How do we get energy from food and drink?
We all need energy for our bodies to grow and heal and so we can stay active. We get that energy from what we eat and drink.
In this article you can learn:
- how much energy we get from food
- how we measure energy from food
- what Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) is
- the difference between simple and complex carbohydrates
This resource is suitable for Health and Wellbeing for primary school learners.
Video - Food as fuel
In this video, different kinds of food are running a race to find out which food is a good energy source. Learn about how different foods fuel our bodies in different ways.
How do we measure energy in food?
- We measure energy in Sorry, something went wrongCheck your connection, refresh the page and try again..
- We can work out how much energy our food is giving us by looking at nutrition labels.
- To find out how much energy food provide, look for kcal or cal on packaging.
What do we need energy for?
About half of the energy we get from our food is used for things like:
- growing
- healing
- regulating our body鈥檚 temperature
These are all know as bodily functions and are measured using a Sorry, something went wrongCheck your connection, refresh the page and try again. (BMR).
What is the Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)?
BMR is the measurement of the energy the body requires to function when it is resting.
Our bodies are amazing. Even when we are physically still, our bodies are busy on the inside and this requires energy. Everyone鈥檚 BMR is at a slightly different rate because we are all unique.
Find out more about our body systems with 2nd level Science.
Physical activity
The rest of the energy is used for physical activities. These range from:
- very energetic ones like walking, dancing, running, playing football.
- to less energetic activities like tidying up your bedroom, watching television and even sleeping
The more active you are the more calories you need to consume to keep up your energy levels. Every day we need to eat and drink to replace the energy we have used.
Imagine a car鈥
鈥he more petrol in the tank the further it can drive. Our bodies are no different. We can鈥檛 expect to have energy if we are not eating a healthy balanced diet to fuel them.
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How do our food choices affect our energy?
Some foods release energy slowly and others release energy quickly.
Complex carbohydrates
Slow releasing energy foods are called Sorry, something went wrongCheck your connection, refresh the page and try again..
- Complex carbohydrates, also known as starch, can be found in bread, pasta, flour and rice.
- The wholemeal varieties of these are the healthiest for us because they contain more fibre and less sugar.
- Complex carbohydrates also include vegetables such as sweet potato, spinach and parsnips.
- Complex carbohydrates release energy slowly and take time to digest which help us feel fuller for longer.
Simple carbohydrates
Fast releasing energy foods are known as Sorry, something went wrongCheck your connection, refresh the page and try again..
- Simple carbohydrates release their calories very quickly.
- Simple carbohydrates are foods high in sugar.
- Foods like chocolate, biscuits, fizzy drinks and some fruits give us a quick burst of energy but can then leave us feeling tired and hungry.
- They can also have an unhealthy impact on our blood sugar levels leaving us feeling overly tired.
- Although some fruits, like grapes or bananas, are full of natural sugars, they are also full of vitamins, minerals and fibre unlike sweeties.
Test your knowledge
Food and energy quiz
Try the quiz below. Can you work out the difference between slow releasing energy foods (complex carbohydrates) and fast releasing energy foods (simple carbohydrates)?
Challenge - food and energy
- Choose three foods you can find in your kitchen.
- Imagine you were running a race.
- Which out of the three foods would give you the most energy to run the race?
- Remember you will need slow releasing energy to finish the race.
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