According to the World Health Organization, a nutrient is a substance that the body needs for survival, growth, and reproduction. In other words, nutrients are what give us energy and allow our bodies to perform their essential functions. Children who eat well usually grow well. Women who eat well are more likely to have healthy babies.
That's why it's important to know what combinations of foods make up a good meal and what the different dietary needs of different family members are. The best way to make sure we're getting enough of each nutrient and enough energy is to eat a mix of foods. Topic 3 explains how to combine foods to prepare good meals. Appendix 1 lists the sources of each nutrient (see tables 1) and the nutrient content of the different foods (see table).
