NUTRITION:
ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS
8th Grade Health
1. What does “diet” really mean?
2. What are essential nutrients?
3. How can I tell what nutrients
are in the food I eat?
4. How does eating the correct
amounts of food affect my
long-term health?
Unit Goals
Students will…
 Understand that good nutrition on a daily basis is
essential to promote health and ability to work and
play
 Define the roles of carbohydrates, proteins, fats,
minerals, and vitamins found in food and how they
are used by the body
 Understand that a healthy diet is based on eating
correct daily amounts of foods recommended in
the food pyramid
 Determine portion sizes when planning meals, and
reading food labels to determine nutrient value
Let’s find out what you already know!
1.
2.
3.
4.
Determine price of the product per
serving size
Provide the recipe for replication of the
product
Provide the serving size and the
nutritional values within that serving
Provide the manufacturer’s name and
address
Serving sizes on a food label
must be stated in clear,
common terms, such as:
1. Inches, feet and meters
2. Cup, teaspoon and piece
3. Gallon, ton and yard
4. Handful, mouthful and
thumb
The 3 nutrients that
provide the body with
energy are:
1.Calories, vitamins and
minerals
2.Fats, vitamins and minerals
3.Calories, fats and vitamins
4.Fats, carbohydrates and
proteins
1. Calorie
2. Fat
3. Protein
4. Carbohydrate
Today I will read the student
introduction to nutrition and
learn vocabulary words and
basic nutrition information that
will help me make healthy
choices.
Student Intro & Study Guide
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Put your name, date, and class period on
your paper
Read the “Student Introduction” to Nutrition
(2.4 & 2.5)
Complete the study guide as you read
When you are finished, get out a book to
read or work on other homework quietly
Day 2: Review + Food Labels
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Review student intro and study guide
Discuss the evolution of the food pyramid
and proportionality
Food label activity
Learning Target
Today I will learn about the food
pyramid and how to read a food
label so that I can make informed,
healthy choices.
Food provides your body with
energy and stamina to live
your life to the fullest!
Food provides your body with
nutrients!
Process of Satisfying
Hunger
You feel
satisfied
You
Need
Energy
You eat
to get rid of
hunger
You
feel
hungry
NUTRIENTS
Nutrient- substances in foods that
provide energy, helps the body grow,
and maintain necessary functions
To receive all of the nutrients food can
provide, a person should eat a
variety of foods from the food
pyramid each day.
Essential Question #1
What does “diet” mean?
A diet is the regular course of
eating and drinking adopted by
a person. It is the food a
person eats every day!
A healthy diet is
made up of
the correct
daily amounts
of food from
the food
groups in the
food pyramid.
The food pyramid puts foods
into groups needed for a
healthy diet.
Messages from the Food Pyramid
Activity
Proportionality
Moderation
Variety
Personalization
Gradual
Improvement
History of USDA’s Food Guidance
Food for
Young
Children
1992
1916
1940s
1970s
2005
1950s-1960s
http://www.mypyramid.gov/
Message: Variety
In the Dietary Guidelines:
 Consume a variety of nutrient-dense foods and
beverages within and among the basic food groups.
In MyPyramid graphic:
 Color bands represent that all
food groups are needed
each day for health.
Food Groups are Color Coded
In the Dietary Guidelines:
 Adopt a balanced eating pattern.
◦ Sufficient amount of fruits and vegetables,
◦ 3 or more ounce equivalents of whole-grain products per day
◦ 3 cup equivalents per day of fat-free or low-fat milk or milk
products.
In MyPyramid graphic:
 Differing widths of the color bands
suggest about how much food
should be eaten from each group.
The new and improved pyramid illustrated
in a plate.
http://www.choosemyplate.gov/
What are the recommended daily amounts?
Dependent upon 3 factors:
Food Measurements
1. Age
Cup = volume
 Milk, fruits, veggies
2. Gender
3. Activity
Level
Ounces = weight
 Grains, meats,
beans
Portion Size
The amount of a specific food
an individual eats.
How have portion sizes changed?
http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/portion/
Portion Distortion!
Portion Size & Food Measurements
Food Labels

U.S. Food and Drug Administration
requires food manufacturers to provide
nutritional information on their products.
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Purpose: provide serving size and
nutritional value that is within the serving
Serving sizes must be stated in
clear, common terms
Cup, teaspoon, piece, grams, etc.
Percent Daily Value
BASED
ON A
2,000
calorie
diet
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What is the serving
size?
How many total servings
are there?
How many calories per
serving?
How many calories in the
whole box
How much protein per
serving?
How much protein in 2
servings?
What is the percent daily
value of Iron?
In the Dietary Guidelines:
 Engage in regular physical activity and
reduce sedentary activities to promote
health, psychological well-being, and a
healthy body weight.
In MyPyramid graphic:
 Steps and person on them
symbolize that physical activity
should be a part of
everyday healthy living.
Personalization:
 The name “MyPyramid” suggests an
individual approach.
 The person climbing the steps
mentally links each viewer to
the image.
Gradual Improvement:
 The slogan “Steps to a Healthier You” suggests that
improvement should happen in stages, over time.
1.Carbohydrates* 4. Vitamins
5. Minerals
2. Fat*
3. Protein*
Nutrients that provide the body with
energy:
1.Carbohydrates*
2. Fat*
3. Protein*
Essential Nutrient #1
Preferred, quick source of
Types of Carbs & Food
Sources
Simple Carbs:
• Fruits & fruit juice
• Milk (lactose)
• Some vegetables
• Table sugar
• Sweets and colas
Complex Carbs:
Potatoes
• Breads
• Cereals
• Grains
•
How Many Calories Are In
EACH GRAM OF CARBS?
How do you know how
many calories you can get
from carbohydrates in a
serving?
Total carbohydrates = 13g
Calories pergram of
carb= 4
13 X 4 = 52 calories
How does our body use
carbs?
When food enters your mouth…
1. The body breaks down carbs into simple
sugars called glucose
2. The sugars are released into the bloodstream
3. The pancreas releases a hormone called
insulin when your blood-sugar level rises
4. Insulin moves sugar from blood into cells to be
used for energy
http://kidshealth.org/kid/diabetes_basics/what/pre
vention.html
Essential Nutrient #2
Most concentrated (long, slow)
source of energy
 Helps the body with:


nerve conduction
vitamin absorption
 Insulation
 Organ protection

Where do we find fats in our diet?
Eggs and
Dairy
MEATS
BUTTER
OILS
CHEESE
NUTS
Types of Fat
1.Unsaturated- in plant foods & fish
Good for your
Examples: olive oil, salmon
2. Saturated- from animal products
Too much = risk of
disease
 Examples: meat, cheese, butter
3. Trans-fat- “hydrogenated oil”
 Too much = risk of
disease
 Examples: margarine, fast food
HOW MANY CALORIES PER GRAM
OF FAT?
How do you know how
many calories you can get
from fats in a serving?
Total fat = 14g
Calories per gram of
fat= 9
14 X 9 = 126 calories
ESSENTIAL NUTRIENT #3
A reserve source of energy
when carbs and fats are low
Protein builds, maintains,
and repairs body tissues like
muscle.
Meats
Eggs
Fish
Nuts
Beans
HOW MANY CALORIES PER
GRAM OF PROTEIN?
How do you know how
many calories you can get
from protein in a serving?
Total protein = 24g
Calories per gram of
protein= 4
24 X 4 = 96 calories
Essential Nutrient # 4
Each one has a special job, but in
general, vitamins are organic
substances that…
 boost
the immune system
 support normal growth and
development
 help cells and organs do their jobs
Two Categories of Vitamins
1. Fat-Soluble: dissolve in fat and
can be stored in the body
A, D, E, K
2. Water-Soluble: dissolve in water
before your body can use them
B, C
Food Sources of Vitamins
From ORGANIC substances…
 Vegetables
 Fruits
 Meats
 Grains
 Dairy
Products
ESSENTIAL
NUTRIENT
#5
Like vitamins, minerals help your body
work properly.
Unlike vitamins, minerals are
(found in soil, absorbed/eaten by plants
and animals)
Vegetables
Fruits
Meats
Grains
Common Minerals
 Calcium
 Iron
 Magnesium
 Phosphorous
 Potassium
 Zinc
One more
Essential Nutrient!
Water is important for health, performance and
appearance
 Regulates body temperature
 Provides a means for nutrients to travel to
organs
 Transports oxygen to cells
 Removes wastes from the body
 Moistens skin
 Helps muscles move
 Cushions joints
 Protects organs
Where else can you get water
besides the water fountain
or in bottled water?
 Fruits and veggies
 Healthy beverages
 Most food contains some water