Glossary

• 5+ A Day
  we should all eat five or more servings of fresh fruit and vegetables every day to stay healthy; specifically we should eat two handfuls of fruit and three or more handfuls of vegetables
• Carbohydrate
  a nutrient that provides energy; carbs are made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; there are two major types of carbohydrates in foods: simple and complex carbohydrates
• Fat
  an important as a source of energy; a moderate amount is needed in the diet for good health; fats come in several forms, including saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated
• Food group
  a food group is a collection of foods that have similar nutritional properties or biological classifications; nutrition guides typically divide foods into food groups and recommend daily servings of each group for a healthy diet; the four main food groups are fruit and vegetables, breads and cereals, milk and milk products, and lean meat and alternatives
• Macronutrients
  the three kinds of nutrients needed in the largest amounts: carbohydrates, protein, and fat; macronutrients provide energy as well as carrying out other essential functions for good health
• Micronutrients
  the nutrients needed in smaller amounts: vitamins and minerals; micronutrients don’t act as an energy source, but do help ensure the body operates effectively
• Mineral
  a substance needed by the body in small amounts to perform functions necessary for life; there are five major minerals in the human body: calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and magnesium; many others are needed in much smaller amounts and are often referred to as ‘trace elements’; the trace elements include chromium, copper, fluoride, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium and zinc
• Nutrient
  a substance that is present in food and is needed so we can grow and be healthy; nutrients give us energy, help us repair ourselves when we get hurt or sick, protect our body, and generally help the body to run efficiently
• Nutrition
  the process by which we use food a) for energy b) to make the cells that build organs, and c) repair the body when we are sick or injured
• Protein
  a nutrient that is essential for providing the body with energy and for normal cell structure and function
• Vitamin
  a group of substances that are found naturally in many foods, and are necessary in small quantities for good health and normal development and functioning of the body; there are 13 vitamins: vitamin A, eight B group vitamins, and vitamins C, D, E, and K