Nutrients and

Nutrition
Today we will
Name the 6 kinds of nutrient
Discuss factors that influence your food
choices
Expand our Nutrition Vocabulary
Examine what nutrients are available thru
our food choices
What is a NUTRIENT??

A substance that provides nourishment

essential for growth and the maintenance
of life.
Think of a commercial you have
seen for a food product. What
are some specific WORDS and
IMAGES that the commercial
uses to sell their product?
Are you influenced by commercials and
the food you eat?

Warm up
Family and friends
Cultural back-round
Food availability
Time and cost
Advertising
Nutritional content
Personal preferences

Factors that influence food choices

With a partner,
see if you can
name all 6 of the
main nutrients

SIX MAIN NUTRIENTS

PROTEINS
CARBOHYDRATES
FATS
WATER
VITAMINS
MINERALS

Six main NUTRIENTS

Proteins-nutrients that help your body build, repair
and maintain it’s tissue.

Examples
Meat
Fish
Eggs
Milk
Beans
Nuts
Foods from plants

proteins
Amino acids- the building blocks in proteins
Essential Amino Acids- Must come from food.
Ex- meat, fish, milk, eggs
These contain complete proteins
Complete Proteins- Provide all the amino
acids your body needs. Ex- meat, fish, milk,
eggs
Incomplete Proteins- Do not contain all the
necessary amino acids. Ex- Most food from
plants, beans, nuts
You can combine different incomplete
proteins to create complete proteins
Amino acids, complete and incomplete
proteins
Carbohydrates-  Provide energy for your
body.  
Simple Carbohydrates-  Natural sugars,
such as those found in fruit.  They enter
the blood rapidly
Complex Carbohydrates-  Starches
Ex- bread, rice and starchy vegetables
Provide long lasting energy
Preferred to that of sugar in candy & soda
Excellent source of FIBER

CARBOHYDRATES
Fiber- The part of grains and plant food
that your body cannot digest
Helps move food and waste products
through your body during digestion and
elimination.
NOT a nutrient because it is NOT digested
and does NOT provide energy or materials
for growth
Ex- oat bran, wheat bran, beans, peas,
nuts, apples, grapes, green vegetables

FIBER
Fats- provide energy and help
the body use certain vitamins
more effectively.
Saturated fats- found in many
animal foods such as meat and
dairy products.
These fats can raise your blood
cholesterol level.

FATS, SATURATED FATS

Cholesterol- a soft, waxy, fat-like material
produced by the body.
Ex. Of foods- meat, eggs, dairy products
It is NOT found in fruits and veggies,
grains or cereals
Too much cholesterol in your body can
increase your risk of HEART DISEASE
Unsaturated fats- found in plant products
and fish.
Do NOT present the same health risks as
saturated fats.
CHOLESTEROL,
UNSATURATED FATS
Water- helps your body digest food
and eliminate waste.
Regulates body temperature
Cushions joints
Drink at least six 8 oz. glasses of
water per day.
Good for sports
How to check if you
drank enough H2O?

WATER
Vitamins- Nutrients that help chemical
reactions take place in your body.
Make it possible for your body to process
proteins, carbs, and fats
Help produce blood cells and certain
chemicals.

VITAMINS
Fat soluble vitamins- These can be stored
in the body
Ex- A, D, E, and k
Water soluble vitamins- These CANNOT be
stored in the body in large amounts.

Your body needs 13 different essential

vitamins.

Fat & water soluble vitamins

Vitamin function food source

A healthy skin milk, liver

good vision fruits, veg

C healthy teeth, citrus fruits

bones strawberries
broccoli

Examples of vitamins
Minerals- help your body grow and
develop
Aid in using other nutrients effectively

MINERALS
Calcium- milk, cheese, green veg.
Iron- red meat, cereals, kidney beans
Magnesium- dark green veg, nuts, soy
Phosphorus- meat, milk, fruits, veg
Potassium- fish, broccoli, peas, bananas
Sodium- milk, beets, celery, crackers and
most other foods.

EXAMPLES OF MINERALS
Find pictures of different foods to add to
our nutrient collage.

Homework