32
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.
