Essential Nutrients
These essential nutrients are needed by the body in large amounts and contain calories
What are macronutrients (macros)?
Unlike macronutrients, these essential nutrients are needed in small amounts and do not contain calories.
What are micronutrients (micros)?
This dietary principle means eating the right amount of calories to meet your body's specific needs
What is balance?
Name two of the four beneficial nutrients listed on a food label that you should look for when picking a healthy real food snack
What are fiber, protein, vitamins, or minerals?
This nutrient helps build and repair cells while providing 4 calories per gram.
What are proteins?
Found in plants and animals, these nutrients are fat or water soluble.
What are vitamins?
Including many different foods in your diet from each food group helps prevent nutrient deficiencies and represents this principle
What is variety?
How many calories are in a pound of fat?
What is 3500?
Providing 9 calories per gram, this nutrient helps with brain function, vitamin absorption, temperature regulation, and long-lasting stored energy.
What are fats?
Coming directly from the earth, these nutrients include calcium, iron, and potassium to help the body grow and stay strong.
What are minerals?
This principle involves controlling portion sizes and not over-consuming any one type of food
What is moderation?
Rather than relying on heavily processed "treats" packed with added sugar and sodium, students are encouraged to build their daily diets around these whole, natural choices.
What is real food?
This nutrient is the body’s main source of energy and provides 4 calories per gram
What are carbohydrates?
This specific mineral plays a key role in carrying oxygen in your blood
What is iron?
Carbohydrates and proteins supply 4 of these energy units per gram, while fats supply 9 per gram.
What are calories?
To ensure you are choosing simple, minimally processed "real food" snacks, our unit guidelines recommend picking items with this number of ingredients or fewer.
What is 3 ingredients?
This specific type of carbohydrate is found in foods and directly aids in digestion
What is fiber?
This vitamins works to keep your bones and teeth strong
What is Vitamin D?
Foods high in calories, added sugar, or unhealthy fats that lack essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber are often called this, requiring moderation.
What are empty calories?
On packaged food items, you can usually locate allergy warning information in this specific area.
What is below or near the ingredients list?