ESL Health Unit

ESL Health UnitESL Health Unit

Unit FourUnit FourHealthy AgingHealthy Aging

Lesson OneLesson OneNutritionNutrition

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Reading and Writing PracticeReading and Writing PracticeIntermediate

Goals for this lesson:

Below are some of the goals of this lesson. Which ones are your goals too? Check () them.

Know the warning signs of poor nutritional health and what you can do to improve your diet.

Understand the difference between count and non-count nouns

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Lesson One: Nutrition

Reading and Writing Practice

Before You Read!

In this lesson, you will read about Eleanors problem with her diet. The last

time Eleanor went to the doctor, the doctor gave her this food pyramid for

older adults and asked her to follow it carefully. Before you read Eleanors

story, read through the pyramid and answer the questions that follow with

your classmates and teacher.

ESL Health Unit/Intermediate, Unit Four: Healthy Aging

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Activity One:

According to the food pyramid what food group should you try to have the

most of each day? What should you have the least of?

Before we go on: a quick review of count vs. non-count nouns

Knowing the difference between count and noncount nouns is important

when you are talking about food:

Use the noun plural ending -s correctly

Use words that express quantities, such as little, a few, some, much,

a couple


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Count vs. Noncount

The main difference between count and noncount nouns is whether or not

the things they refer to can be counted.

Count nouns refer to things that can be divided up into smaller units which

are separate and distinct from one another. They usually refer to what can

individually be seen or heard:

Noncount nouns refer to things that cannot be counted because they are

regarded as wholes which cannot be divided into parts. They often refer to

abstractions and occasionally have a collective meaning:


table

chair

jar

egg

apple

bottle

hamburger

carton

anger

happiness

water

milk

meat

bread

coffee

broccoli

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Illustration: Think of the batter from which a cake is made. Before putting

the batter into the oven, you cannot divide it into its parts because it is a

liquid mix. Once it has been baked, however, it becomes solid enough to be

cut into pieces. Think of noncount nouns as the liquid mix that cannot be cut

into pieces, and think of the pieces of cake as the count nouns which may be

numbered and counted.

Pluralizing

The Rules

Count nouns can be pluralized by adding a final -s to the nouns.

Noncount nouns cannot be not pluralized at all.

This rule works for the nouns in the list of examples above.

Exception: Certain nouns in English belong to both classes: they have both

a noncount and a count meaning. Normally, the noncount meaning is

abstract and general, and the count meaning is concrete and specific.


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http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/grammar/countnon.html#list#list

Quantifiers

Quantifiers are words that give us more information about nouns. They tell

us how many or how much. To selecting the correct quantifier you need to

know whether the word is a count or a non-count noun. For our purposes,

we will choose the count noun eggs and the non-count noun water:

The following quantifiers will work with count nouns:

many eggs

a few eggs

several eggs

a couple of eggs

none of the eggs

The following quantifiers will work with non-count nouns:

much/not much water

a little water

a little bit of water

a good/great deal of water

no water


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The following quantifiers will work with both count and non-count nouns:

all of the eggs/water

some eggs/water

most of the eggs/water

a lot of eggs/water

lots of eggs/water

plenty of eggs/water

Note: with foods, some non-count words such as water, coffee or meat can

be made countable by adding a counting phrase like:

A cup/two cups of milk

A glass/two glasses/a couple of glasses of water

A package/two packages of meat


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Activity Two:

What do you usually eat each day? In the space below, describe your

diet and then share it with your partner. As you list the foods you eat be

sure to use the correct plural form and the correct quantifiers.

1. What do you eat for breakfast?

2. What do you eat for lunch?

3. What do you eat for dinner?

4. Do you have snacks during the day? What are they?

5. How much water/liquid do you drink each day?

6. How does your diet compare with the diet suggested in the food

guide? Is it similar? Very different?


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Reading One - Eleanors Poor Diet

Next read Eleanors story and answer the questions that follow with your

classmates and teacher.

My name is Eleanor and I am 80 years old. I used to cook for myself.

I would walk to the store everyday with my friend Celia to buy the things I

needed. But last year my eyesight got real bad and I couldnt walk to the

market anymore. I guess since then my diet has gone downhill. I often skip

meals and when I do eat, I eat a lot of junk-foodespecially sweets.

The last time I went to the doctor she was angry with me. She said I

gained 20 pounds, my cholesterol level was too high and I was dehydrated.

She gave me a piece of paper and told me to follow the suggestions about

what to eat every day I am supposed to eat more fruits and vegetables and

whole grains and calcium and less fat. She is worried because I am a

diabetic and I have a high blood pressure. I am worried too but I dont know

what to do because I cant walk to the market anymore and I cant see to

cook for myself.

This story was generated by the course developer for instructional purposes.


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Eleanors doctor is afraid that her poor diet is placing her at-risk for

serious health problems

1. Why is Eleanors diet so poor?

2. Why is Eleanors doctor worried about her weight gain, high

cholesterol and dehydration?

3. Do you think Eleanor is going to follow the diet that her doctor

gave her? Why or why not?

4. If you were Eleanor, what would you do to solve your diet

problem?


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Nutrition Risk Test

Could your diet be putting you at risk for serious health problems? Answer

the following questions with your classmates and teacher and then discuss

your nutritional health score.

Read the statements below and check "Yes" for those that apply to you.

1. I have an illness or condition that made me change the

kind and/or amount of food I eat.

Yes (2pts.)

2. I eat fewer than 2 meals per day. Yes (3pts.)

3. I eat few fruits or vegetables, or milk products. Yes (2pts.)

4. I have 3 or more drinks of beer, liquor or wine almost

every day.

Yes (2pts.)

5. I have tooth or mouth problems that make it hard for me

to eat.

Yes (2pts.)

6. I don't always have enough money to buy the food I need.

Yes (4pts.)

7. I eat alone most of the time.

Yes (1pts.)

8. I take 3 or more different prescribed or over-the-counter

drugs a day.

Yes ( 1 pt.)


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9. Without wanting to, I have lost or gained 10 pounds in the

last 6 months.

Yes (2pts.)

10. I am not always physically able to shop, cook and/or feed

myself.

Yes (2pts.)

Now total your nutritional score

0.2 Good. You have no need to change your nutritional habits.

Take this quiz again in 6 months.

3.5 You are at moderate nutritional risk. See what you can do to

improve your eating habits and lifestyle. Your office on aging,

senior nutrition program, senior citizens center or health

department can help.

6 or more You are at high nutritional risk. Bring this quiz with you the

next time you visit a medical professional or social services

agency. Ask for help to improve your nutritional health.

Discuss your score with your classmates. Are you or any of your classmates

at moderate or high nutritional risk? Work together to make a list of

suggestions for what everyone can do to improve their nutrition. If you ESL Health Unit/Intermediate, Unit Four: Healthy Aging

13

cant think of any solutions to this problem, read through the Health Watch

box below for ideas.

Health Watch: Improving Your Nutritional Health

Remember it is important to pay attention to the warning signs of poor

nutritional health. If any of these problems apply to you, read what you can

do to improve your diet.

Problem: Can't chew

Do you have trouble chewing? If so, you may have trouble eating foods like

meat and fresh fruits and vegetables.

What to do: Try other foods.

Problem: Upset stomach

Stomach problems, like too much gas, may make you stay away from foods


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Instead of: Try:fresh fruit fruit juices and soft canned fruits, like applesauce,

peaches and pearsraw vegetables vegetable juices and creamed and mashed cooked

vegetablesMeat ground meat, eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt, and foods

made with milk, like pudding and cream soupssliced bread cooked cereals, rice, bread pudding, and soft cookies

you think cause the problem. This means you could be missing out on

important nutrients, like vitamins, calcium, fiber and protein.

What to do: Try other foods.

Problem: Can't shop

You may have problems shopping for food. Maybe you can't drive anymore.

You may have trouble walking or standing for a long time.

What to do:

Ask the local food store to bring groceries to your home. Some

stores deliver free. Sometimes there is a charge.

Ask your church or synagogue for volunteer help. Or sign up for

help with a local volunteer center.

Ask a family member or neighbor to shop for you. Or pay someone

to do it. Some companies let you hire home health workers for a

few hours a week. These workers may shop for you, among other

things. Look for these companies in the Yellow Pages of the phone ESL Health Unit/Intermediate, Unit Four: Healthy Aging

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Instead of: Try:Milk milk foods that may not bother you, like cream

soups, pudding, yogurt and cheesevegetables like

cabbage and broccoli

vegetable juices and other vegetables, like

green beans, carrots and potatoes

fresh fruit fruit juices and soft canned fruits

book under "Home Health Services."

Problem: Can't cook

You may have problems with cooking. It may be hard for you to hold

cooking utensils, and pots and pans. Or you may have trouble standing for a

long time.

What to do:

Use a microwave oven to cook TV dinners, other frozen foods, and

foods made up ahead of time by the store.

Take part in group meal programs offered through senior citizen

programs. Or, have meals brought to your home.

Move to a place where someone else will cook, like a family

member's home or a home for senior citizens.

To find out about senior citizen group meals and home-delivered meals, call (1-800) 677-1116. These

meals cost little or no money.

Problem: No appetite

Older people who live alone sometimes feel lonely at mealtimes. Loneliness

can make you lose your appetite. Or you may not feel like making meals for

just yourself.


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Maybe your food has no flavor or tastes bad. This could be caused by

medicines you are taking.

What to do:

Eat with family and friends.

Take part in group meal programs, offered through senior citizen

programs.

Ask your doctor if your medicines could be causing appetite or taste

problems. If so, ask about changing medicines.

Increase the flavor of food by adding spices and herbs.

Problem: Short on money

Not having enough money to buy enough food can keep you from eating

well.

What to do:

Buy low-cost foods, like dried beans and peas, rice and pasta. Or buy

foods that contain these items, like split pea soup and canned beans

and rice. ESL Health Unit/Intermediate, Unit Four: Healthy Aging

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Use coupons for money off on foods you like.

Buy foods on sale. Also buy store-brand foods. They often cost less.

Find out if your local church or synagogue offers free or low-cost

meals.

Take part in group meal programs offered through local senior citizen

programs. Or, have meals brought to your home.

Get food stamps. Call the food stamp office listed under your county

government in the blue pages of the telephone book. Adapted from information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration


Unit FourUnit FourHealthy AgingHealthy Aging

Lesson OneLesson OneNutritionNutrition

Listening and Speaking PracticeListening and Speaking PracticeIntermediate


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Goals for this lesson:


Understand U.S. cooking measurements and cooling vocabulary.

Be able to use the phrases used to, be used to and get used to to compare the past to the present.


Listening and Speaking Practice

Before You Listen!

Answer the following questions and then review them together as a class.

1. Do you like to cook? If so, do you cook with recipes?

2. Sometimes following recipes from cookbooks in the U.S. is difficult

because the measuring system is different from your home country.

Do you know the U.S. system for measurement? Read through the

following list and discuss any questions you may have with your

classmates and teacher.


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Metric to U.S. Measurements

Capacity

1 militers = 1/5 teaspoon

5 ml = 1 teaspoon

15 ml = 1 tablespoon

30 ml = 1 fluid oz.

100 ml = 3.4 fluid oz.

240 ml = 1 cup

1 liter = 34 fluid oz.

1 liter = 4.2 cups

1 liter = 2.1 pints

1 liter = 1.06 quarts

1 liter = .26 gallon

Weight


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1 gram = .035 ounce

100 grams = 3.5 ounces

500 grams = 1.10 pounds

1 kilogram = 2.205 pounds

1 kilogram = 35 oz.

3. What ways of cooking are healthy? What ways are unhealthy?

4. What does ethnic cuisine mean?

5. The following is a list of cooking verbs, discuss what each one means

with your classmates and teachers.

bake

blend

boil

braise

chill

chop

deep-fry

dice

drain

freeze

fry

grate

grill

grind

knead

mash

melt

mix

peel

pour

refrigerate


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roast

saut

season

simmer

slice

spread

steam

stir

stir-fry

toast

toss

whip


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Listening One: Healthy Ethnic Cuisine

**Note to teacher: Do not pass out the written message in the box below. Record it onto a cassette (if possible with someone to play the second role in the dialogue) and have students listen to the recording. Play once or twice before they begin to listen for specific information.

Now you will listen to a radio program about cooking featuring an interview

with a Chef who has just published a cook book about healthy eating.

Host: Were pleased to have Chef Joseph Wong with us today to talk

about his new cookbook, Healthy Ethnic Cuisine. Chef

Wong, welcome to the show.

Chef: Thank you for having me.

Host: Tell me why you wrote this book?

Chef: Well I wrote this shortly after having a heart attack about 5

years ago. You see, I was very worried about my heart

problem and wanted to do everything I could to live a long

and healthy life. But I was worried about following my

doctors suggestion to eat a healthy diet because I love to

cook and eat. So, I started searching for healthy recipes in

cookbooks. I found lots of books about healthy cooking

but I couldnt find any good books on eating healthy ethnic

foods that I love, like Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai or

Mexican cuisine.

Host: So you decided to write one.

Chef: Thats right. I traveled to China and Thailand and Mexico and

tasted the foods there and then created my own recipes. I tried

to make low-salt, low-fat recipes and then I worked with a

fabulous nutritionist who helped me to make sure my recipes

were as healthy as possible.

Host: And your cookbook is beautiful and some of these dishes look

delicious. What is your secret for making ethnic food healthy?

Chef: I try to take out some of the unhealthy ingredients and increase

other healthy ingredients to improve the flavor. I try not to

cook with saturated fats and oils and avoid ingredients that have

lots of salt. I also use healthy methods for cooking such as

grilling or braising instead of frying. Honestly, it is possible to

create something very delicious and still healthy.

Host: Great. Would you mind sharing a recipe with our audience?

Chef: Not at all. Ill just give folks a minute to grab a pen and a piece

of paper (pause)... This is a recipe for green tomato salsa that

works nicely with steamed or grilled fish or chicken.

Youll need the following:

2 large green tomatoes

cup cantaloupe sliced into inch pieces

one green onion diced

1 tablespoon chopped cilantro

a pinch of salt or salt substitute

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Chop the tomatoes and cantaloupe into small pieces. Mix all of

the ingredients. Allow to sit 15 minutes before serving. Serve

immediately or store in refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Activity One:

Now answer the questions.

1. Why did Chef Wood write this cookbook?

2. What steps did he take to write the cookbook?

3. How does he create healthy recipes?

Activity Two:

Listen again and try to fill in the missing information from the recipe as the

Chef reads it. When youre finished compare answers with your neighbor.

This is a recipe for _______________ that works nicely with

_____________ fish or chicken. Youll need the following:

__________large green __________

__________ cantaloupe __________ into inch pieces

one green onion __________

__________ chopped cilantro

a pinch of __________

__________ fresh lime juice

__________ the tomatoes and cantaloupe into small pieces. __________ all

of the __________. Allow to sit __________ minutes before serving. Serve

immediately or store in refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Talk About It!

Before we begin, lets think about the difference between be used to, get

used to and used to.

Be used to

Be used to is used to show previous experience and familiarity with a certain

situation. For example:

I am used to eating alone. - I have been eating alone for many years,

so it's not difficult for me.

Juan isn't used to cooking for himself. - He doesn't have much

experience cooking, or if he does it is still difficult for him.

Paulo is used to a low-fat, low-salt diet. - Paulo has been eating this

kind of diet for year so he doesnt find it difficult or strange.

Elise has never worked with a nutritionist before, so she's not used to

it. Elise doesn't have previous experience working with a

nutritionist.

Get used to

Get used to is used for the process of acquiring experience and ability. In the

beginning we are less experienced, then we get used to something - we go

through a process of gaining experience. For example:

I wasn't used to cooking for myself, but I got used to it. - I didn't have

experience cooking for myself, but I grew in experience until I was

happy about it.

I didn't like drinking a lot of water, but I am getting used to it. - In the

beginning I didn't like drinking a lot of water, but now I am learning

to like it.

Used To

In the structure be / get used to, to is a preposition, not part of the to-

infinitive. For example:

- I'm used to cooking for myself. OK

- I'm used to cook for myself. Incorrect - "to cook" is a to-infinitive and

can't be used here.

Used to is a completely different structure from be / get used to. Used to is

for past habit. For example:

I used to do my own grocery shopping, but now my eyes are bad and I

cant see well enough.

Juan used to think he could never cook for himself, but now he cooks

for himself every day and he enjoys it!

Activity One:

Read the following stories about Juan, Paulo and Elise and after each one

talk about what they are used to, what they are getting used to and what

they used to do but do differently now.

Juans Story

My wife died last year. After she died I stopped eating because I was

very depressed. Eating reminded me of my wife because she used to cook

for me everyday and we would always eat dinner right on time together at 5

oclock. In the summer I got very sick, I felt dizzy and I couldnt stand up.

I called my daughter and she was worried so she called 911. When I got to

the hospital they told me I was extremely dehydrated.

They were very nice and they introduced me to a nutritionist who

talked to me about my diet. She told me that I needed to eat more calories

and drink more water every day. My daughter promised to help me learn

how to cook some of my favorite food and she did. At first I was nervous

about cooking and became angry when I made a mistake but I wanted to get

healthy so I kept trying.

Pretty soon I got better at it, even better than my daughter! Now I

make dinner for myself every day. Sometimes I invite my daughter and her

family or my neighbors to eat with me. My favorite thing to make is

Spanish omelet. I try to make it with healthy ingredients like the nutritionist

suggested you would be surprised how I really enjoy cooking now. My wife

is laughing if she can see me!

Discuss Juans story using the phrases used to, be used to and get

used to:

Paulos Story

Before I had my stroke, I had my lunch at the coffee shop on Fourth

Street every day. Those guys know me wellas soon as I walk in the door

they have my regular on the table two eggs, sausage, potatoes and a cup of

black coffee. I love those guys down there. I used to sit with them for hours

talking about politics.

After my stroke I couldnt get around so well, and my doctor put me

on a low-fat, low-salt diet. I couldnt walk to the coffee shop anymore so she

called and arranged for Meals on Wheels to come to my house every day. At

first I didnt want this but now that Ive met the people I know that they are

very good.

One of them, Luis, likes to talk about baseball and I do too. They

check on me every day and the food is okay too and pretty healthy I guess.

Its really too much but I put the leftovers in the fridge and eat them for

dinner. I still like fried eggs and lots of butter on everything, but the food

they give me tastes okay too and I am starting to enjoy it.

Discuss Paulos story using the phrases used to, be used to and get

used to:

Elises Story

Six months ago I found out my sister has diabetes. She saw a nutritionist

who told her that eating too much fat or cholesterol could increase her

chances of heart disease. So, we needed to cut the fat from her diet. It

wasnt easy because fat is in everything we like to eat - red meat, butter,

cream, cheese, ice cream! I am in charge of the cooking here so I needed to

think about making healthy dishes for her. I tried to take our favorite recipes

and do things like remove extra fat from the meat, use diet margarine instead

of butter and drink skim milkof course we also had to cut back on the

sugarthis was hard because we both love to bake cakes and pies and we

love cookies. At first making these changes was really hard, but little by

little we are finding ways to make delicious dishes that are healthy too. The

great thing is we have so much extra energy from eating our new healthy

diet that we decided to take a water aerobics class. All in all, I think both of

our lives have really changed for the better!

Discuss Elises story using the phrases used to, be used to and get

used to:


Unit FourUnit FourHealthy AgingHealthy AgingLesson OneLesson One

NutritionNutrition

Real PracticeReal PracticeIntermediate

Checklist for learning:


Understand U.S. cooking measurements and cooling vocabulary. Be able to use the phrases used to, be used to and get used to to

compare the past to the present.


Real Practice

Keeping a Food Diary

Instructions

The information you record in your food diary will help you and your doctor

design an eating program to meet your special needs. These instructions will

help you get the most out of your food diary. Generally, food diaries are

meant to be used for a whole week, but studies have shown that even

keeping track of what you eat for 1 day can help you make changes in your

diet.

How much:

In this space indicate the amount of the particular food item you ate.

Estimate the size, the volume (1/2 cup), the weight (2 ounces) and/or the

number of items (12) of that type of food.

What kind:

In this column, write down the type of food you ate. Be as specific as you

can. Include sauces and gravies. Don't forget to write down "extras," such as

soda pop, salad dressing, mayonnaise, butter, sour cream, sugar and ketchup.

Time:

Write the time of day you ate the food.

Where:

Write what room or part of the house you were in when you ate. If you ate in

a restaurant, fast-food chain or your car, write that location down.

Alone or with whom:

If you ate by yourself, write "alone." If you were with friends or family

members, list them.

Activity:

In this column, list any activities you were doing while you were eating (for

example, working, watching TV, ironing).

Mood:

How were you feeling while you were eating (for example, sad, happy,

depressed)?

Helpful Hints:

1. Don't change your eating habits while you're keeping your food

diary, unless your family doctor has given you specific

instructions to do so.

2. Tell the truth. There's nothing to be gained by trying to look

good on these forms. Your family doctor can help only if you

record what you really eat.

3. Record what you eat on all days your doctor recommends.

4. Be sure to bring the completed forms back with you to your

next doctor's appointment.

Some basic rules to remember:

Write down everything

Keep your form with you all day, and write down everything you eat or

drink. A piece of candy, a handful of pretzels, a can of soda pop or a small

donut may not seem like much at the time, but over a week these calories

add up!

Do it now

Don't depend on your memory at the end of the day. Record what you eat as

you go.

Be specific

If you ate a cheeseburger, write it down. Make sure you include "extras,"

such as gravy on your meat or cheese on your vegetables. Record french

fries as french fries, not as potatoes.

Estimate amounts

If you had a piece of cake, estimate the size (2" x 1" x 2"). If you had a

vegetable, record how much you ate (1/4 cup or 2 cups?). When eating meat,

remember that a 3-ounce cooked portion is about the size of a deck of cards.

If you have any questions, call your family doctor.

Sample Food Diary

Food or DrinkHow

much

What kind Time Where Alone

or

with

whom

Activity Mood

3 chocolate

chip cookies

3:25

p.m.

office alone working

on report

bored

1 cheeseburge

r

6:15

p.m.

Burger

King

Claire,

Jackie

talking happy

1 regular

french fries

1 vanilla shake

1 cup HaagenDaz

ice cream

10:00

p.m.

kitchen alone watching

TV

tired

A Thematic Unit for Intermediate Level ESL TeachersIntermediate Level, Unit Three: Healthy Aging


Checklist for Learning

Vocabulary Log:

In the space below, write down all of the new words you learned during this lesson that you want to remember. Try to separate your list of words into nouns (person, place or thing), adjectives (describing words) and verbs (action words). For extra practice use them in sentences of your own.

New words I learned during this lesson:

Nouns:

Adjectives:

Verbs:

What can you do?

Below are some of the language goals you worked on during this lesson. Check () what you learned from this lesson. Add more ideas if you wish.

I learned to

Know the warning signs of poor nutritional health and what you can do to improve your diet.

Understand the difference between count and non-count nouns Be able to use the phrases used to, be used to and get used to to

compare the past to the present. ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________

Goals for this lesson:Goals for this lesson:Checklist for learning:A Thematic Unit for Intermediate Level ESL TeachersChecklist for Learning

What can you do?ESL Health UnitReading and Writing Practice

Lesson One: NutritionProblem: Can't chew Problem: Upset stomach Problem: Can't shop Problem: Can't cook Problem: Short on money ESL Health UnitListening and Speaking Practice

Lesson One: NutritionESL Health UnitReal Practice

Lesson One: NutritionKeeping a Food Diary

InstructionsThe information you record in your food diary will help you and your doctor design an eating program to meet your special needs. These instructions will help you get the most out of your food diary. Generally, food diaries are meant to be used for a whole week, but studies have shown that even keeping track of what you eat for 1 day can help you make changes in your diet.Helpful Hints:Some basic rules to remember:

ESL Health Unit

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