Learning and Leadership › Women’s Academy › Health, Rights and Wellbeing › Healthy Nutrition & Lifestyle › Course Materials
Healthy eating is not always expensive. Based on World Health Organization guidelines, this course explains in simple language the food groups, the balanced plate, affordable and nutritious local food, water and food hygiene, and healthy daily habits.
Course page in the learning system
Course details
| Level | Beginner |
| Estimated duration | 6 hours of study and practice |
| Prerequisite | None |
| Language of instruction | Farsi-e-Dari (with key English terms) |
| Cost | Free |
| Assessment | A test after each section and a final exam; pass mark 70%; certificate after Academy approval |
After this course you will be able to
- Explain the main food groups and the role of each
- Put together a balanced plate using local, affordable food
- Follow hygiene rules when preparing and storing food
- Explain the role of water, physical activity and sleep in health
- Read the labels on packaged food
Course outline
- Food groups
- Vitamins and minerals
- Water
- Proportions
- Local and seasonal food
- Eating well on a small budget
- Nutrition for children and adolescents (basics)
- Nutrition at different stages of life
- Common misconceptions
- Washing and cooking
- Storage
- Clean drinking water
- Daily activity
- Sleep
- Cutting down on sugar and salt
Week-by-week learning path
With about 30 to 45 minutes of study and practice a day, you will finish this course in 6 weeks:
| Week | Topic | Weekly output |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Nutrition basics | Lessons, practical exercise and short section test |
| Week 2 | The balanced plate | Lessons, practical exercise and short section test |
| Week 3 | The family | Lessons, practical exercise and short section test |
| Week 4 | Food hygiene | Lessons, practical exercise and short section test |
| Week 5 | Lifestyle | Lessons, practical exercise and short section test |
| Week 6 | Final project and final exam | Completed project and a score of 70% or more |
Final project
A ‘one-week balanced meal plan for the family’ using local, affordable food: a balanced plate for each meal, a shopping list with a budget, food hygiene tips, and a comparison with World Health Organization guidance.
Project assessment criteria:
- Balance of food groups
- Realistic budget and availability
- Attention to food hygiene
- Consistency with reliable guidance
Key course terms
Nutrition
Food group
Protein
Vitamin
Fiber
Balanced plate
Food safety
Hydration
Assessment and certificate
- After each section: a short test (70% recommended before continuing)
- Practical exercises in each lesson are for learning; send your questions via Questions the link provided.
- End of course: final exam (pass mark 70%) and submission of the final project
- Digital certificate after review and approval by the Academy: Request a certificate
Teaching approach
Each lesson includes learning objectives, explanations with real examples and images, key terms in Farsi-e-Dari and English, common mistakes, a practical exercise, a self-test and a summary. In every lesson you can put your questions to the teacher using the Questions button. The courses are impartial, free and open to all young people.
Get ready now
- For three days, write down everything you eat
- Read the World Health Organization’s ‘Healthy diet’ guidance
- Write down one healthy, affordable local dish you like
Free and reliable resources
These resources were selected by the Academy team. Most are in English; Chrome’s Translate feature can help if needed. Large files (books, exercise files, videos) will be placed in the Academy’s official Google Drive folder when the course opens and linked from this page.
- WHO – Healthy diet, the World Health Organization’s official guidance on healthy eating
- World Health Organization (WHO), reliable and up-to-date health information
- MedlinePlus, the reliable health encyclopaedia of the US National Library of Medicine
- Khan Academy, free lessons in maths, science and economics
Important note: This course is educational and does not replace examination, diagnosis or treatment by a doctor or health worker. In an emergency or in case of illness, go to your nearest health centre.
Help and questions
Questions about this course: [email protected] · All courses: Online Learning Centre · Active course: Computer and Internet Basics
Women’s Academy, Afghanistan Youth Parliament · Free and open to all young people