3.2	Importance of a Balanced Diet

What is a balanced diet?

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A balanced diet is a diet that contains all the food classes in the right quantities that are required by the body.

Food Pyramid

               

Source : Science Text Book Form 2 

Factors that Influence Calorific Requirement

1. Body size
2. Age
3. Work
4. Gender
5. State of health
6. Climate

Calorific Value of Food

• The total amount of energy released when 1 g of of food is burned is called energy value or calorific value.

1 calorie (cal) = 4.2 joule (J)      1 kilocalorie (kcal) = 4.2 kilojoule (kJ)