Your Body's Fuel: Food for Energy

Imagine your body is a super cool race car. What does a race car need to go fast and win the race? Fuel! For our bodies, food is our fuel.Food gives us energy to do everything—from thinking hard in math class to scoring a goal in soccer. Different foods give us different kinds of energy:Carbohydrates (like bread, fruits, and pasta) give us quick energy.Proteins (like chicken, beans, and yogurt) help build our muscles and keep us strong.Fats (like in avocados and nuts) give us long-lasting energy that our bodies can save for later.Eating a mix of these foods helps our bodies run their best!

It's morning and you're getting ready for school. You need energy that will last until lunch!The Choice: You see a box of sugary frosted cereal and a container of oatmeal with some berries.The Thought: The sugary cereal might taste good, but it gives you a super-fast burst of energy that disappears quickly. You might feel tired by 10 AM. The oatmeal has whole grains and the berries have vitamins. This combination gives you slow, steady energy.The Action: You choose the oatmeal and berries. Your brain and body will have the fuel they need to focus on your lessons and have fun at recess.

You have soccer practice after school and you're feeling a little hungry. You need a snack that won't make you feel too full or sluggish.The Choice: In the pantry, you find a bag of potato chips and a banana.The Thought: The chips are salty and crunchy, but they are mostly fat and don't give you the right kind of energy for sports. The banana is full of natural sugars and potassium, which are great for quick energy and helping your muscles work.The Action: You grab the banana! It's the perfect light snack to fuel your body for running and playing hard at practice.