1 Define the main food groups – Foods from the basic food groups provide the nutrients essential for life and growth. These foods are also known as ‘everyday foods’. Each of the food groups provides a range of nutrients, and all have a role in helping the body function. In particular, vegetables, legumes and fruit protect against illness and are essential to a healthy diet.
The basic food groups are:
• breads, cereals, rice, pasta, noodles and other grains
• vegetables and legumes
• fruit
• milk, yoghurt, cheese and/or alternatives
• lean meat, fish, poultry, eggs, nuts and legumes.
2 Identify sources of essential nutrients – The six essential nutrients include carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals and water.
3 Explain the role of essential nutrients for health – An essential nutrient is a nutrient that the body cannot synthesize on its own or not to an adequate amount and must be provided by the diet. These nutrients are necessary for the body to function properly.
4 Evaluate the impact of poor diet on health and wellbeing – In the short term, poor nutrition can contribute to stress, tiredness and our capacity to even work, and over time, it can contribute to the risk of developing illnesses and other health problems such as being overweight or obese or heart disease and stroke and even type-2 diabetes.
5 Explain what adaptations to a balanced diet may be required for different groups- Balanced diet is one containing a variety of foods to ensure adequate intake of all nutrients that are essential for health.
Different groups may include:
older people that are in good health
people of different genders
people with health problems
people with dementia
people with disabilities
people with learning disabilities
people from different cultures
vegetarians and vegans etc.
