- Definition
A nutrient is something in food that helps your child's body grow, stay healthy, and have energy. These include things like proteins for building muscles or vitamins for fighting off sickness.
An apple provides nutrients like carbohydrates for energy and vitamins to help you stay healthy.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Nutrients are like the fuel that makes a car go — they give your body the power it needs to run, jump, and think.
Ask your child: What good stuff in your snack helps you play and grow?
Common mix-up: Kids may think only vegetables have nutrients. All healthy foods contain nutrients that give our bodies different kinds of energy to grow and play.
Examples
- Milk has nutrients like protein and calcium to help build strong bones and muscles.
- Bread has carbohydrates, which are nutrients that give your body quick energy for running and jumping.
nutrient is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
