# Food We Eat

## Overview

In this chapter, students explore different kinds of food we eat, their sources, the importance of a balanced diet, seasonal food habits, and the need for water. It also covers parts of plants we eat and includes reflections on food practices and preferences.

## Key Topics Covered

### 1. Our Favourite Food

* Children are encouraged to draw and talk about their favourite homemade dishes.
* Everyone enjoys different tastes: sweet, sour, spicy, and bitter.
* Common daily foods include fruits, vegetables, rice, dal, roti, milk, lassi, and juice.

### 2. Importance of Eating and Drinking

* Discussion with elders about why we need to eat and drink.
* Food provides energy, helps us grow, and keeps us healthy.
* Introduction to **Chhappan Bhog**, a traditional feast of 56 items representing six tastes.

### 3. Story: Shirin the Runner

* Shirin learns from a champion runner that eating a variety of healthy foods is important.
* A balanced diet includes grains (rice, wheat, ragi, bajra), pulses, nuts, fruits, vegetables, and home-cooked food.
* After changing her diet, Shirin becomes healthier and wins a medal.

### 4. What is a Balanced Diet?

* Children tick food items they eat regularly: vegetables, fruits, rice, dal, milk, lassi, etc.
* Discussion on which of these contribute to a balanced diet.

### 5. Seasonal Eating

* Different foods are eaten in summer and winter.
* Summer: cooling foods like kulfi, coconut water, mangoes, melons.
* Winter: warm foods like soups, stews, and apples.
* We eat seasonal fruits and vegetables for better health.

### 6. Water and Our Body

* We lose water through sweat, especially in summer and while playing.
* We must drink water often and also drink fluids like buttermilk, nimbu pani, sugarcane juice, and tender coconut water.
* Importance of water: “Water is life.”

### 7. Sources of Our Food

* Food comes from plants (grains, vegetables, fruits) and animals (milk, eggs, meat, honey).
* Activity: Name crops grown in fields and how they are cooked.
* Match food parts from plants:

* Roots: beetroot, carrot, radish
* Leaves: spinach, cabbage, methi
* Fruits: apple, mango, guava
* Stems: ginger, onion, bamboo shoots
* Seeds: grains, pulses, dry fruits

### 8. Puzzle Time

* Some ingredients are not from plants or animals (e.g., salt, water).


## Reflection and Activities

### A. Reflect and Discuss

1. Why do we need different kinds of food?
2. Why is it good to eat seasonal foods?
3. How can we tell if food is healthy or not?
4. Why is food wastage a problem? Discuss ways to reduce it.

### B. Writing Practice

* List fruits and vegetables your family eats.
* Write your favourite recipe.
* Write a dish that uses both plant and animal ingredients (e.g., lassi — curd from milk and sugar from sugarcane).

### C. Drawing Activity

* Draw three thalis (plates) with the food you eat in:

* Morning (breakfast)
* Afternoon (lunch)
* Night (dinner)
* Label the food items.

### D. Eating Together

* Bring fruits to class and make a fruit chaat or salad.
* Share it with classmates to enjoy the joy of eating together.

### E. Think and Imagine

* What would you serve to a guest who arrives suddenly?
* Why would you choose that food?

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## New Terms and Simple Definitions

| Term | Definition |
| ------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Balanced diet | A meal that includes all food types to keep the body healthy |
| Seasonal food | Fruits or vegetables available during a specific time of year |
| Chhappan Bhog | A special meal of 56 items served during festivals or special occasions |
| Grains | Seeds like rice, wheat, and bajra that give us energy |
| Pulses | Dals like moong, urad, or masoor that are rich in protein |
| Nutritious | Food that helps keep us strong and healthy |
| Ingredients | Items used to make food |
| Sweat | Water that comes out of our body when it is hot or we play a lot |
| Water is life | Water is very important and we cannot live without it |
| Thali | A plate with different kinds of food served in a meal |

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## Practice Questions

### Easy (3)

1. **Name two fruits that we eat in summer.**
**Answer**: Mango and watermelon
**Explanation**: These fruits are available during hot weather and help cool the body.

2. **What do we drink when it is very hot?**
**Answer**: Water, buttermilk, nimbu pani
**Explanation**: These drinks help replace water lost through sweat.

3. **Name two parts of the plant that we eat.**
**Answer**: Roots (carrot), Leaves (spinach)
**Explanation**: We eat different parts like roots, leaves, fruits, seeds, and stems.

### Medium (2)

4. **Why should we eat food made from different grains?**
**Answer**: Different grains give different nutrients and energy.
**Explanation**: Eating rice, bajra, ragi, etc., keeps our diet balanced and healthy.

5. **What is Chhappan Bhog and when is it eaten?**
**Answer**: A traditional meal of 56 food items eaten on festivals and special days.
**Explanation**: It includes all six tastes and is shared with guests and family.

### Difficult (3)

6. **Why is it important to drink water while playing?**
**Answer**: Because we sweat and lose water; drinking water prevents dehydration.
**Explanation**: Our body needs water to stay cool and healthy.

7. **Give two examples of food items that use both plant and animal ingredients.**
**Answer**: Lassi (curd from milk + sugar), Egg curry (egg + spices from plants)
**Explanation**: Many dishes combine both sources for better taste and nutrition.

8. **How do seasons affect the food we eat?**
**Answer**: Different fruits and vegetables grow in different seasons, and we eat them to stay healthy.
**Explanation**: Eating seasonal food is good for health and the environment.

### Very Difficult (2)

9. **What changes did Shirin make to become a better runner?**
**Answer**: She started eating a balanced diet with different foods and practised daily.
**Explanation**: Healthy food gave her energy and helped her become stronger.

10. **What are some ways to reduce food waste at home?**
**Answer**: Take only what we can eat, store leftovers properly, share food with others.
**Explanation**: Reducing waste helps save resources and respect food.

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