NUTRITION

Nutrition is the study of nutrient in food, how the body uses this nutrient, and the
relationship between diet, health and disease. A nutrient is a source of nourishment and
an ingredient in food such as protein, carbohydrate, fats, minerals, vitamins and water.
IDENTIFICATION OF FOOD TYPES
Foods can be grouped in the following ways:
1. Local foods e.g yam, rice, etc. and foreign foods e.g sausage, green peas, etc.
2. Liquid foods e.g corn meal(pap), milk, etc. and solid foods e.g maize, beans, etc.
3. Foods that can be eaten raw e.g fruits and foods cooked before eating e.g
cassava, rice, etc.
4. Foods based on the nutrients they contain such as carbohydrate, protein, etc
CLASSES OF FOOD
There are six classes of food.

S/N CLASS OF FOOD SOURCES FUNCTION

1. Carbohydrate Yam, bread, fufu, maize, 1. It gives energy to
garri, rice, etc. the body
2. It produces heat in
the body
2. Protein Egg, fish, meat, milk, 1. It aids proper
beans, cheese, yoghurt, growth
etc 2. It helps to repair
worn out tissues and
cells
3 Fats and Oil Palm oil, soya beans, 1. They provide energy
olive oil, groundnut oil 2. They keep the body
warm
3. They provide fat
soluble vitamins
4 Mineral Fruits, vegetables. 1. It aids blood
formation
2. It aids muscular
contraction and
 relaxation
3. It aids digestion
5. Vitamin Vegetable oil, fruits, egg, 1. It provides healthy
milk. living
6. Water Water, fruits and other 1. It helps to transport
drinks different substances
around the body
2. It aids in the
digestion of food
3. It aids in the
excretion of waste
products
metabolism.

BALANCED DIET
Balanced diet is a meal or diet that contains all the six classes of food in the right
proportion to suit the Individual bodily needs. The amount of nutrients needed for each
individual varies according to age, activity, mass, sex, and climate. Therefore, a diet
which is balanced for one individual may not be suitable for another.
PLANNING A BALANCED DIET FOR THE HOME
In planning a balanced diet, it must have the right amount of carbohydrates, proteins,
fats, vitamins, mineral salts, and water. Grains, cereals, bread group, meat, fish, egg,
milk, vegetables and fruits must be included in our daily food. Below is a template of a
balanced diet.

DAY MORNING AFTERNOON EVENING

Sunday Yam, sauce of oil, Beans and rice, Fufu/eba, okro
onions, meat, chicken oil, onions, soup/melon soup,
tomatoes, and fruit juice fish and beef
green leaf, orange
Monday Bean cake, milk and Yam, fish, oil, Yam, palm oil soup,
tea, banana onions, peas, fruit beef, tomatoes,
juice fruit juice
Tuesday Fried plantain, fried Beans and yam, Fufu and okro soup,
or hard boiled egg, palm oil, onions, fish and beef,
milk and tea, beef, fruit juice groundnut
 pawpaw
Wednesday Yam and sauce of Rice and sauce, Eba/fufu/pounded
oil, meat and green green leaf, chicken, yam, melon soup,
leaf, fruit juice fruit juice fruit
juice(pineapple)
Thursday Bean cake, milk and Peas, yam and Fufu/eba/amala
tea, maize meal, sauce with onions, and ogbono
banana fruit juice soup/egusi soup,
groundnuts
Friday Fried plantain, fried Rice and beans, Yam, palm oil soup,
or hard boiled egg, chicken, green leaf, tomatoes, pawpaw
milk and tea, fruit juice
pineapple
Saturday Bean cake, maize, Yam and beans, Peas and rice,
maize pap, banana onions, fruit juice tomato and onion
sauce, green leaf,
orange