Case study

Jennifer works in a school and struggles to eat healthily as she loves sugary food and quick, convenient meals. She is always in a rush and is often called to assist during children’s lunch breaks, then rushes back to the staff room to grab whatever she bought from the mobile snack van. She is gaining weight, despite working with children all day and her dentist is not happy about the amount of sugar she is eating as it is damaging her teeth. Jennifer complains about the situation to another practitioner and they talk about a possible solution. Jennifer is going to prepare a healthy packed lunch the night before work.

• What foods would you use to make a healthy and convenient packed lunch?
• What ways can you think of to have a healthy, but still tasty drink that isn’t high in sugar?
• Jennifer does have a sweet tooth so how can she satisfy her sugar craving without eating sweets or chocolate?
• Is it ok to sometimes eat sugary foods?

It is rare that there is just one way to respond to a scenario or situation, so do not consider that the responses you have to the above scenario will be judged as right or wrong. Share your scenario with a work colleague or friend and ask them to tell you whether they think you have responded appropriately. Ask them to challenge your response if necessary. You do not need to submit this task for assessment unless asked to do so by your assessor.