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W hy Do We Eat Food?

Every human being is busy in doing one thing or the other like running, driving,
eating, playing, etc. Therefore, we all need a lot of energy for survival.

Food gives us energy to work. It also keeps us healthy and disease-free. So, we
should eat healthy food to stay fit.

F ood Groups

Nutrients are the substances that are present in our food. These substances keep
us healthy, help in body’s growth and make us strong. Carbohydrates proteins,
fats, vitamins and minerals are the main nutrients that are present in our food.

Roughage and water are also present in our food. These also play an important
role in our body.

Food is grouped into three categories according to the nutrients present in them.

• Energy-giving food
• Protective food

• Body-building food

Carbohydrates

Foods which are rich in carbohydrates

are called energy-giving foods. There
are two types of carbohydrates – sugar
and starch. Food that contains starch are

wheat, rice, potato, sweet potato, bread,
etc. Pastries and ice creams contain a lot
Carbohydrates of sugar. Athletes and labourers need more

carbohydrates than the people who do sitting jobs. Because the people who do
more physical work need more energy for their everyday activities.

Fats

Fats are also energy–giving foods. They
give us more energy than carbohydrates.

Oil, ghee, cream, cheese, paneer, etc., are
foods which contain fats. We should not eat
too much fat because excess fat is deposited

in our body which makes us obese. Fats

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