Food Energy Basics for Kids | Science Lesson For Grades 3-5

DEFINITION OF FOOD

Food is any nutritious substance that people or animals eat to give them energy and building blocks to grow and repair. Our bodies tell us when we need food by feeling hungry. The types of food we eat determine what types of building blocks and energy sources our bodies use.

To better understand food and nutrition….

DEFINITION OF FOOD. Food is any nutritious substance that people or animals eat to give them energy and building blocks to grow and repair. Our bodies tell us when we need food by feeling hungry. The types of food we eat determine what types of building blocks and energy sources our bodies use. To better understand food and nutrition….

LET’S BREAK IT DOWN!

The food we eat gives our bodies materials for growth.

Nearly all our food comes from either plants or animals. After it enters our digestive system, our bodies break it down into useful materials that have two uses.

Growth & repair (getting taller, stronger or mending broken bones), and energy to think, stay warm, and move around.

Flamingos are an excellent example of how food is used for growth. Flamingos like to eat algae which has a lot of beta-carotene, a natural chemical that has a red color. The bird’s digestive system breaks down the algae, which releases the red chemical. The red chemical then gets deposited in the flamingo’s feathers as they grow, giving flamingos a pink color.

If you feed a flamingo food without the natural red chemical, it would not be pink. Even though we are not the color of our food like a flamingo, we are also made up the materials that we have eaten. You are what you eat!

The food we eat gives our bodies materials for growth. Nearly all our food comes from either plants or animals. After it enters our digestive system, our bodies break it down into useful materials that have two uses. Growth & repair (getting taller, stronger or mending broken bones), and energy to think, stay warm, and move around. Flamingos are an excellent example of how food is used for growth. Flamingos like to eat algae which has a lot of beta-carotene, a natural chemical that has a red color. The bird’s digestive system breaks down the algae, which releases the red chemical. The red chemical then gets deposited in the flamingo’s feathers as they grow, giving flamingos a pink color. If you feed a flamingo food without the natural red chemical, it would not be pink. Even though we are not the color of our food like a flamingo, we are also made up the materials that we have eaten. You are what you eat!

The food we eat gives our bodies energy.

burning sugar to show that food has energy

Food also provides us with energy to move and stay warm. We can conduct experiments with food to show that it has stored energy by mixing it with an oxidizer and setting it on fire.

An oxidizer is a chemical that provides a lot of oxygen to help things release energy. The ability of food to burn shows that it contains stored energy.

The amount of energy and types of nutrients we get is determined by the types of foods we eat. Whole or natural foods contain lots of important nutrients. Unhealthy foods do not.

For example, broccoli contains carbohydrates, calcium, protein, fiber, iron, and vitamins. You need all these things to help you grow. Candy contains just sugar.

The food we eat gives our bodies energy. Food also provides us with energy to move and stay warm. We can conduct experiments with food to show that it has stored energy by mixing it with an oxidizer and setting it on fire. An oxidizer is a chemical that provides a lot of oxygen to help things release energy. The ability of food to burn shows that it contains stored energy. The amount of energy and types of nutrients we get is determined by the types of foods we eat. Whole or natural foods contain lots of important nutrients. Unhealthy foods do not. For example, broccoli contains carbohydrates, calcium, protein, fiber, iron, and vitamins. You need all these things to help you grow. Candy contains just sugar.

Energy from our food comes from the sun!

diagram of the sun's energy being transferred to humans

All the energy we get from food can be traced back to the sun.

The sun’s energy is transferred to plants, which use it to convert water and carbon dioxide into sugars. That process is called photosynthesis. Plants are then eaten by animals, which are eaten by larger animals.

Through this process, the energy from the sun is transferred from one living thing to another.

For example, a plant captures energy from the sun through photosynthesis, and then the plant is eaten by a caterpillar. The caterpillar gets eaten by a turkey, and we eat the turkey for dinner. The whole process is powered by the sun.

Energy from our food comes from the sun! All the energy we get from food can be traced back to the sun. The sun’s energy is transferred to plants, which use it to convert water and carbon dioxide into sugars. That process is called photosynthesis. Plants are then eaten by animals, which are eaten by larger animals. Through this process, the energy from the sun is transferred from one living thing to another. For example, a plant captures energy from the sun through photosynthesis, and then the plant is eaten by a caterpillar. The caterpillar gets eaten by a turkey, and we eat the turkey for dinner. The whole process is powered by the sun.

What is (or isn’t) food?

broccoli and carrots on a plate which are food people can eat

For something to qualify as food it must give us building blocks to grow and repair AND energy.

Wood is from trees, which is a plant, but it is not food for humans because we cannot break it down and use it for energy.

Leather is from a cow, which is an animal. It can be used for food, but it wouldn’t taste very good.

Vitamins give us building blocks to grow and repair, but they do not give us energy so technically, vitamins are not food.

What is (or isn’t) food? For something to qualify as food it must give us building blocks to grow and repair AND energy. Wood is from trees, which is a plant, but it is not food for humans because we cannot break it down and use it for energy. Leather is from a cow, which is an animal. It can be used for food, but it wouldn’t taste very good. Vitamins give us building blocks to grow and repair, but they do not give us energy so technically, vitamins are not food.

EXAMPLES OF FOOD AND ENERGY

Hydroponic plants grow without soil by using minerals in the water. This is evidence that plants do not get their energy from the soil. All the energy to make them grow comes from the sun.

Hydroponic plants grow without soil by using minerals in the water. This is evidence that plants do not get their energy from the soil. All the energy to make them grow comes from the sun.

Bugs are a delicacy in some countries. Many are high in protein and they can be cooked easily and quickly. Yum…

Bugs are a delicacy in some countries. Many are high in protein and they can be cooked easily and quickly. Yum…

Vitamins and minerals are not food. They can provide us with building blocks to help us grow but they don’t give us any energy.

Vitamins and minerals are not food. They can provide us with building blocks to help us grow but they don’t give us any energy.

FOOD AND ENERGY VOCABULARY

Food

Any nutritious substance that people or animals eat in order to give them energy and building blocks to grow and repair.

Energy

It makes things happen. (Or more formally: the ability to do work)

Hunger

The feeling that makes you want to eat. It is actually our bodies telling us that we need food for more energy and building blocks.

Oxidizer

A chemical that provides a lot of oxygen to help things burn.

Digestive System

Made up of the stomach, intestines and other components, it allows us to break down food and absorb nutrients.

Photosynthesis

A process by which plants use sunlight to make sugar from carbon dioxide and water.

Hydroponic Plant

A plant that is grown without soil. It uses minerals dissolved in water to grow along with sunlight and carbon dioxide from the air.

Healthy Food

Healthy foods have a variety of nutrients that help give us energy and provide building blocks to help us grow and repair. Examples include fruits and vegetables.

Unhealthy Food

Things like candy, potato chips and soda. They are often high in sugar and fat, which is bad in large quantities. They do help us get energy but are not as effective as healthy food at helping us grow and repair.

Read About Food and Energy

LET’S BREAK IT DOWN!