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Topic 3: Nutrition and digestion
Topic 3: Nutrition and digestion
A balanced diet
A balanced diet
Objectives
Objectives
Define a balanced diet and explain why it is important for health, growth, and survival.
Name the seven main nutrient groups and describe the primary role of each in the body.
Identify key food sources for each of the seven main nutrient groups.
A balanced diet
A balanced diet
Our bodies need fuel and building materials to survive, stay healthy, and grow.
We get these essential substances, called nutrients, from the food we eat.
To stay healthy, we need a balanced diet, which means eating the right amounts of the different types of nutrients.
Eating a variety of foods helps ensure you get all the different nutrients your body needs to function correctly.
There are seven main groups.
The seven main food groups
The seven main food groups
Carbohydrates:
Role: Your main source of energy! Sugars give quick energy, while starches release energy more slowly.
Found in: Pasta, bread, rice, potatoes, fruits, sugary snacks.
Lipids (Fats and Oils):
Role: Provide a store of energy, help keep you warm (insulation), and protect your organs.
Found in: Butter, margarine, oils, nuts, fatty meats.
Proteins:
Role: Essential for growth (making new cells) and repairing body tissues (like muscles).
Found in: Meat, fish, eggs, beans, lentils, dairy products.
Vitamins:
Role: Needed in small amounts to keep you healthy. Different vitamins have different jobs (e.g., Vitamin A helps vision, Vitamin C helps heal cuts).
Found in: Fruits, vegetables, dairy foods.
Minerals:
Role: Also needed in small amounts for general health. Examples include calcium (for strong bones and teeth) and iron (for healthy blood).
Found in: Fruits, vegetables, dairy foods, meat.
Water:
Role: Crucial for almost everything! Your cells are mostly water, and it's needed in body fluids like blood. You constantly lose water through sweat, urine, and even breathing, so you need to replace it.
Found in: Drinks (water, juice), fruits, vegetables.
Fibre:
Role: Although not absorbed like other nutrients, fibre (a type of carbohydrate) is vital for keeping your digestive system working properly. It adds bulk to your food, helping it move through your gut and preventing constipation.
Found in: Vegetables, fruits, wholemeal bread, cereals.
Key words
Key words
Nutrients: Essential substances obtained from food that the body needs to survive, stay healthy, and grow.
Balanced diet: Eating the right amounts of the different types of nutrients to maintain health.
Carbohydrates: Nutrients that are the main source of energy for the body.
Lipids (Fats and Oils): Nutrients that provide a store of energy, insulation, and protect organs.
Proteins: Nutrients essential for growth and repairing body tissues.
Vitamins: Nutrients needed in small amounts for specific jobs to keep the body healthy.
Minerals: Nutrients needed in small amounts for general health, such as calcium for bones and iron for blood.
Water: An essential nutrient crucial for cells and body fluids, needed to replace what is lost.
Fibre: A type of carbohydrate important for keeping the digestive system working properly.
Extension ideas
Extension ideas
Research the roles of specific vitamins or minerals in more detail and investigate the health problems that can arise from deficiencies in these nutrients.
Plan a balanced meal or design a healthy eating plan for a day, using information about the different food groups and their roles.
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