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Nutrition
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.
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.