Importance of a Balanced Diet

Balanced diet

Diet that contains all the food classes in the right quantities that are required by the body

Factors that influence calorific requirement

Body size, age, work, state of health, climate and gender

Classes of food pyramid

Whole grain - vegetables, fruits - milk, fish, chicken and meat - fats and oil

Relationship between body size and caloric requirement

A person with a large body frame needs to take a bigger portion of food

Relationship between age and caloric requirement

Children and teenagers require more carbohydrates and protein for growth

Relationship between work and calorific requirement

Farmers, labourers and fishermen require more energy because they do heavy work

Relationship between gender and calorific requirement

Men need bigger food portions because they are more muscular and they do heavy activities

Relationship between state of health and calorific requirement

People who are sick are weak. They require food suitable to their health conditions

Relationship between climate and calorific requirement

People who live in cold climate countries need more food to maintain their body temperature

Basic classes of food

Carbohydrates, protein and fat