Meaning, Classes and Importance of Food and Nutrition for JSS 1

Food and Nutrition in Health

Performance Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. explain the meaning of food;
2. discuss the meaning of nutrition;
3. discuss the importance of food;
4. identify the classes of food.

Meaning of Food

Food refers to any substance that people or animals eat or drink to maintain life and growth.

It provides the body with essential substances that give energy, help in growth, and repair worn-out tissues. Food is vital for keeping the body healthy and strong. Common examples of food consumed daily in Nigeria include yam, rice, beans, fruits, and various vegetables.

Meaning of Nutrition

Nutrition is the process by which the body takes in food and uses it for growth, health, and repair.

This process involves several stages. First, a person eats different types of food. Next, the body digests these foods, breaking them down into smaller, useful parts. These useful parts are then absorbed into the bloodstream and transported to different parts of the body. Finally, the body uses these absorbed nutrients to grow, stay healthy, repair damaged cells, and perform all its functions effectively.

Importance of Food

Food is essential for human life and plays several important roles in maintaining health and well-being. The importance of food includes:

1. Eliminating Hunger: Food helps to satisfy hunger, which is the uncomfortable feeling caused by a lack of food. When a person eats, the body receives the necessary substances to function, which removes the feeling of emptiness and weakness caused by hunger. Eating regularly helps to keep a person feeling full and comfortable, allowing them to focus on other activities without discomfort.
2. Providing Energy for Various Physical Activities: The body needs energy for every activity, from simple tasks like breathing, sleeping, and thinking to more active ones like running, playing football, sweeping, and studying. Food is the primary source of this energy. Carbohydrates and fats, in particular, provide the fuel that allows people to perform daily tasks, stay active, and participate in sports and games.
3. Promoting Healthy Living: Eating the right kinds of food helps the body to grow properly, repair damaged cells, and fight off sicknesses. A balanced diet provides all the necessary nutrients that keep the body strong and help all its systems, such as the brain, heart, muscles, and immune system, to work well. Proper nutrition helps prevent diseases and ensures overall good health.

Classes of Food

Foods are grouped into different classes based on the main nutrients they provide to the body. Each class has a specific role in keeping the body healthy. Understanding these classes helps in choosing a variety of foods for a balanced diet and good health.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy. They provide the fuel needed for all physical activities, such as running, playing, and working, and for the body’s internal functions like breathing and maintaining body temperature.

Foods rich in carbohydrates include:

1. Yam
2. Rice
3. Garri (Eba)
4. Bread
5. Maize (Corn)
6. Cassava
7. Plantain
8. Potatoes
9. Millet

Observe the image below showing various carbohydrate-rich foods commonly eaten in Nigeria.

Proteins

Proteins are essential for growth and repair of body tissues. They help build muscles, skin, hair, and other parts of the body. Proteins are also important for making enzymes, which help in digestion, and hormones, which control many body functions.

Foods rich in proteins include:

1. Beans
2. Eggs
3. Fish (e.g., mackerel, tilapia)
4. Meat (e.g., beef, chicken, goat meat)
5. Milk
6. Groundnuts
7. Soya beans
8. Cheese

The diagram below illustrates common protein sources found in Nigerian diets.

Fats and Oil

Fats and oils provide a concentrated source of energy, meaning they give a lot of energy from a small amount of food. They also help the body absorb certain vitamins, such as Vitamins A, D, E, and K. Additionally, fats and oils help to keep the body warm and protect organs.

Foods rich in fats and oils include:

1. Palm oil
2. Groundnut oil
3. Butter
4. Margarine
5. Avocado
6. Nuts (e.g., groundnuts, cashew nuts, walnuts)
7. Coconut oil
8. Red meat (fatty parts)

Look at the image below showing examples of fats and oils.

Mineral Salts

Mineral salts are important for many body functions, even though they are needed in small amounts. They help build strong bones and teeth, make blood (like iron), and maintain fluid balance in the body. They are vital for overall health and for the proper functioning of nerves and muscles.

Foods rich in mineral salts include:

1. Green leafy vegetables (e.g., ugu, spinach, scent leaf, waterleaf)
2. Fruits (e.g., oranges, bananas)
3. Milk
4. Fish
5. Table salt (iodised salt)
6. Beans
7. Meat

Vitamins

Vitamins are organic compounds that the body needs in small amounts to function properly. They help protect the body from sickness, keep eyes and skin healthy, and support various metabolic processes that turn food into energy. Different vitamins have different roles, such as Vitamin C for immunity and Vitamin A for good eyesight.

Foods rich in vitamins include:

1. Fruits (e.g., oranges, mangoes, pawpaw, pineapple, guava, apples)
2. Vegetables (e.g., carrots, tomatoes, bell peppers, garden eggs, cabbage)
3. Milk
4. Eggs
5. Fish liver oil

The image below displays a variety of fruits and vegetables that are good sources of mineral salts and vitamins.

Water

Water is crucial for life and is the most abundant compound in the body. It helps transport nutrients around the body, carries waste products out of the body, and regulates body temperature. The body is made up mostly of water, and it is needed for almost every bodily function, including digestion, absorption, and circulation.

Sources of water include:

1. Drinking clean water
2. Water found naturally in fruits and vegetables (e.g., watermelon, cucumber)
3. Juices and other beverages
4. Soups and stews

Observe the image below showing water and some water-rich fruits.