Date: Monday, November 17th 2014. Topic: Nutrients and Nutrition. Objective: To understand the concept of nutrients and how they are classified.

Nutrients and Nutrition What is a nutrient? It is a chemical substance in food that helps maintain the body. Some provide energy. All help build cells and tissues, regulate bodily processes such as breathing. No single food supplies all the nutrients the body needs to function. What is nutrition? It is the study of how your body uses the food that you eat.

The six (6) classifications of Nutrients

Definition Carbohydrates are actually the body's most important source of energy. They help a child's body to use fat and protein for building and repairing tissue.

Fats are a great source of energy for kids and are easily stored in a child's body. They are also important in helping the body to properly use some of the other nutrients it needs.

Proteins help a child's body build cells, break down food into energy and carry oxygen. Foods that contain high levels of protein include: Meat, Poultry.

Vitamins are organic components in food that are needed in very small amounts for growth and for maintaining good health. The vitamins include vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin A, and vitamin K.

Minerals in addition to vitamins your body also needs 15 minerals that help regulate cell function and provide structure for cells. Major minerals, in terms of amount present, include calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium.

Water is your body's most important nutrient, is involved in every bodily function, and makes up 70-75% of your total body weight. Water helps you to maintain body temperature, metabolize body fat, aids in digestion, lubricates and cushions organs, transports nutrients, and flushes toxins from your body.

Practice # 1 A. Answer the following questions: Why are nutrients important? Does one aliment provide all the nutrients the Human Body needs? Explain. B. Complete the following statement using one word: The ___________ of how your body uses nutrients is called Nutrition.