What it shows
A good meal has foods that give energy, foods that build the body and foods that protect it. A paper or clay thali shows roti and rice, dal, vegetables, curd and fruit in sensible amounts.
The science
Cereals such as rice, wheat and millets, and roots, give carbohydrates which are the body’s main source of energy. Pulses, milk, curd, eggs and nuts give proteins for growth and repair. Fruits and vegetables supply vitamins, minerals and fibre that help the body protect itself and digest food. A little oil or ghee gives fats and fat-carried vitamins, while water keeps everything working. A balanced meal has some of each, with most of the plate from grains and vegetables, and little sugar, salt and fried food.
Materials
Cost: under Rs 50. Many items come from home or from waste; spare parts such as LEDs, motors and wire are in the store.
- A large steel plate or a round of thick cardboard as the thali
- Coloured paper, clay or dough in many colours
- Small cut-outs from old magazines (optional)
- Glue and scissors
- Labels on card
- A small bowl cut from an egg carton for dal and curd
- Pencils and a chart paper
Safety
For this project: An adult must help with scissors. Do not eat the dough or clay.
Never use mains electricity: power models with cells, batteries or a low-voltage adapter. Sharp and hot tools, flames and lab chemicals need an adult or your teacher beside you. Keep magnets, button cells and small parts away from young children, and wash your hands after making.
All the safety rulesStep by step
8 steps. Do them in order, and test each part before you go on to the next. Write what you notice in a notebook as you go.
Draw the thali circle on the card and mark the sections for roti, rice, dal, vegetables, curd and fruit.
Model two rotis and a scoop of rice from coloured dough or clay and place them on the plate.
Make a bowl of dal from yellow clay and a bowl of curd from white clay in egg-carton cups.
Add two different vegetables of different colours and a few slices of fruit.
Add a small dot of ghee or oil, a pinch of salt and a lemon wedge in small pieces.
Make labels for each food and glue them on small flags with toothpicks.
On a chart paper write, next to a picture of the thali, three columns: "gives energy", "helps growth" and "keeps us healthy".
Place each food label in the right column and explain your plate to a friend.
What you should see
You have a colourful model thali with each food in a labelled spot and a chart linking food groups to their jobs, showing why variety matters.
Viva questions
A teacher or a judge will ask how it works. Try to answer each question before you open it, then compare.
1Which foods mainly give energy?
Cereals such as rice, wheat and millets.
2Which foods help us grow?
Dal, milk, curd, eggs and nuts, which give protein.
3Why eat fruits and vegetables?
They give vitamins, minerals and fibre.
4Why should we eat only a little oil and sugar?
Too much can lead to weight gain and illness.
Take it further
Plan three days of balanced thalis for your own family using only foods from your local market and cook one.
Change one thing, measure what happens, and add a table or chart of your readings: that is what turns a model into your own investigation.
Free ebooks for this project
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