Thebodyneeds a variety of the following 5nutrients- protein, carbohydrate, fat,vitaminsand minerals - from thefoodwe eat to stay healthy and productive. Protein - is needed to build, maintain and repair muscle, blood, skin and bones and other tissues and organs in thebody.

Food has nutrients in it—substancethat give our body many important things that we need. They provide us with energy and also help control the way our body grows.

Before nutrients can go to work food must be broken downso that they canpass into our body. This is called digestion. It starts when wechewthe food that we eat. When weswallow it it travels on to the stomach where it is mixed together with water and otherfluids. Then the food is passed on to theintestine. Nutrients escape through the walls of the intestine into our blood. From there they are carried to all parts of the body.

Most food leaveswastethat the body cannot use. Some of it goes to thekidney and turns intourine. The liver also filters out waste. What is left over passes through thelarge intestineand leaves our body.