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Year 8

Micronutrients

I can name different micronutrients and explain their function and food sources.

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New
New
Year 8

Micronutrients

I can name different micronutrients and explain their function and food sources.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Vitamins and minerals are known as micronutrients. They are needed in small amounts compared to macronutrients.
  2. Our diet provides vitamins and minerals, except vitamin D, which we make in our skin when exposed to sunlight.
  3. Vitamins include A, C and D, and the minerals include calcium and iron. They have different functions and food sources.
  4. Energy and nutrients provided by a recipe can be calculated, and changes can be made to improve health.

Keywords

  • Micronutrients - nutrients required by the body in small amounts for health

  • Vitamins - organic micronutrients that are essential for the human body

  • Minerals - inorganic micronutrients needed for growth, development and health

  • Food source - food and drinks that provide specifi nutrients

  • Function - the role of the nutrient to keep the body healthy

Common misconception

An adequate intake of micronutrients is possible by always eating the same types of foods.

To ensure an adequate intake of micronutrients, it is important to have a varied diet. This is because different foods provide different types and amounts of vitamins and minerals.


To help you plan your year 8 cooking and nutrition lesson on: Micronutrients, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Relate the micronutrients to familiar foods and food groups from the Eatwell Guide - helping to contextulise learning. Ensure that pupils have access to ICT facilities when undertaking nutritional analysis.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the healthy eating model for the UK called?
the Eatwell Plate
the Balance of Good Health
Correct answer: the Eatwell Guide
The Guide to Health
Q2.
What are the three macronutrients?
Correct answer: fat
calcium
Correct answer: protein
iron
Correct answer: carbohydrate
Q3.
When energy intake is higher than energy output …
over time this will lead to weight loss.
over time this will lead to energy balance.
Correct answer: over time this will lead to weight gain.
Q4.
What are the two largest food groups from the Eatwell Guide?
dairy and alternatives
Correct answer: fruit and vegetables
Correct answer: potatoes, bread, rice and pasta
beans, pulses, fish, eggs and meat
oils and spreads
Q5.
It is recommended that we consume __________ drinks per day.
2 to 4
4 to 6
Correct answer: 6 to 8
8 to 10
Q6.
labels can help us make healthier choices between two similar food products.
Correct Answer: Nutrition, Nutritional

6 Questions

Q1.
True or false? An adequate intake of micronutrients is possible by always eating the same types of foods.
True
Correct answer: False
Q2.
Match the vitamin to its source.
Correct Answer:vitamin A,liver, fortified spreads, green leafy vegetables, carrots
tick

liver, fortified spreads, green leafy vegetables, carrots

Correct Answer:vitamin B1,bread, fortified breakfast cereals, meat, beans
tick

bread, fortified breakfast cereals, meat, beans

Correct Answer:vitamin C,citrus fruits, peppers, tomatoes
tick

citrus fruits, peppers, tomatoes

Correct Answer:vitamin D,sunshine, oily fish, eggs, fat spreads
tick

sunshine, oily fish, eggs, fat spreads

Q3.
Which of the following are minerals?
Correct answer: calcium
niacin
Correct answer: iodine
Correct answer: iron
thiamin
Q4.
helps to build and maintain strong bones and teeth.
Correct Answer: calcium
Q5.
The mineral iron helps ...
to make thyroid and it helps the brain to function normally.
Correct answer: to make red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body.
to build and maintain strong bones and teeth.
Q6.
Put the following instructions of how to perform nutritional analysis in the correct order.
1 - Decide if you are analysing a recipe or diet.
2 - Search the ingredient or food you want.
3 - Add each ingredient or food, including its weight.
4 - View a summary of the calculation.
5 - Create a food label or change the number of portions.