Nutrition 101

Components of Food

The text discusses the different food items consumed in different parts of India and how meals usually consist of a variety of items.
Each dish is made up of one or more ingredients that contain components needed by the body, which are called nutrients.
The major nutrients in food are carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, dietary fibres, and water.
Tests can be used to determine if a food item contains carbohydrates, proteins, or fats, and the results can be recorded in a table.
Carbohydrates and fats are energy-giving foods, while proteins are needed for growth and repair of the body.
Vitamins help protect the body against diseases and keep eyes, bones, teeth, and gums healthy. Minerals are also essential for proper growth and maintenance of good health.
Most food items contain more than one nutrient, and one particular nutrient may be present in larger quantities than others.
Roughage is an essential component of our food and adds to its bulk, helping the body get rid of undigested food.
A balanced diet should contain all the nutrients the body needs in the right quantities, including roughage and water.
Deficiency diseases can occur if a person does not consume a particular nutrient over a long period, which can cause diseases or disorders in the body.
Cooking can cause the loss of certain nutrients, such as useful proteins and minerals, and excess water should be avoided to prevent this loss.
Eating too much fat-rich food can be harmful and lead to obesity.Components of Food and Nutritional Deficiencies
Major nutrients in our food include carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, dietary fibers, and water.
Carbohydrates and fats provide energy to our body, while proteins and minerals are necessary for growth and maintenance.
Vitamins protect our body against diseases, and a balanced diet provides all necessary nutrients in the right quantity, along with roughage and water.
Deficiency of one or more nutrients in our food for a long time can cause diseases and disorders.
Symptoms of protein deficiency include stunted growth, facial swelling, hair discoloration, skin diseases, and diarrhea, while long-term deficiency can lead to complete growth stoppage and weakness.
Deficiency of vitamins and minerals can result in various diseases or disorders, such as rickets, scurvy, night blindness, and anemia.
All deficiency diseases can be prevented by taking a balanced diet.
Fortification of food, or adding key vitamins and minerals to staple foods, can improve their nutritional content.
Excess intake of fats is harmful to the body, and a balanced diet should contain a variety of food items.
A diet chart can be prepared to provide a balanced diet to a twelve-year-old child using commonly available and affordable food items.
Testing food usually eaten by cattle or pets can determine the balanced diet requirements for different animals.
Questions about the harmful effects of excess protein or vitamin intake can be researched and discussed in class.

Testing Nutrients in Food

In lower classes, students made lists of the food items they eat and identified food items eaten in different parts of India.
Meals in India usually consist of a distribution of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, dietary fibres, and water.
The major nutrients in food are carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals.
Tests for carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are simpler to do than tests for other nutrients.
To test for carbohydrates, a small quantity of a food item is taken and 2-3 drops of dilute iodine solution are added to it. If it turns blue-black, it contains starch.
To test for proteins, a small quantity of a food item is added to a clean test tube with 10 drops of water, 2 drops of copper sulphate solution, and 10 drops of caustic soda solution. A violet color indicates the presence of proteins.
To test for fats, a small quantity of a food item is wrapped in a piece of paper and crushed. An oily patch on the paper indicates the presence of fats.
Food items may sometimes contain water, which needs to dry before testing for fats.
Some food items may not contain all nutrients, and some may not contain any nutrients.
Other nutrients like vitamins and minerals are present in different food items.
The tests should be conducted carefully, and the chemicals should not be ingested.
The tests can be conducted on cooked food items as well as raw materials.