Nutrition, Diet and Health

What a balanced diet is made of

Food gives the body everything it needs to work, grow and stay healthy, and nutrition is the study of what those needs are. The nutrients we eat fall into two groups. Macronutrients are needed in large amounts: carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Micronutrients are needed in small amounts: vitamins and minerals. On top of these the body needs water and dietary fibre. A balanced diet provides the right nutrients in the right proportions, and the Eatwell Guide shows what those proportions look like. Diet is closely linked to health: too much of the wrong foods over time raises the risk of problems such as coronary heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes and tooth decay. This module covers the nutrients and their jobs, energy balance, the Eatwell Guide, and how diet affects health.

Nutrition words

Learn what each of these means before you use it.

Macronutrients against micronutrients

Both matter, but they are needed in very different amounts.

How to judge a diet

To judge a diet, start with two ideas rather than a list of nutrients. First, energy balance: if the energy taken in from food matches the energy the body uses, weight stays steady; a regular surplus is stored as fat and leads to weight gain, while a regular shortfall leads to weight loss. Second, proportion: the Eatwell Guide shows how much of each food group a balanced diet should contain, with plenty of fruit, vegetables and starchy foods and only a little of the fatty and sugary ones. Ask of any meal whether its energy suits the person and whether its proportions match the guide. Those two checks catch most diet problems before any single nutrient is named.

Match the nutrient to its function

A regular energy surplus

A person takes in more energy from food than the body uses, day after day. What is the most likely result?

• the surplus energy is stored as fat and the person gains weight
• the person loses weight steadily
• the extra energy simply disappears
• the body stops needing any food

Diet and health

Select the TWO statements that describe how a poor diet can harm health.

• Too much saturated fat can raise the risk of coronary heart disease
• Too much sugar can lead to tooth decay and obesity
• Eating fruit and vegetables causes heart disease
• Drinking water causes weight gain

Work out the surplus

In one day a person takes in 2500 kcal of energy from food and uses 2000 kcal. Subtract to find the surplus energy that is stored, in kcal.

Order the road to weight gain

Put these steps that lead to weight gain in order, earliest first.

• More energy is taken in than the body uses
• The body has a surplus of energy
• The surplus is stored as fat
• Over time the person gains weight

Complete the nutrition facts

Nutrients needed in large amounts, such as carbohydrates, fats and proteins, are called _____. Vitamins and minerals, needed in small amounts, are called _____. The government guide that shows the proportions of a balanced diet is the _____ Guide. Dietary fibre keeps the _____ system healthy.

Match the group to its dietary need

Spot the true nutrition facts

Tap the TWO statements that are true.

• Protein is needed for the growth and repair of body cells
• The Eatwell Guide shows the proportions of a balanced diet
• Fats are needed in large amounts but give no energy
• Vitamins and minerals are macronutrients

Give the right advice

Read each case and choose the best response, with a reason.

• Someone wants to lose weight safely. What is the sound principle to follow?
• A teenager rarely eats iron-rich foods and often feels very tired. Which mineral might be low?
• A family wants to plan a balanced diet. Which tool best guides the proportions?

Explain nutrition, diet and health

A friend wants to eat a healthier, balanced diet and asks what that actually means. Explain nutrition, diet and health.

• Explain the difference between macronutrients and micronutrients
• Give the main function of two named nutrients
• Explain what energy balance is and how it affects weight
• Explain how the Eatwell Guide helps in planning a balanced diet
• Finish by explaining one way a poor diet can harm health