Eating the right foods to grow strong and healthy
Our body needs food to grow, to stay healthy and to get energy for playing and working. Different foods do different jobs. Rice, wheat, potatoes and sugar give us energy. Pulses, eggs, milk, fish and paneer help us grow and repair our body. Fruits and vegetables keep us healthy and protect us from illness. Oil, ghee and butter give energy too, but we need only a little. Water helps our body work properly.
A balanced diet has the right amount of all these foods every day. If we do not eat enough of a certain kind of food, we can become ill. Too little vitamin C can cause bleeding gums, and too little calcium makes bones and teeth weak. Good eating habits include washing hands before meals, eating fresh food, chewing food well and not eating too much junk food or sweets. Fresh fruits and vegetables should be washed before eating.
Why it matters
Eating a balanced diet helps children grow tall, stay active and fall sick less often. Healthy habits like drinking clean water and avoiding stale food prevent stomach infections. Knowing which foods give energy and which help growth helps you choose a good lunch box. These ideas grow into the study of nutrients and digestion in higher classes.
Key terms
- Balanced diet
- Food that has the right amounts of all the nutrients the body needs.
- Energy-giving food
- Food such as rice and wheat that gives the body energy.
- Body-building food
- Food such as pulses, milk and eggs that helps the body grow and repair itself.