Carbohydrate

Key Stage 3

A carbohydrate is a nutrient in our diets that is used in the body for respiration.

Carbohydrates can be split into two groups. Complex Carbohydrates like starch which are very important in our diet and Simple Carbohydrates called sugars that can be harmful if we eat to much of them.

Foods with lots of starch:

Bread makes part of a balanced diet because it has a lot of stored energy we can use.	A balanced diet might contain pasta for energy.	Potatoes are an excellent source of energy in a balanced diet.	Rice is a very important part of many people's balanced diet.

Foods with lots of sugars:

Fruit has lots of sugar but is healthy because it also has vitamins and fibre inside.	Yoghurt has a lot of sugar but there are also some health parts like a mineral called Calcium.	Sweets are full of sugar with nothing healthy in them.	Energy drinks have nothing healthy in them and are packed with sugar.