Plants make their own food from sunlight, but humans and animals cannot! We have to eat food to get the goodness our bodies need.
Why we cannot make our own food
A plant's green leaves turn sunlight into food. Our bodies cannot do this, so we eat plants, or animals that ate plants. That is why every animal must find food to survive.
A balanced diet
Eating a good mix of foods is called a balanced diet. Different foods do different jobs.
| Food group | Example | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrates | Bread, rice, potatoes | Give us energy to run and play |
| Protein | Beans, eggs, chicken, fish | Help us grow and mend our bodies |
| Fruit & vegetables | Apples, carrots, peas | Keep us healthy with vitamins and fibre |
| Dairy | Milk, cheese, yoghurt | Build strong bones and teeth |
| Fats & sugars | Oil, butter, cake | Give energy, but only a little is needed |
The skeleton and muscles
Inside you is a frame of over 200 bones called the skeleton. It holds you up, lets you move, and protects soft parts inside — your skull guards your brain, your ribs guard your heart and lungs.
Bones cannot move on their own. Muscles are joined to bones, and when a muscle pulls, it moves the bone.
Types of teeth
You have three kinds of teeth, each shaped for a job.
| Tooth | Shape | Job |
|---|---|---|
| Incisors | Flat and sharp at the front | Bite and cut food |
| Canines | Pointy | Tear and grip food |
| Molars | Wide and bumpy at the back | Chew and grind food |
Our bodies are put together in a truly amazing way.