Learning Outcomes

• Recall that a balanced diet has six constituents: carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water, each with different functions.
• Describe a food pyramid and give examples of types of food recommended in a balanced diet.
• Carry out qualitative food tests for starch, reducing sugar, protein and fat.
• read and interpret the energy values indicated on food product labels and identify the food types on the label that form part of a balanced diet

What is Nutrition?

Nutrition is concerned with how an organism gets its food and what type of food it gets.

What is a Balanced diet?

A balanced diet includes the correct amount of protein, carbohydrate, fat, minerals, vitamins and water a person needs depending on:

• Age
• Gender
• Activity

What are the benefits of a balanced diet?

• A lower risk of disease eg. heart disease and diabetes.
• Stronger muscles and bones.
• A healthy body mass.
• Feeling better.

The food pyramid allows us to follow a balanced diet.

Different food types and why you need them.

Deficiency diseases are diseases caused by lack of a particular food.

Testing for the presence of starch in food.

Testing for the presence of protein in food.