Nutrition basics

A balanced diet includes a mix of food groups that each support different body functions: carbohydrates mainly provide energy, protein supports growth and repair of tissue, and fats, vitamins and minerals support everything from brain function to immune health, needed in smaller amounts but just as essential.

Key terms

Carbohydrate:

The body's main energy source.

Protein:

Supports growth and repair of tissue.

Balanced diet:

A diet including a variety of food groups.

Questions

1. 1. Carbohydrates mainly give your body:

   • Energy
   • Nothing useful
   • Only water
   • Only vitamins

2. 2. Protein helps your body with:

   • Growth and repair
   • Nothing important
   • Only taste
   • Only colour

3. 3. A balanced diet includes:

   • Only one food group
   • A variety of different food groups
   • No food at all
   • Only sugar

4. 4. Fruits and vegetables are a good source of:

   • Vitamins and minerals
   • Only fat
   • Only sugar
   • Nothing useful

5. 5. Drinking enough water each day supports:

   • Good health
   • Nothing at all
   • Only your hair
   • Only your nails

6. 6. Eating too much junk food and not enough balanced meals can:

   • Have no effect on health
   • Negatively affect your health over time
   • Always improve your health
   • Only affect your teeth

7. 7. Which of these is an example of a healthy meal?

   • Only lollies
   • A mix of vegetables, protein and carbohydrates
   • Only soft drink
   • Only chips

8. 8. Carbohydrates mainly provide the body with:

   • Energy
   • Structure
   • Vitamins only
   • Water

9. 9. Protein is important mainly for:

   • Energy storage only
   • Growth and repair of tissue
   • Hydration
   • Taste

10. 10. Vitamins and minerals are needed in:

    • Large amounts only
    • Small amounts for healthy body function
    • No amount
    • Only by athletes

11. 11. Eating mostly processed, sugary snacks instead of whole foods is likely to:

    • Have no effect on energy or health
    • Lead to less stable energy levels over time
    • Always improve concentration
    • Automatically balance out other meals

12. 12. Skipping meals regularly can affect your:

    • Energy levels and concentration
    • Nothing at all
    • Only your shoe size
    • Only your hair colour

13. 13. Reading a food label can help you understand:

    • What nutrients are in the food
    • The weather
    • The price only
    • Nothing useful

14. 14. Fruit and vegetables mainly provide the body with:

    • Vitamins and minerals
    • Only fats
    • Only protein
    • Only sugar

15. 15. A diet with plenty of vegetables and moderate carbs, versus one based mostly on fast food, is likely to:

    • Make no real difference
    • Support better long-term energy, growth and overall health
    • Make no impact on energy levels
    • Always be worse for health

16. 16. Why do growing teenagers often need more protein and energy than younger children?

    • Their bodies are going through significant growth and development
    • Teenagers need less energy than younger children
    • Protein has no role in growth
    • There is no difference in nutritional needs

17. 17. Why does 'balance' matter in a diet, rather than eating only one food group?

    • Different food groups provide different nutrients the body needs for different functions
    • All food groups provide exactly the same nutrients
    • Balance has no real health benefit
    • Eating only one food group is always healthiest

18. 18. A diet consistently low in fruits and vegetables may lead to a shortage of:

    • Vitamins and minerals
    • Too much energy
    • Too much protein
    • Nothing, it has no effect

19. 19. Why might drinking mostly sugary soft drinks instead of water affect health over time?

    • It has no effect on the body at all
    • Excess sugar intake over time can contribute to health problems
    • Soft drinks are nutritionally identical to water
    • Sugar has no connection to health

20. 20. Why are teenagers often advised to eat regular meals rather than skip them?

    • Regular meals support stable energy and concentration throughout the day
    • Skipping meals always improves focus
    • Meal timing has no effect on the body
    • Eating regularly has no benefits

21. 21. A balanced diet supports energy, growth and repair because it:

    • Provides a variety of nutrients each serving a different purpose
    • Focuses on just one nutrient exclusively
    • Has no real impact on the body
    • Is only relevant for athletes