1. Healthy Eating

2. How is your body like a car?

3. It needs fuel to run. The fuel your body uses comes from food,
or more specifically from nutrients.
Nutrients are the body’s building blocks.
Glencoe Teen Health Course 2, 2009

4. Which nutrients does your body need?
The answer to that question is the subject
of nutrition.
Nutrition is the process of taking in food
and using it for energy, growth and good
health
Glencoe Teen Health Course 2, 2009

5. Key Nutrients for Your Body
There are six key macronutrients that your
body needs to function.
1. Carbohydrates
2. Fats
3. Protein
4. Vitamins
5. Minerals
6. Water
Health Smart Middle School, ETR Associates 2006

6. Carbohydrates The fuel your body gets the most mileage from
They provide the body’s most important
source of energy.
There are 2 types of carbohydrates:
1. Complex carbohydrates
2. Simple carbohydrates
Health Smart Middle School, ETR Associates 2006

7. Complex carbohydrates
Includes starches, glycogen and some forms
of fiber
At least half of your calories should come
from complex carbohydrates
Sources include bread, cereal, pasta, vegetables, fruits, beans and grains
Health Smart Middle School, ETR Associates 2006

8. Simple carbohydrates Are sugars such as glucose, fructose and sucrose
These should be limited because they don’t
provide a lot of vitamins and minerals for the
body.
They can cause weight gain.
Sources include fruit drinks, candy,cake and
cookies
Health Smart Middle School, ETR Associates 2006

9. Fats Health Smart Middle School, ETR Associates 2006
Are compounds that include solid fats and oils
(A little fat is found in almost all foods.)
The body needs a certain amount of fat to:
Insulate against cold
Provide energy for muscles
Provide a layer of padding between skin and muscles
Protect internal organs
Health Smart Middle School, ETR Associates 2006

10. Too much saturated fat can cause health
problems such as heart disease and cancer.
Trans fats are similar to saturated fat and also
cause health problems.
The healthiest sources of fat are fish, nuts
and vegetable oils which contain unsaturated fat.
Only 25-35% of your total calories should
come from fat.
Health Smart Middle School, ETR Associates 2006

11. Proteins Help make skin, muscle and bone
They are needed to help repair damaged tissue.
About 10-15% of your calories should come
from protein.
Protein is found in meat, eggs, dried beans
and nuts.
Health Smart Middle School, ETR Associates 2006

12. Vitamins Help control body processes such as
digestion, metabolism, hormone
development, heal wounds and nerve
function
Vitamins help the body produce energy.
Vitamins are found in all food groups.
Health Smart Middle School, ETR Associates 2006

13. Minerals
Contribute to bone growth, water balance, metabolism, and nerve and muscle function
More than 20 minerals are needed to be
healthy.
Common minerals include calcium, sodium, potassium, iron and zinc.
Minerals are found in all food groups.
Health Smart Middle School, ETR Associates 2006

14. Water Makes up 50-75% of your body weight
Water is so important that your body can’t
live for more than a few days without it.
Water has many functions--helps carry
nutrients and oxygen throughout the
body and helps digestion.
It’s important to drink at least 8 glasses
of water a day.
Health Smart Middle School, ETR Associates 2006