Food We Eat

Food gives our body the energy to run, play, think, and grow. Just like a car needs petrol, our body needs food every day. Without food, we would feel weak and tired.

Why Do We Eat Food?

• Food gives us energy to do all our activities.
• Food helps our body grow — our bones, muscles, and brain all need food to become strong.
• Food keeps us healthy and protects us from falling sick.

Different Kinds of Food

We eat many different kinds of food. Let us learn about them:

Foods that give us energy:
Rice, roti, bread, potato, and corn give our body the power to move and work.

Foods that help us grow:
Milk, eggs, dal (lentils), fish, and meat help our muscles and bones grow strong.

Foods that keep us healthy:
Fruits like mango, banana, apple, and orange give us vitamins. Vegetables like spinach, carrot, and tomato keep our body working well.

Meals of the Day

• We usually eat three main meals every day:
• Breakfast — the first meal of the day, eaten in the morning. Example: idli, poha, upma, or bread with butter.
• Lunch — the meal eaten in the afternoon. Example: rice, dal, vegetables, and roti.
• Dinner — the last meal of the day, eaten at night. Example: chapati with sabzi or rice and curry.

We also have small snacks in between meals, like a fruit, biscuits, or a glass of milk.

Food from Plants and Animals

Some food comes from plants: rice, wheat, vegetables, fruits, and pulses.
Some food comes from animals: milk, butter, cheese, eggs, and meat.

Eating Good Food

We should eat a variety of foods every day — grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, and dal. This is called a balanced diet. Eating too many sweets, chips, or fried snacks is not good for health.