Food groups

FOOD GROUPS

•      A food group is a collection of foods that share similar nutritional properties.

FOOD PYRAMID

•      We eat a variety of foods.

•      The food that we eat contains five main components:

•      Our body needs all these components to remain healthy.

Carbohydrates:

•      Carbohydrate is the main essential nutrient in the diet.

•      Carbohydrates are sugars which can be very small or large molecules.

Examples:

Fruits:

(1)        Fruit is a part of plant that contains its seeds.

(2)        Like: apple, orange, grapes, strawberry, banana, etc.

(3)        Fruit juices are obtained from fruits and are used to make beverages.

Wheat:

(1)        Wheat is an important cereal grain.

(2)        It is the third most produced cereal after maize and rice.

(3)        It contains large amount of starch which is a carbohydrate.

Corn:

(1)        Corn is also a largest cereal grain.

(2)        It is used as a vegetable.

(3)        The leafy stalks of corn produces ears which contain seeds called kernels.

Honey:

(1)        It is a sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers.

(2)        Fresh honey is in a liquid state and contains high amount of sugar.

(3)        It has medicinal use and is also a healthy food.

Potato:

(1)        Potato is a specialized underground stem.

(2)        It is the world’s largest food crop.

(3)        It contains vitamins and minerals but it is best known for its carbohydrate content.

Bread:

(1)        Bread is usually made from wheat-flour dough that is cultured with yeast.

(2)        Bread is one of the oldest prepared foods.

(3)        It contains starch.

(4)        It has high level of gluten substance which gives the dough sponginess and elasticity.

Sugar:

(1)        Sugar is obtained from sugarcane and sugar beet.

(2)        It is a class of carbohydrate in a crystal form.

(3)        It is used to sweeten the food.

(4)        It can lighten skin discolouration.

Rice:

(1)        Rice is an important staple food for a large part of world’s human population.

(2)        It is a good source of carbohydrates and proteins.

(3)        Rice starch is used in making ice cream; custard powder; puddings; etc.

Soft Drink:

(1)        Soft drinks are non-alcoholic beverages.

(2)        It contains water, sweetener, and flavouring substance.

(3)        It may also contain fruit juice or sugar.

(4)        It contains acid which causes tooth decay.

Sweets:

•      Almost all Indian sweets contain high amount of carbohydrate.

Candy:

•      It also contains large amount of sugar.

Chocolate:

•      It is made from cocoa beans.

•      It is a combination of cocoa; cocoa butter; sugar; etc.

Pastry:

•      It is a name given to various kinds of baked products made from flour, sugar, milk, butter, etc.

•      A good pastry is light and fluffy.

Taco:

•      It is composed of a corn or wheat.

•      It contains carbohydrates.

Biscuit:

•      It is also a flour based product.

•      It is sweet in taste as it contains carbohydrate.

•      It is composed of a corn or wheat.

•      It contains carbohydrates.

Chips   :

•      It is a snack food made from various vegetables which contain carbohydrate.

Important Points to Remember:

•      Candies and soft drinks are very bad for our teeth.

•      So, it is better to eat natural sources of carbohydrates such as:

•      Fruits 

•      Whole grains