Term 2 Chapter 1 | 3rd Science
Unit 1: Food
After learning this lesson, students will be able to:
Observe the picture and answer the questions given below.
I. Food Nutrients
Every day we feel hungry and then eat something. Our body is telling us that it needs food.
Why do we need food?
We eat different food items, some are raw and some are cooked. Each of these food items contains different nutrients. There are five main nutrients that our body requires. They are carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals.
1. Carbohydrates
Our body needs energy to do work, play and do other activities. Carbohydrates are energy-giving food. Food that contains carbohydrate are rice, wheat, potato, sugar cubes and bread.
2. Proteins
Proteins build, maintain and replace the tissues in our body. They are also known as body - building foods. E.g., Fish, Milk, Egg, Nuts and Sprouted seeds.
3. Fats
Fats provide energy to us. They act as the body’s energy reservoir. Fats also help to keep the body warm during very cold weather. Too much fat in the body may lead to obesity or overweight. Some food items that contain fat are cheese, butter, ghee, meat, oil and nuts.
4. Vitamins
Our body needs vitamins to work properly. They protect our body from deficiency diseases. E.g., Carrot, Orange, Gooseberry, Papaya and Greens.
5. Minerals
Minerals help in formation of blood, bone, teeth, etc. They regulate the body functions. E.g., Fig, Pear, Garlic, Banana and Apple.
Energy – Giving Food Items
Body – Protecting Food Items
Body - Building Food Items
Be Sensitive
Most children love to eat food items like burgers, pizzas and chocolates, which are not good for health. They make children to gain extra weight. Avoid eating unhealthy foods and eat nutritious food to stay healthy. A healthy snack may include sprouts, fruits and salads.
A. What are the nutrients present in the following food items?
B. Fill in the table given below.
II. Balanced diet
Diet refers to the food we eat. A balanced diet contains all nutrients in the right amounts. It also includes fibre and water. It helps in the growth and development of our body.
The quantity of nutrients required by our body and their sources can be shown by a food pyramid. The food item that should be eaten in the least amount is kept at the top of the pyramid.
A balanced diet food pyramid is shown here.
Roughage, also known as fibre is an indigestible food that your body cannot absorb. It is present in food such as legumes, whole grains and vegetables.
Milk is a complete balanced diet.
Unscramble the following words and search them in the given grid (One is done for you).
Design a meal for your lunch.
My Menu: Rice, Dal, Ghee, Curd, Banana, Rasam, Leech, Pickel, Water
To check whether it is a balanced diet, split your meal according to the nutrients.
Yes it is a balanced diet
III. Meals in a day
A meal is what we eat during a particular time of the day. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are the three main meals we eat every day.
Kaviya and Suriya are studying III standard. They leave home at 8.00 am to go to school and they have their breakfast before going to school. Their mother usually makes food items like idly, dosa, bread with egg, ragi koozh, idiyappam, poori, aappam and pongal.
We usually eat idly for breakfast.
At 12.40 pm, the school bell rings to announce lunch break. Kaviya and Suriya both wash their hands and sit down to eat lunch with their friends. All of them place their lunch towel on the floor and start eating.
Kaviya, Suriya and their friends share their lunch, which include lemon rice, fruit salad, greens, rice along with sambar, biriyani, tomato rice, vegetable salad, curd rice, tamarind rice and cereals.
Sambar rice, biriyani, curd rice, lemon rice, tomato rice, tamarind rice etc.
Kaviya and Suriya have their dinner half an hour before going to bed. They like having chappathi, milk and fruits, and on some days idli, dosa or rice.
I go to bed at 9 p.m every day.
I have my dinner at 7.30 p.m
Ask your friends what they like to eat and complete the table.
Look at the pictures of different activities.
IV. Food Habits in Different Places
Food habit of people at a place depends on the climate, culture and availability of food. For example, in coastal areas, people eat a lot of sea food. India is a big country with different climate and culture.
South Indians depend on rice, dhal, coconut, jaggery for their food. Hence, they make food like Idly, Sambar, Kozhukkattai and Payasam.
North Indians depend on wheat, onions, milk and curd. Hence, they make foods like Chappathi, Paratha and Lassi.
Food habits in Different Age Groups
The amount of food a person needs depends on his age. These needs change with age groups and level of physical activity. Athletes may need more amount of energy during training. Young children should eat a wide variety of food.
The following food items can be eaten by the people of different age groups in order to maintain good health.
Some of the famous food items of Tamil Nadu are given below. Write the food items of the particular place.
(halwa, murukku, jackfruit, spices, kadalai mittai, mango, tea)
Observe the pictures. Who needs more nutritious food? Why?
B. needs more nutritious food. The man is doing physical work. He needs more energy to pull the cart.
Do your parents prepare the same food items for all festivals? If not, write the name of special food items prepared on different festivals.
Compare and discuss your list with that of your friends.
V. Traditional Food
Our ancestors ate food that were easily available from nature, which lead to healthy lives. Few natural foods are Ragi, Thinai, Samai, Kuthiraivaali, Varagu and Kambu.
Different Varities of Ragi Food : Ragi ball, Dosa, Adai, Vermicelli and Biscuits.
Home Garden
Cultivation of crops in a small available place in house-holds is known a Home garden or Kitchen garden or Nutrition garden. E.g., Vegetables like tomatoes, brinjal, snake gourd, snap beans, lady’s finger and fruits like banana, lemon and also herbs.
Advantage of Home Garden
A. Colour the circle in ‘GREEN’ for traditional food and ‘RED’ for modern food.
B. Using watercan / coconut shells, make a mini garden in your class rooms.
