Title: Identify the functions of macronutrients and the body’s requirements for each.
Course: Nutrition and Wellness (19253-18) > Section: Investigating Principles of Nutrition

Identification should include

- defining nutrient
- defining macronutrient, including protein, carbohydrates, fats, cholesterol, fiber, and water
- listing, for each type of nutrient
  - its functions in the body (e.g., carbohydrates for energy, protein for muscle and tissue repair)
  - its role in preventing or contributing to chronic disease (e.g., fresh fruits and vegetables can promote healthy body weight and decrease the likelihood of diabetes; high consumption of saturated fats/trans fats can contribute to heart disease and cancer; the effects of toxicity associated with a nutrient [e.g., ketosis, excessive bleeding, diarrhea]).

Process/Skill Questions:

Thinking

- Why should we be aware of macronutrients and their functions?
- What can happen if we receive insufficient macronutrients?
- What macronutrients tend to be included in a typical teenager’s diet?

Communication

- What are sources of information about macronutrients?
- How can one tell if these sources are reliable?
- What are the arguments for and against taking large doses of specific nutrients (e.g., fats)?

Leadership

- Why should high school students be concerned about their macronutrients intake?
- Why is it your responsibility to ensure that you and your family members receive a sufficient daily dose of essential macronutrients?

Management

- What information pertaining to the effects of macronutrients on the body is available?
- What foods should a family shopper select to ensure that all family members receive the macronutrients they need?

Teacher Resource:

- Macronutrients, USDA National Agricultural Library