Learn with Kiki: Why Do We Eat Food?

Hello, young learners. I am Kiki, a scientist and I love science. Welcome to my Knowledge Corner! I am so excited to meet you! 

I spend a lot of time in the lab, experimenting with science and finding answers. And from today, I am going to learn along with you! We are going to understand and explore the human body and the world around us in my Knowledge Corner. Are you ready? 

In the first episode, we are going to understand why we eat food everyday. 

You all eat food twice or thrice a day, as meals and snacks. Have you ever wondered why you need food and how important it is to have a regular, balanced diet everyday? Let me explain.

Why do we need food?

The food you eat is an important part of the nutrition that your body needs. You may have learnt in your science classes that nutrition means the energy and strength that you get from what you eat.

So, based on the nutrition that you get, your body and brain work well. It’s really important that you eat right and on time. 

Eat healthy, eat on time

If you skip meals, you not only feel hungry but also tired. Because food also gives you energy and helps your organs grow and function in the best way possible. 

This means that in order for your body to learn, play and function properly, you need to eat nutritious food regularly.

So, what do you mean by nutritious food? Greens, vegetables, fruits and whole grains, dairy products, eggs and meat cooked in a healthy way can be rich in nutrition. These food items are healthy.

You need to understand that chips, candy, pizza, ice cream are also food. However, they are not rich in nutrients, so you need to avoid them as much as possible. That’s why they are called junk food.

How does food give us nutrition and energy?

When you eat food, your body goes through a process called digestion. Here’s how it goes: As you swallow food, it travels down the food pipe called the oesophagus (say ee-so-fay-gus). From there, it goes to the stomach, where it is converted into essential nutrients using the acids and enzymes that help in breaking down food. 

Proteins, fats and carbohydrates are the three different types of nutrients that your body gets from digestion of food. Calcium, vitamins and minerals are also nutrients that are derived from food, but in small quantities. 

Digestion begins with eating

That’s a lot of new names, isn’t it? Let’s learn the kind of food that gives you these nutrients so that you know better about the food that you eat. 

Which are the foods rich in nutrients? 

As I told you earlier, we all eat a variety of foods. Some of them are tasty and the others, not so much. 

Your parents may have made sure that you eat all kinds of food. That’s because you need all the nutrients in the right balance. Here are some foods and the strength that they give you: 

You may crave for cake, but you need to have a balanced diet

• Milk, meat, eggs and beans are high in protein. Your body uses protein to grow hair, fingernails and skin and repair any cuts or bruises. 
• Rice, sugars are rich in carbohydrates that give you the energy to run, study, work and play.
• Vitamins and minerals help your body stay healthy in various ways. For example, Vitamin A is found in meat and vegetables like carrots. It helps your eyes see in the dark. Vitamin C is found in oranges, and helps your body fight off bacteria and viruses that can make you sick. It improves your immune system. 
• Minerals like calcium are available in plenty of dairy foods, helping your bones grow strong. Another important mineral is iron, found in meat, spinach, dates and some breakfast cereals. It helps your blood carry oxygen throughout your body.

You need to ensure that you must have all of these foods in your diet everyday, for your body and your brain to grow and function in the best way possible. 

I am now sure that you have understood the importance of food and why we eat. Here is a small song that you can sing, just to recall what you have learnt today

I just had a meal

Healthy and strong I feel

Pulses and rice

They tasted very nice

Vegetables and eggs

Give strength to my legs

Bread and meat

Oh! Yummy to eat

There’s food rich with nutrients

Don’t eat junk, my friends!

And that’s the Kiki way of learning. Did you like the song and my explanation on food? Share your answers with us in the comments.