Food Studies
Elective Unit
Unit Description
Year 9 Food Studies provides students with opportunities to explore food through practical cooking, design, and investigation. With a strong multicultural focus, students discover how food reflects culture, identity, and traditions from around the world.
Using the design process, students explore food from a range of perspectives and use fresh ingredients, authentic equipment, and diverse recipes to create healthy, culturally inspired dishes. They learn about nutrition, food science, and food production while developing skills in food preparation, kitchen safety, and presentation.
Students build critical and creative thinking skills as they plan, create, and evaluate food products. They also investigate the influences that have shaped Australian cuisine, including First Nations food traditions and the impact of migration on Australia's food culture.
Practical work is a key part of the course and includes cooking, demonstrations, responding to design briefs, dietary analysis, sensory evaluation, and product analysis.
Through these experiences, students develop confidence, make informed food choices, and explore responsible food practices.
Topics
- Preparing Food Safely
- Food Around the World
- Native Australian Ingredients
- Nutrition
- Recipe Development
- Food Trucks
- Gingerbread House
Essential Questions
- What do people eat and why?
- How do our food choices affect our health and wellbeing?
- What are Australian indigenous ingredients and how can they be incorporated into modern recipes?
- How are foods prepared and cooked based on their characteristics?
- How can we think critically and creatively to plan, prepare, and present food successfully?
- Why is the design process important in creating food products?
