Components of Food Class 6 Notes – Quick Revision

Food gives our body energy, building materials and protective nutrients. The main nutrients are carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. Water and dietary fibre are also essential parts of a healthy diet because they support hydration, digestion and normal body functions.

Updated for 2026–27: “Components of Food” is the familiar title from the older Class 6 Science sequence. NCERT now uses the Class VI Science book Curiosity, where related learning appears in Chapter 3 – Mindful Eating: A Path to a Healthy Body. This page keeps the established search topic while updating the science and making it useful for students from different boards and countries.

Component	Main role	Examples
Carbohydrates	Major source of energy	Rice, bread, potatoes, cereals
Proteins	Growth and repair of body tissues	Pulses, beans, eggs, fish, milk, soy
Fats	Concentrated energy, insulation and help with absorption of some vitamins	Nuts, seeds, oils, dairy, fish
Vitamins	Support many body processes and help prevent deficiency disorders	Fruits, vegetables, dairy, eggs
Minerals	Help build bones, blood and support nerves and muscles	Leafy greens, dairy, pulses, seeds
Water	Hydration, transport and temperature control	Water, milk, soups, fruits
Dietary fibre	Supports digestion and bowel health	Whole grains, fruits, vegetables, pulses

Watch & Learn: English + Hindi Video Lessons

English: Nutrients and Healthy Eating

This public lesson from the verified Smile and Learn – English channel explains carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and healthy eating in a visual format suitable for younger learners worldwide.

हिंदी: भोजन के घटक और संतुलित आहार

यह सार्वजनिक वीडियो verified Magnet Brains Hindi Medium चैनल से है और कक्षा 6 के वर्तमान “उचित आहार – स्वस्थ शरीर का आधार” अध्याय में भोजन के घटक, पोषक तत्व और संतुलित आहार को विस्तार से समझाता है।

What Are the Components of Food?

Core Components of Food

A nutrient is a substance in food that the body needs for energy, growth, repair and normal functioning. The major nutrient groups are carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. Water and dietary fibre are also important parts of a healthy diet.

What Do Different Food Items Contain?

Main Nutrients and What They Do

Carbohydrates: The body’s main day-to-day source of energy. Starches and sugars are common forms. Whole grains, rice, potatoes, fruits and many other foods provide carbohydrates.

Proteins: Needed to build and repair tissues and to make many important substances in the body. Good sources include pulses, beans, lentils, soy, eggs, dairy, fish and meat.

Fats: Provide concentrated energy, help insulate the body and help absorb vitamins A, D, E and K. Sources include nuts, seeds, vegetable oils, dairy products, eggs and fish. Different fats affect health differently, so variety and moderation matter.

Vitamins and minerals: Needed in smaller amounts but essential for growth, immunity, blood, bones, nerves and many chemical processes in the body.

Water and fibre: Water supports hydration, transport and temperature control. Dietary fibre supports digestion and is found mainly in plant foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables and pulses.

Important Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamins and minerals are required in relatively small amounts, but they are essential. Eating a varied diet is important because no single food naturally provides every nutrient in the amounts the body needs.

Nutrient	Why it matters	Example food sources
Vitamin A	Vision, growth and immune function	Carrot, spinach, mango, egg
Vitamin B1 (thiamine)	Helps release energy from food and supports nerves	Whole grains, pulses, seeds
Vitamin C	Helps make connective tissue and supports wound healing	Guava, citrus fruits, peppers, tomatoes
Vitamin D	Helps the body absorb calcium and supports bones	Sunlight exposure, fortified foods, egg yolk, oily fish
Iron	Needed to make haemoglobin in red blood cells	Leafy greens, pulses, meat, fortified cereals
Calcium	Important for bones, teeth, muscles and nerves	Milk, curd/yoghurt, ragi, sesame, some leafy greens
Iodine	Needed for thyroid hormones	Iodised salt, seafood, dairy

What Do Nutrients Do for Our Body?

Our body uses nutrients in different ways. Carbohydrates and fats can provide energy, proteins supply amino acids used for growth and repair, vitamins and minerals support many body processes, and water helps transport substances and regulate temperature. We need energy even while resting because breathing, circulation, brain activity and other body processes continue all the time.

Balanced Diet

A balanced diet provides enough energy and a variety of nutrients, together with water and fibre, to support growth and health. The exact amount of food a person needs varies with age, body size, activity level, health and other factors.

• Eat a variety of vegetables and fruits.
• Include whole grains or other staple carbohydrate foods.
• Include protein-rich foods such as pulses, beans, eggs, dairy, soy, fish or meat according to dietary preference.
• Include suitable sources of healthy fats such as nuts, seeds and vegetable oils.
• Drink enough water and limit foods very high in added sugar, salt and trans fat.

Deficiency Diseases

A deficiency disease can develop when the body does not receive enough of a particular nutrient for a long time. Deficiency is only one possible cause of symptoms, so real health concerns should be assessed by a qualified health professional rather than diagnosed from a school table.

Nutrient	Classic deficiency problem	Typical signs taught at this level
Vitamin A	Night blindness / eye problems	Difficulty seeing in dim light
Vitamin B1	Beriberi	Weakness and nerve or muscle problems
Vitamin C	Scurvy	Bleeding gums and slow wound healing
Vitamin D	Rickets in children	Soft or weak bones
Iron	Iron-deficiency anaemia	Tiredness, weakness or paleness
Iodine	Goitre and other thyroid problems	Enlargement of the thyroid may occur

5-Minute Revision Checklist

• I can name the five major nutrient groups.
• I can explain why water and dietary fibre are important.
• I can give food-source examples for carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals.
• I can explain what makes a diet balanced.
• I can match common nutrient deficiencies with examples such as scurvy, rickets and anaemia.

Try This: Build a Balanced Meal

Look at one meal you ate today. Identify its carbohydrate source, protein source, vegetables or fruit, source of fat and drink. Then ask: What could I add or change to increase the variety of nutrients? This activity works with foods from any country or culture.

Quick Self-Test

1. Which nutrient group is the body’s main day-to-day source of energy?
2. Why is protein important during growth?
3. Name two foods rich in dietary fibre.
4. Which vitamin deficiency is linked with scurvy?
5. Why can one food alone not usually make a balanced diet?

Check your answers: carbohydrates; protein supplies amino acids for growth and repair; examples include whole grains, fruits, vegetables or pulses; vitamin C; because different foods provide different combinations of nutrients, water and fibre.

Related Class 6 Science Learning

• Food: Where Does It Come From? – Class 6 Notes
• Components of Food – Questions and Solutions
• Getting to Know Plants – Class 6 Notes
• Living Organisms and Their Surroundings – Class 6 Notes

Components of Food FAQs

What are the main components of food?

The main nutrient groups are carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. Water and dietary fibre are also important components of a healthy diet.

What are nutrients?

Nutrients are substances in food that the body needs for energy, growth, repair and normal functioning.

What is a balanced diet?

A balanced diet provides a suitable variety and amount of nutrients, water and fibre to support health and growth. The exact balance varies between people.

Which nutrients mainly provide energy?

Carbohydrates are the main day-to-day energy source, while fats provide concentrated stored energy. Proteins can also provide energy but have important roles in growth and repair.

Study tip: Use these notes for concept revision, then compare them with the latest textbook and classroom guidance used by your school.