Nutrition Journal ā He Tuhinga Kai
Taha Tinana Ā· Tracking kai and wai as a wellbeing practice Ā· Years 7ā10
NgÄ WhÄinga Akoranga Ā· Learning Intentions
- Track kai and wai choices across three days to see how they affect energy, focus, and mood.
- Understand the connection between nutrition and taha tinana within Te Whare Tapa WhÄ.
- Explore traditional MÄori foods (kai MÄori) as tools for wellbeing ā not just as history.
- Reflect on patterns in energy and mood across meals and identify one gentle improvement.
Paearu Angitu Ā· Success Criteria
- Journal records meals, snacks, and wai (water) honestly across all three days.
- Energy and mood ratings are completed with honest reflection ā not just numbers.
- Kai MÄori section identifies at least 2 traditional foods and their connection to wellbeing.
- Weekly reflection identifies one real pattern and one realistic small change to try.
He aha te take? Ā· Why Track Kai?
Tracking kai and wai choices helps us see how what we eat affects how we feel ā our energy, our focus, our mood, and our body. The goal is not to judge what you eat, but to notice patterns and learn what nourishes your tinana and hinengaro. Use this journal with curiosity, not self-criticism.
He Tuhinga Kai Ä-RÄ Ā· 3-Day Food Diary
Record what you ate and drank, including snacks and wai. Rate your energy and mood (1 = very low Ā· 5 = great) at the end of each day.
Kai MÄori ā Traditional Foods as Wellbeing Tools
Traditional MÄori foods are not just history ā they are nutritious, sustainable, and often deeply connected to place, season, and community. Explore some examples below, then add any your whÄnau uses.
| Kai MÄori | English name | Connection to wellbeing / mauri |
|---|---|---|
| KÅ«mara | Sweet potato | Energy and carbohydrate; deeply tapu, carefully cultivated |
| Kaimoana (ika, toheroa, pÄua) | Seafood | Protein and omega-3; connection to moana and kaitiakitanga |
| Huahua (preserved bird) | Preserved bird | Protein; knowledge of preservation and seasonal harvesting |
| Your whÄnau's kai MÄori: | ||
| Your whÄnau's kai MÄori: |
Hononga Marautanga Ā· Curriculum Alignment
Taha tinana ā nutrition as a core component of physical wellbeing; understanding how kai choices affect energy, mood, and holistic health. Self-management and health literacy.
Kai MÄori as cultural practice and identity; understanding the relationship between food, land, and community in te ao MÄori; kaitiakitanga and sustainable food choices.
Tuhia Åu whakaaro Ā· Energy and Mood Pattern Reflection
Look back at your 3-day diary. What patterns do you notice? Which meals gave you the most energy? Did any kai choices affect your mood or focus?
One small, realistic change I'd like to try next week:
Aronga MÄtauranga MÄori
In te ao MÄori, kai is never just fuel ā it carries mauri (life force), whakapapa (genealogy of land and cultivation), and tikanga (appropriate ways of growing, harvesting, and preparing). The practice of karakia before eating acknowledges the relationships between people, food, and the atua who govern each domain. Kai MÄori ā kÅ«mara, kaimoana, huahua, rÄkau (plants) ā reflects generations of knowledge about what the land and sea provide in season. When students explore traditional foods, they are not just learning about nutrition; they are learning that food is a relationship with the land, with tÄ«puna, and with each other. Ko te kai he mea tapu ā food is a sacred matter.
NgÄ Rauemi Tautoko Ā· Resources already provided
- unit-8-movement-plan-template.html ā plan movement alongside kai for a complete taha tinana picture
- unit-8-physical-wellbeing-tracker.html ā daily tracking of kai, movement, sleep, and mood together
- unit-8-sleep-diary.html ā tracking how sleep affects appetite and energy
- unit-8-regulation-plan.html ā understanding how kai connects to emotional regulation
š Teacher Planning Snapshot
NgÄ WhÄinga Ako ā Learning Intentions
Students will engage with this hauora resource to build holistic wellbeing knowledge, connecting te ao MÄori perspectives on hauora with personal, social, and environmental dimensions of health.
NgÄ Paearu AngitÅ« ā Success Criteria
- ā Students can explain key hauora concepts using their own words and personal examples.
- ā Students can connect te ao MÄori frameworks (e.g. Te Whare Tapa WhÄ) to real wellbeing contexts.
Differentiation & Inclusion
Scaffold support: Provide sentence starters, graphic organisers, and entry-level tasks to scaffold access. Offer extension challenges for capable learners to address a range of readiness levels.
ELL / ESOL: Pre-teach key vocabulary (hauora, wairua, tinana, hinengaro, whÄnau). Allow students to draw or respond in their home language as a first step.
Inclusion: Hauora topics can be sensitive ā create a safe learning environment. Neurodiverse learners benefit from choice in how they demonstrate wellbeing understanding. Use accessible, non-threatening language.