Chapter 7 The Foods You Eat
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Most teens want to look and feel
their best. Every person’s natural size is
different. There is no one size that is better
than another. You may, however, want
to gain or lose a few pounds. You may
want to maintain your current weight. To
manage your weight, you need to learn
how to balance the healthful foods you eat
with physical activity.
Calories
Energy
is the capacity for doing work.
The energy you get from food helps
you stay alive, work, play, grow, and
be healthy.
Calories
are units of energy
provided by proteins, carbohydrates, and
fats. For instance, an orange has around
60 calories. This means it will supply your body with that much energy for
activity. You need to eat a certain number of calories each day. They provide
your body with the energy it needs to function.
You need to learn about calories. Your MyPlate plan tells you how
many calories you need. This amount depends on your age, sex, and level
of physical activity. See 7-9. Physical activity helps you use calories.
You should also find out how many calories are in the foods you eat.
Some cookbooks and nutrition books have calorie charts. You can
record your physical activity and the food you eat on
chooseMyPlate.gov. It will keep track of your calories .
Reading
Review
1. Why might you and your friends have
different calorie needs?
2. How can you find out how many
calories are in your favorite foods?
Calories and Weight
The food you eat provides your body
with the calories it needs. If you eat a balanced
diet and are at a healthy weight for your
body build, you are probably eating the
right number of calories. This means your
body uses all the calories you take in from
the foods you eat.
Your body needs more calories to run than
it does to watch TV.
7-9
Planning a Healthful Diet
When planning a diet, remember to
choose foods from the five main groups
in MyPlate. You should also eat regular
meals that include a variety of foods.
Be sure to choose lower calorie foods
and eat smaller amounts to lose weight.
If you want to gain weight, choose
nutritious higher calorie foods and eat
larger amounts. Be sure to check with
a doctor, nutritionist, or school nurse
before beginning any diet program.
Health Link