9781422289167

13 Counting Calories R itesh explains to his friends that there’s a connection between different kinds of nutrients and the number of calories in foods. “Our bodies need different nutrients from the food we eat,” Ritesh says. “We need a balance of protein , carbohydrates , and fat. We need protein to keep our muscles healthy. We need carbohydrates for energy. And we need healthy fat to help us absorb vitamins and for energy.” We get protein from meat and dairy products, like cheese and milk. Carbohydrates are in breads, desserts, fruits, and vegetables. Fat is found in meat and dairy products, as well as in many snacks. Each kind of nutrient has a different number of calories.

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