Nutrition Basics
What is nutrition?
The process by which your body takes in and uses food.
Name the six types of nutrients.
Carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water.
Name the five food groups
Grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy, and proteins.
What section of a food label tells you what ingredients are in the food?
The ingredients list.
What is metabolism?
The process by which your body breaks down substances and gets energy from food.
What are nutrients?
Substances in food that your body needs to grow, repair itself, and supply energy.
Which three nutrients provide your body with energy?
Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
What is MyPlate designed to help people do?
Make healthy food choices and create balanced meals.
If sugar is listed as the first ingredient, what does that tell you?
Sugar is the ingredient present in the greatest amount by weight.
What is energy balance?
The balance between the calories you consume and the calories your body burns as fuel.
What is a calorie?
A unit used to measure the energy your body uses and receives from food.
Which nutrient is the body's main source of energy?
Carbohydrates
True or False: You should try to include foods from all five food groups each day.
True
What are the four steps to keeping food safe?
Clean, Separate, Cook, Chill.
What is BMI designed to compare?
Body weight compared to height.
A student skips breakfast and feels tired, weak, and unable to concentrate by 10 a.m. What is one possible reason this happened?
They may not have provided their body with enough fuel/energy from food.
A student wants to build and repair muscles after exercising. Which nutrient should they make sure they are getting enough of?
Protein.
You are eating at a restaurant. Which choice is generally healthier: fried chicken with fries or grilled chicken with vegetables? Why?
Grilled chicken with vegetables because grilled foods are generally lower in fat than fried foods, and vegetables provide important nutrients.
You are cutting raw chicken on a cutting board. Your friend wants to use the same board to cut vegetables. What should you do and why?
Use a separate, clean cutting board because raw meat can contain pathogens that could cause cross-contamination.
Why doesn't BMI tell the whole story about a person's health?
BMI doesn't account for body composition. Someone who has a lot of muscle could have a high BMI even though they are healthy.
A student walks past a bakery, smells fresh donuts, and suddenly wants one even though they just ate lunch. Is this hunger or appetite? Explain.
Appetite. The smell stimulated their senses and increased their desire for food, even though their body may not actually need fuel.
A student says, "All fats are bad, so I should avoid fat completely." What is wrong with this statement?
The body needs some fat to function properly. Unsaturated fats are healthier choices, while too much saturated and trans fat can increase health risks.
You have to choose between two meals:
Meal A: Large burger, fries, soda
Meal B: Grilled chicken, vegetables, whole-grain side, water
Which meal better follows the ideas of the Dietary Guidelines, and name TWO reasons why.
Meal B. Possible reasons: more variety, more nutrients, vegetables, whole grains, healthier preparation, and water instead of a high-calorie drink.
A student cooks raw chicken, puts it on the same plate that held the raw chicken, and leaves it sitting on the counter for a long time. Identify TWO food-safety problems.
A teenager sees an influencer online who claims, "Lose 15 pounds in two weeks with this crazy diet!" The teenager wants to try it. Based on what you learned, what should they consider before following this plan?
It may be a fad diet. Fad diets promise quick weight loss but are not considered safe or reliable. Teens are still growing and should focus on healthy nutrition, MyPlate, regular physical activity, and healthy habits rather than extreme dieting.