THE NUTRIENTS WE NEED

When our body digests food, the nutrients go to all parts of the body. These nutrients are proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, fats and water.

Every type of food contains different nutrients, so it's important to eat a heatlhy and varied diet.

Proteins help us grow and repair our body. We find them in meat, fish, milk, eggs and legumes.

Carbohydrates include starches and sugar and give us energy are found in breat, potatoes and rice.

Vitamins and minerals in vegetables and fruit help us o grow and keep our body healthy because they protect us from many illnesses.

Fats give us energy. There are two types of fat: animals fats in eggs, butter, fish and meat, and vegetables fats in olives and nuts.

Water is also essential for our body because blood is mostly water. Water dissolves the nutrients and takes them to all parts of our body. Although humans can survive for an extended period without food, we can only survive for about three days without water.

Exercises:

1. Match the different nutrients to their function.

1) proteins 4 a) transports nutrients around our body.

2) vitamins and minerals 1 b) help us grow and repair our body.

3) carbohydrates 2 c) help us grow and keep us healthy.

4) water 3 d) give us energy.

2. Make a list of the food you eat on a typical day. Write if you think you are following a healthy diet.

On a typical ady, I eat: for breckfast: bescuits, bread, an orange juice.

for lunch: pasta, rice or vegetables, meat or fish.

for dinner: bread or pasta, fish, meat.

Healthy diet: vegetables, breat, fish, meat and fruits.