Introduction
All of us feel happy at different times and for different reasons. We feel happy when we:
- Eat our favourite food made from grains, pulses, and vegetables.
- Play games with our friends.
- Spend time with family.
Celebrate festivals and special moments.
Being happy is an important part of being healthy.
This unit helps us understand how food, exercise, rest, and safety work together to keep us happy and healthy.Journey of the Grains
Have you ever wondered how food like rice or wheat reaches your plate?
- The journey of a grain from the farm to our plate is long and full of effort.
- Many people and natural elements work together to make this possible.
- The efforts of people (farmers, sellers, etc.) and animals make this journey possible for us.
- Water, soil, and sunlight also play an important role in this process.
- Shopkeepers sell the grains, and family members cook them.
Did you know?
In India, we celebrate different cultural practices and festivals to show gratitude to ‘Mother Nature’ for the food we eat. These include Makar Sankranti, Akshay Tritiya, Raja Utsav, Onam, Lohri, and other festivals.
Mindful Eating
Mindful eating means paying full attention to what we eat and how we eat it.
One day, the teacher asked the students to sit in a circle and close their eyes. She placed one peanut in each child’s hand. The students followed these steps carefully:
- Slowly put the peanut in the mouth.
- Use the tongue to feel its surface.
- Gently chew it with the teeth.
- Use the tongue, nose, and other senses to feel the taste.
- Notice the texture (how the food feels) before swallowing.
What Happens in Our Mouth While Eating?
- The tongue helps in feeling the food’s texture and moving it around in the mouth.
- The teeth break the food into smaller pieces by chewing.
Inside the mouth, food gets soft and mixed with saliva, making it easier to swallow.
Importance of Mindful Eating
- It helps us enjoy our food more.
- We make healthier choices when we eat slowly.
It teaches us to be thankful for every bite.
Next time you eat, try to chew slowly, enjoy the flavour, and be grateful for your food.Valuing Food
- Every grain is important because many people and animals work hard to provide food for us.
- Wasting food disrespects their efforts.
- When we waste food, we fail to respect the hard efforts of everyone who helped bring food to our plate.
- When we remember all the contributors with love and gratitude, we feel the importance of each grain, and we enjoy the taste.
- For a week, keep a record of what you eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and if You finish your food or not.
Enjoy Sports
- Along with good food, it is important to exercise regularly to maintain our health.
- Engaging in regular physical activities, such as: Playing in open fields with friends, Running, Jumping, Cycling, Skipping is essential to keep us strong and energetic.
- Other physical activities like yoga help improve our posture and keep us happy and active.
- The textbook ‘Khel Yoga’, which focuses on ‘Physical Education’ and Well-being, offers many fun exercises and games.
Sleep Well too!
- Sleep is essential for staying fresh and full of energy.
- Our body needs enough sleep each day.
- Good sleep removes tiredness and helps us feel refreshed.
Lack of sleep makes it hard to concentrate on work or play.Getting enough sleep is as important as eating well and exercising.Feeling Safe
- Feeling safe contributes to happiness and health.
- A safe touch feels like a comforting hug from a family member.
- An unsafe touch can make you feel uneasy or scared.
- This can happen from anyone, whether familiar or a stranger.
- If you feel unsafe, it’s important to say “No” and tell a trusted adult.
- Speaking up is okay, and you shouldn’t feel guilty about it.
Difficult Words
- Grains: Small seeds such as rice and wheat that are used as food.
- Fertile: Soil that is excellent for growing plants.
- Mindful Eating: Eating slowly and being aware of what we eat and how we feel while eating. This helps us enjoy our food more, make healthier choices, and appreciate what we have.
- Texture: The way food feels in the mouth, like whether it is smooth or crunchy.
- Precious: Something very valuable, like each grain of food.
- Safe Touch: A touch, such as a hug, that feels good and comfortable.
- Unsafe Touch: A touch that feels scary, uncomfortable, or wrong. If you ever feel unsafe, speak up! It’s alright to say ‘No’ and tell a trusted adult, like your teacher or parents.
- Trusted Adult: Someone like a parent or teacher you can talk to when you feel unsafe.