There are three main types of food: carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Carbohydrates and fats provide energy, while proteins support growth and body repair. Carbohydrates are found in foods like bread, cornflakes, and cake. Fats come from butter and cream cheese. Proteins include fish, meat, and milk. In addition to these, a balanced diet contains vitamins, minerals, and water for health. Vitamins A, B, C, and D and minerals like calcium, iron, iodine, and phosphorus are especially important. A balanced diet has the right amounts of all necessary nutrients. The amount of food needed depends on factors like age, sex, and activity

1. Food & Food Types
Copy this into your book and then answer the questions that follow.
There are three types of food. They are carbohydrates, fats and
proteins.
We need carbohydrates and fats for energy. We need proteins for
growth and repair of our bodies.
Carbohydrates are found in foods such as cornflakes, bread and cakes.
Fats are found in foods such as butter and cream cheese.
Proteins are found in foods such as fish, meat and milk.
Other important substances found in our food are vitamins and minerals.
We need very small amount of these in order to stay healthy.
Important vitamins are vitamins A, B, C and D.
Important minerals are calcium, iron, iodine and phosphorus.
Water is not a food but without it a person would die within a few days.
Water cannot be stored in the body. When water is lost from the body
more water must be taken in as soon as possible.
A person must have carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals and
water in order to stay healthy. A balanced diet has the right amounts of
all of these things.
There is a balance between the food we eat and the energy we use up.
The amount of food an individual person needs depends on the age, the
sex and the amount of work done by an individual. A man, for example,
needs more food than a baby does; a young man needs more food than an
old man does. A footballer will need more food than a man who sits and
reads a book will.
Millions of people die each year because they do not get enough food.
Many more people live on a diet that does not have all the things needed
to stay healthy. These people suffer from a disease called malnutrition.
People suffering from malnutrition are often underweight, unhealthy and
too weak to work.
1. Name the three types of food
2. Why do we need each type?
3. Give some examples of foods rich in protein
4. What are the most important vitamins?
5. What are the most important minerals?
6. What is a balanced diet?
7. How important is water to us?
8. Why does an old man not eat as much as a young man?
9. Why does a footballer eat more than an office worker does?
10. What is malnutrition?