Summary

In this study session you have learned that:

• Carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, water and fibre are the main groups of nutrients which together, but in variable amounts, make up a balanced diet.
• Nutrients are grouped into macronutrients and micronutrients. Carbohydrates, proteins, fats and water are macronutrients, and vitamins and minerals are micronutrients.
• Although most foods are mixtures of nutrients, many of them contain a lot of one nutrient and a little of the other nutrients. Foods are often grouped according to the nutrient that they contain in abundance.
• Unsaturated fats are healthy fats; saturated fats are unhealthy fats. Therefore people in your community need to eat more of the unsaturated fats and try to reduce their intake of saturated fats.
• Vitamins are substances present in small amounts in foodstuffs and are necessary for the body to function normally. Vitamins are also called protective foods.
• Minerals have a number of functions in the body including developing body tissues and supporting metabolic processes. The minerals that are of most importance are calcium, iron, iodine, zinc and fluorine.
• In order to have a healthy life and good nutritional status, a person needs to eat a balanced diet. You need to know the commonly used food groups in order to advise the people in your community on how to have a balanced diet.