Test Your Smarts - Picnic Pickup

Try again! When it comes to eating right, remember BALANCE is the key word! Fruits and veggies are good for you, but if that’s all you eat, you might not get enough important nutrients like protein, calcium and iron. You can get these nutrients in foods like low-fat yogurt, cheese, lean and low-fat meat and milk. Plus, if you only ate fruits and veggies, it would be hard to get all the calories you need to keep you going throughout the day. So, be sure to fill your diet with variety by consuming a balance of foods from all the food groups.

Way to go! When it comes to eating right, you realize BALANCE is the key word! Fruits and veggies are good for you, but if that’s all you eat, you might not get enough important nutrients like protein, calcium and iron. You can get these nutrients in foods like low-fat yogurt, cheese, lean and low-fat meat and milk. Plus, if you only ate fruits and veggies, it would be hard to get all the calories you need to keep you going throughout the day.

Nope, try again. It actually depends on how much energy you burn and your metabolism. Calories equal energy! Metabolism happens in your body around the clock. It takes place in your cells and pulls the energy from the food you eat. A calorie is a measurement of energy. So, 1 calorie = 1 unit of energy. Without energy from food, your energy formula (which includes food, sleep and physical activity) is not complete. The key is to match the amount of food you eat with the amount of energy you burn. Eating too many calories (more than you burn off with physical activity) can make you gain weight.

If you get a lot of physical activity, you likely need more calories than someone who doesn’t. Because we are all different in size and shape, we all burn calories at different rates. Ask your mom, dad or doctor what could work best for you. Once you know what you should be aiming for, it’s pretty easy to track. All foods contain calorie information on their packaging.

You are correct. It actually depends on how much energy you burn and your metabolism. Calories equal energy! Metabolism happens in your body around the clock. It takes place in your cells and pulls the energy from the food you eat. A calorie is a measurement of energy. So, 1 calorie = 1 unit of energy. Without energy from food, your energy formula (which includes food, sleep and physical activity) is not complete. The key is to match the amount of food you eat with the amount of energy you burn. So, eating too many calories (more than you burn off with physical activity) can make you gain weight.

If you get a lot of physical activity, you likely need more calories than someone who doesn’t. Because we are all different in size and shape, we all burn calories at different rates. Ask your mom, dad or doctor what could work best for you. Once you know what you should be aiming for, it’s pretty easy to track. All foods contain calorie information on their packaging.

Think again. Caffeine is a chemical that is found in lots of foods we eat and liquids we drink. It is in tea, coffee, chocolate and soda. You can’t taste caffeine, but if you get too much, you might feel it in the form of a headache, tummy ache and jumpiness/nervous sensations. All of this stuff can happen if you have a lot of sugar too! It is super easy to just grab a pastry or fruit drink in the morning. But eating too much sugar will ultimately make you feel tired and run-down. Caffeine and sugar can also make it hard to fall asleep, even hours after downing your favorite soda!

If you rely on it to get going every morning, that’s a sign that something else in your energy equation might be off-balance. Are you going to bed later than usual? Have less time for physical activity? Then make some changes until you wake up refreshed, not drained. For more tips on getting serious shut-eye, check out SLEEP.

You got it! Caffeine is a chemical that is found in lots of foods we eat and liquids we drink. It is in tea, coffee, chocolate and soda. You can’t taste caffeine, but if you get too much, you might feel it in the form of a headache, tummy ache and jumpiness/nervous sensations. All of this stuff can happen if you have a lot of sugar too! It is super easy to just grab a pastry or fruit drink in the morning. But eating too much will ultimately make you feel tired and run-down. Caffeine and sugar can also make it hard to fall asleep, even hours after downing your favorite soda!

If you rely on caffeine or sugar to get going every morning, that’s a sign that something else in your energy equation might be off-balance. Are you going to bed later than usual? Have less time for physical activity? Then make some changes until you wake up refreshed, not drained. For more tips on getting serious shut-eye, check out SLEEP.