aged-
1-to-4-years/food-portion-sizes-for-1-to-4-year-olds.

Knott, D. (2020). What are the benefits of a healthy diet? | Balanced Diet. Retrieved 29 March
2021, from https://patient.info/healthy-living/healthy-eating

Koo, H. C., Poh, B. K., & Abd Talib, R. (2018). The GReat-Child™ Trial: A quasi-
experimental intervention on whole grains with healthy balanced diet to manage childhood
obesity in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Nutrients, 10(2), 156.

Nair, A. (2018). Food Pyramid for Kids - Importance and Components. Retrieved 26 March
2021, from https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/food-pyramid-for-kids-know-the-key-
components/

O’Connor, T. M., Mâsse, L. C., Tu, A. W., Watts, A. W., Hughes, S. O., Beauchamp, M. R.,
... & Vaughn13, A. (2017). Food parenting practices for 5 to 12 year old children: a concept
map analysis of parenting and nutrition experts input.

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