Executive Chef Nile Sara Cooks Up the Facts About Good Nutrition
April 12, 2014
Every food we eat provides the body with a range of nutrients, each with its own role to play. Eating a balanced, varied diet every day, including foods that provide energy, fiber, protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, will ensure that you have everything you need for good health.
The foods we eat are the essential building blocks of life. All foods, from apples to whole wheat bread to ice cream, contain two main categories of nutrients: macronutrients and micronutrients. Macronutrients are required in large amounts for healthy growth and development; they form the base of every diet and provide energy for all the body’s everyday functions and activities.
Macronutrients are usually further categorized as being primarily fats, proteins, carbohydrates or fiber. Vitamins and minerals, which make up the micronutrients, are chemical compounds found in tiny amounts in foods.