This is meat (11-14 Years)

Key messages 

The key messages of the session include: 

• Red meat eaten in the United Kingdom (UK), comes mainly from: cattle (beef), pigs (pork) and sheep (lamb).
• Lean meat is the muscle tissue of animals which is made up of bundles of muscle fibres held together by creamy white connective tissue.
• Connective tissue is made up of two proteins called collagen and elastin.
• Two different types of fat can be found in meat, visible and invisible. 
• The colour of meat varies due to the red protein called myoglobin and some haemoglobin remaining in the muscles. Exposure to oxygen increases the red colour of meat.
• Lean meat consists of water, protein, fats, vitamins and minerals.

Classroom activities

• Use the presentation to complete the worksheet This is meat.
• Ask groups of students to research different cuts of meat and ask them to record their findings on the worksheet Let’s look at red meat. 
• Take a class survey on the amount and different types of red meat eaten over a period of one week. Discuss the most popular choices and aspects of food choice made by the class.
• Begin using the Glossary worksheet to build the students vocabulary.