Science STD 6 Chapter 1: Components of Food - Exercises

Science STD 6 Chapter 1: Components of Food - Exercises

1. Name the major nutrients in our food.

The major nutrients in our food are carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. In addition, food also contains dietary fibres (roughage) and water.

2. Name the following:

  1. The nutrients which mainly give energy to our body.

    Carbohydrates and Fats.

  2. The nutrients that are needed for the growth and maintenance of our body.

    Proteins and minerals.

  3. A vitamin required for maintaining good eyesight.

    Vitamin A.

  4. A mineral that is required for keeping our bones healthy.

    Calcium.

3. Name two foods each rich in:

  1. Fats

    Groundnuts, oil (mustard oil, coconut oil).

  2. Starch

    Raw potato, rice.

  3. Dietary fibre

    Whole grains, fresh fruits.

  4. Protein

    Milk, eggs.

4. Tick (✓) the statements that are correct.

  1. By eating rice alone, we can fulfill nutritional requirement of our body. ( )

    False.

  2. Deficiency diseases can be prevented by eating a balanced diet. ( )

    True.

  3. Balanced diet for the body should contain a variety of food items. ( )

    True.

  4. Meat alone is sufficient to provide all nutrients to the body. ( )

    False.

5. Fill in the blanks.

  1. ............. is caused by deficiency of Vitamin D.

    Rickets

  2. Deficiency of ............. causes a disease known as beri-beri.

    Vitamin B1

  3. Deficiency of Vitamin C causes a disease known as .............

    scurvy

  4. Night blindness is caused due to deficiency of ............. in our food.

    Vitamin A

Suggested Projects and Activities

1. Prepare a diet chart to provide a balanced diet to a twelve-year-old child. The diet chart should include food items which are not expensive and are commonly available in your area.

Outline: A balanced diet for a child needs a mix of all major nutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. This activity requires creating a sample diet chart for a week using affordable and locally available foods. For example, a diet could include roti/rice for carbohydrates, pulses/dals for protein, seasonal vegetables and fruits for vitamins and minerals, and milk/curd for calcium. The chart should show that a balanced diet can be achieved without expensive items by combining different food groups.

2. We have learnt that excess intake of fats is harmful for the body. What about other nutrients? Would it be harmful for the body to take too much of proteins or vitamins in the diet? Read about diet-related problems to find answers to these questions and have a class discussion on this topic.

Outline: This activity involves researching the effects of excessive intake of nutrients other than fats. The discussion should highlight that a diet must have nutrients in the right quantities, not too much and not too little. For example, excess protein can put a strain on the kidneys, and an overdose of certain vitamins (like A and D, which are fat-soluble) can be harmful. It's an opportunity to emphasize that 'more is not always better' when it comes to nutrition.

3. Test the food usually eaten by cattle or a pet to find out which nutrients are present in animal food. Compare results obtained from the whole class to conclude about balanced diet requirements for different animals.

Outline: This activity is about testing animal food for the presence of different nutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, fats). For example, testing dog kibble, cattle feed, or birdseed with the chemical solutions mentioned in the chapter (iodine, copper sulphate, caustic soda) to determine their nutrient composition. The results can be compared to see if different animals have different dietary needs, leading to a discussion on the concept of a balanced diet for animals.