GRAINS, BREAD, CEREAL AND PASTA

Body Fuel For Healthy Bodies:

Author: Trisha Sertori
BUY – Body Fuel for Healthy Bodies: Grains, Bread, Cereal and Pasta

An informative beginners guide to grains, bread, cereal and pasta. What are they made from and how does the body use these foods?

Body Fuel For Healthy Bodies is part of a series of six books, which teach children about how fuelling their bodies with the right foods can keep them healthy.

This book is beautifully presented with bright clear photos. These illustrate how nutrients are taken from foods to make a body grow and remain healthy.

Metabolism of food into energy is shown through the body systems working together. There are a few graphic diagrams of the internal organs and systems.

Each stage is followed in detail. The mouth, stomach, panaceas and small intestine. The liver, gall bladder and large intestine. All have specific functions which when explained, begin to build a framework on which to base further learning.

How do carbohydrates get into the blood as glucose? Insulin tells the body to absorb glucose and convert it into energy. Insulin balances the amount of glucose in the blood. Diabetic people’s bodies have problems making insulin. An imbalance in blood glucose (sugar) levels can make people very ill because they can’t get the glucose out of their blood fast enough.

There is a photo of a needle about to be used by a diabetic.

Fibre helps food to be absorbed and move through the body. Throughout the book, dietician Melanie tells us her health tips. Did you know that insoluble fibre is found in the hard or woody parts of the food and soluble fibre is in the cells that give things their shape, like in baked beans and apple.

The food pyramid breaks foods into groups. It shows the amounts of food we need for each group. The pile of yummy carbohydrate foods are at the bottom. We need to eat the most of this group as they give us energy.

GI indexes are discussed in down to earth terms that children can remember.
Allergies are discussed at a basic level and images from a photo microscope show the difference between healthy small intestine walls. Poor nutrient absorption makes a big difference to your health.

Choosing gluten free foods can heal your body if you have an allergy. The sources of gluten free foods are listed. Comparing food labels for healthy eating is described. This includes choosing foods with no preservatives, no artificial colours and how to understand the difference between different products, like wholemeal and white breads.

Did you know the weight of a loaf usually indicates its nutritional content.

A well illustrated recipe to make and bake bread can be found at the back in a short cooking class. “Ask an adult to help you” for safety and fun.
There is a glossary to help kids learn new words and terms.

This is definitely a first look book and can be used as a starting point to teach children about what they are eating and how to make healthy choices by knowing their grains, breads, cereals and pastas.

Grains, Bread, Cereal, and Pasta (Body Fuel)