| These foods provide: | | | | Carbohydrates are the most important source of |
| Vitamin C: needed for healthy skin and tissue, also | | | | energy. They contain the elements Carbon, |
| to aid the absorption of iron | | | | Hydrogen and Oxygen. The first part of the |
| Carotenes: required for growth and development | | | | name "carbo-" means that they contain Carbon. |
| Folate: needed for red blood cells | | | | The second part of the name "-hydr-" means |
| Fibre: keeps the gut healthy and helps prevent | | | | that they contain Hydrogen. The third part of the |
| constipation | | | | name "-ate-" means that they contain Oxygen. In |
| Carbohydrate: a source of energy | | | | all carbohydrates the ratio of Hydrogen atoms to |
| Phytochemicals*: may help protect against some | | | | Oxygen atoms is 2:1 just like water. |
| diseases | | | | Base a third of your food intake on foods from |
| • Choose fruit or chopped vegetables as | | | | this group, aiming to include at least one food |
| a snack | | | | from this group at each meal, e.g. potatoes with |
| • Add dried or fresh fruit to breakfast | | | | fish and vegetables, a chicken salad sandwich, |
| cereals | | | | stir-fried vegetables with rice, or porridge oats for |
| • Have a salad with sandwiches or with | | | | breakfast. |
| pizza | | | | Potatoes, yams, plantains and sweet potato fall |
| • Add vegetables to casseroles and | | | | into this group, rather than fruit and vegetables, |
| stews and fruit to desserts | | | | because they contain starchy carbohydrates. |
| • Try not to eat the same fruits and | | | | These foods provide: |
| vegetables every day | | | | Carbohydrate: a source of energy |
| Grain Products | | | | Fibre: keeps the gut healthy and helps prevent |
| This food group, sometimes referred to as | | | | constipation |
| 'starchy carbohydrates', includes bread, potatoes | | | | Some calcium: required for the development and |
| (including low fat oven chips), yams, breakfast | | | | maintenance of healthy bones |
| cereals, pasta, rice, oats, noodles, maize, millet and | | | | Some iron: needed for healthy red blood cells |
| cornmeal. | | | | B vitamins: e.g. |