Nutrition Basics

Our bodies need energy and nutrients. We get them from food. If a person doesn't take in the right amounts of energy or nutrients, that person can become malnourished.

First of all, food provides energy! A Calorie is a unit of energy supplied by food. Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins all provide Calories. Humans need a certain number of Calories each day, although the number varies depending upon how active a person is. Most school age kids need 1,600 to 2,500 Calories per day. Active people use a lot of energy, so they need more Calories! However, if a person eats more Calories a day than their body needs, the extra Calories can be converted to fat, causing weight gain and other health problems.

Food also provides macronutrients and micronutrients. Macronutrients are carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. The human body needs many grams of each macronutrient each day. Micronutrients are substances, like minerals and vitamins, which are crucial in tiny amounts for normal growth and metabolism.

Mouse over the food on the plate to see the Calories, macronutrients, and micronutrients each provides.