We eat food to stay fit and healthy (most of us), but now day's shops are packed with a wide variety of foods from all over the world. We have a huge selection of foods available to us and it is very important that we choose foods that will keep our bodies fit and healthy. Foods can be broken into five main groups. Each food group helps our bodies in different ways. The main groups are:.
Dairy products.
These include food like yoghurt, milk, cheese and ice cream. All dairy products are a good source of calcium, which is important for growing children. Calcium is important for healthy strong teeth and bones. Dairy products can be quite high in fat so try not to eat too much.
Protein .
This includes meats like as lamb, beef, pork, chicken, fish, nuts and eggs. Protein is important for healthy development of muscles, skin and bones. Protein helps build new parts of the body and is crucial if you wish to grow bigger.
Fruit and Vegetables.
It is vital to eat as many different fruits and vegetables each day, five portions in fact. Fruit and vegetables are full of vitamins, minerals and fibre. These are important for a healthy body. Vitamin C is good for our eyes and skin and Vitamin A helps our body fight disease. Fibre helps our bodies stays healthy by helping us go to the toilet, helping our digestion. .
Carbohydrates .
These are one of the most important food groups. Carbohydrates are found in foods like bread, pasta, rice and potatoes. Carbohydrates provide our bodies with energy. We need energy to keep our hearts beating, to breathe, to run or complete any exercise, even to eat. Carbohydrates should make up a bigger part of our diets.
Sugary/Fatty Foods.
Sausages, burgers, chips, crisps, ice cream and other fried food are all high in fat. Our bodies do need a small amount of fat to run well and keep warm. Too much fat clogs up the arteries inside our bodies and causes problems with our heart. It also provides our bodies with too many calories, the excess of which is stored as fat.