Chapter 7 The Foods You Eat
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Reading
Review
1. Why do you need milk or other dairy
products every day? What nutrients
do these foods provide?
2. What can happen to children who do
not get enough calcium in their diet?
Protein
This group includes meat, poultry,
fish, dry beans, eggs, seeds, and nuts.
It provides a variety of protein-rich
foods. Other important nutrients are the
B vitamins and iron.
Protein foods are divided into two
main groups. Animal sources of protein
are called complete proteins. Most plant
sources of protein, such as nuts and dry
beans, are called incomplete proteins. They
need to be combined with certain other
foods to make complete proteins. A balance of complete and incomplete
proteins will provide your body with the nutrients it needs.
Many foods in this group are also rich sources of iron. Iron is an important
part of blood. It helps your blood carry oxygen to all the cells in your body. If
you do not eat foods that supply iron, your body will not get enough oxygen.
Reading
Review
1. What nutrients are provided by foods from the protein group?
2. Why is getting enough iron from the foods you eat important?
Oils
Oils are fats that are liquid at room temperature. Oils come from many
different plants and from fish. Some oils are needed in the diet to provide
essential nutrients. Foods that contain oils and solid fats are often high in
calories. Foods such as butter, margarine, and salad dressing are examples.
Many of these foods are nutrient-poor, and provide little more than calories.
Too many foods containing oils and solid fats result in a diet that has
more calories than are being used in activity. This imbalance causes weight
gain. MyPlate recommends replacing solid fats with oils when possible and
limiting oils in your diet to balance calories.
Amino Acids
Your body digests the proteins from
food and breaks them down into amino
acids. Your body then reuses the amino
acids to make the proteins it needs to
function properly. There are many amino
acids in proteins. Your body can make
some of these amino acids. You must
get other amino acids, however, from
the foods you eat. Complete proteins
contain all the amino acids your body
needs to function. Incomplete proteins,
however, lack one or more of these
amino acids. To get all the amino acids
you need, eat a variety of protein-rich
foods throughout the day.
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