Five Food Groups

The key to healthy eating is to enjoy a variety of nutritious foods from each of the 5 food groups. If you eat a variety of foods from each of these groups, your body will receive all the nutrients and vitamins it needs to function. The five food groups are:
1. Bread, cereals and potatoes: ( carbohydrate, calcium and iron, B vitamins and dietary fibre)
- Carbohydrate is needed to provide energy. Starchy carbohydrates are broken down and converted to glucose which is either stored as glycogen in the liver and muscles or is circulated in the bloodstream where it can enter cells and be used as energy.
- Dietary fibre is not absorbed but passes through the gastrointestinal tract, helping to keep it healthy before being excreted.
- Calcium has a role in the
- B vitamins are principally involved in energy metabolism.
2. Fruit and vegetables: ( vitamin C, carotenes, folates, carbohydrate and dietary fibre )
- Vitamin C helps in the structure of connective tissue and bones. It is needed for wound healing and helps the absorption of iron from non-meat sources. It may help to prevent the risk of chronic disease such as heart disease and cancer.
- Carotenes contribute towards the development of vitamin A.
- Folates are needed for the formation of blood cells.
3. Milk and dairy foods: ( calcium, protein, vitamin B12, vitamin A and vitamin D )
- Calcium is used in the development and maintenance of teeth and bones. Protein is essential for the growth and repair of the body, with any excess used to provide energy.
- Vitamin B12 is needed for the formation of blood cells and nerve fibres.
- Vitamin A is needed for the maintenance and repair of tissues necessary for growth and development. It is also essential for the immune system to function and to help night vision.
- Vitamin D helps with calcium and phosphate absorption from food and is essential for healthy teeth and bones.
4. Meat, fish and alternatives: ( Iron, protein, B vitamins - especially vitamin B12, zinc