Choosing the Right Fuel: Intro to Good Nutrition

Do you enjoy the food you eat? Being informed about food and nutrition can help you enjoy food in a healthy way while fueling your body properly.

Taste buds are located on your tongue, and allow you to taste a variety of flavors such as sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. These flavors stimulate your appetite for foods that offer different nutrients. For example, foods that taste sweet have a lot of sugar in them. They tend to provide the body with carbohydrates but little protein. Choosing foods that offer a variety of flavors will help you eat a balanced diet. However, taste buds alone should not guide food choices. Eating patterns need to be regulated according to calorie, nutrient, and fat content. Calories are the scientific measurement of fuel converted to energy. The best source of calories is food that is high in vitamins and minerals and low in fat and sugars.

MyPlate

In 2011, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) introduced MyPlate, a visual aid to help Americans eat healthy. You can develop proper eating habits using MyPlate as your guide.

Visit the USDA and learn more about each part of the MyPlate visual. Try to remember the MyPlate graphic as you build your own meals to help you fuel your body with the nutrition it needs.

Developing Proper Eating Habits

Now that you have taken the time to get to know the MyPlate visual, take a closer look at the importance of eating properly. Click the player button to begin.

View a printable version of the interactivity.

 

 

Intro To Good Nutrition Review

Now that you have explored good nutrition, review your knowledge in this non-graded activity. Click the player button to get started.