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Mindful Eating: A Path to a Healthy Body – Class 6 Science notes, important questions and MCQs

NCERT Class 6 Science, chapter 3. Notes, key terms, important questions with answers and MCQs.

Chapter overview

A balanced diet gives the body all the nutrients it needs in the right amounts. Eating mindfully and avoiding junk food keep us healthy.

Nutrients

Carbohydrates and fats give energy (rice, wheat, ghee); proteins build the body (pulses, eggs, milk).
Vitamins and minerals protect against diseases (fruits, vegetables); water and fibre help digestion.
Tests: iodine turns blue-black with starch; copper sulphate + caustic soda turns violet with protein; fat leaves an oily patch on paper.

Healthy habits

Balanced diet includes all nutrients; India's millets (ragi, bajra, jowar) are very nutritious.
Deficiency diseases: scurvy (vitamin C), rickets (vitamin D), night blindness (vitamin A), goitre (iodine), anaemia (iron).
Eat slowly, avoid wasting food, limit oily, salty and sugary snacks.

Key terms

Nutrient: substance in food that the body needs
Balanced diet: diet with all nutrients in the right amounts
Roughage: dietary fibre that helps bowel movement

Formulas

Starch + iodine → blue-black

Important questions with answers

Name two sources each of carbohydrates and proteins.2 marks

Carbohydrates: rice, wheat (also potato). Proteins: pulses (dal), eggs (also milk, paneer).

What is roughage? Why is it important even though it gives no energy?3 marks

Roughage (dietary fibre) is the part of plant food we cannot digest, found in whole grains, fruits and vegetables. It helps food move smoothly through the intestines and prevents constipation.

What is a balanced diet? Name three deficiency diseases with their cause and one food that prevents each.5 marks

A balanced diet has all nutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals), roughage and water in the right amounts. Scurvy (bleeding gums) – lack of vitamin C – citrus fruits like amla and orange. Rickets (soft, bent bones) – lack of vitamin D – milk, eggs and sunlight. Anaemia (weakness, pale skin) – lack of iron – green leafy vegetables and jaggery.

Quick revision

Proteins are body-building foods.
Vitamin C prevents scurvy.
Fibre prevents constipation.

Exam tips

Learn each vitamin with its deficiency disease.
Millets need less water to grow and are rich in minerals.

Practice MCQs

Which food is rich in protein?
1. rice
2. sugar
3. pulses (dal)
4. oil
Show answer
Answer: (c) pulses (dal). Body-building.
Iodine solution turns blue-black with
1. protein
2. fat
3. starch
4. vitamin
Show answer
Answer: (c) starch. Starch test.
Rickets is caused by lack of
1. vitamin A
2. vitamin C
3. iron
4. vitamin D
Show answer
Answer: (d) vitamin D. Weak bones.
Which helps in bowel movement?
1. fat
2. salt
3. sugar
4. roughage
Show answer
Answer: (d) roughage. Fibre.
Iodine test turns starch
1. red
2. yellow
3. blue-black
4. green
Show answer
Answer: (c) blue-black. Test for starch.
A paper becomes translucent when rubbed with a food. The food contains
1. starch
2. protein
3. fat
4. water only
Show answer
Answer: (c) fat. Oily patch.
Why are millets called nutri-cereals?
1. they are sweet
2. they are rich in minerals and fibre
3. they need a lot of water
4. they are imported
Show answer
Answer: (b) they are rich in minerals and fibre. High nutrition.
Night blindness is caused by lack of
1. vitamin C
2. vitamin D
3. vitamin A
4. iron
Show answer
Answer: (c) vitamin A. Vitamin A.

All chapters of Class 6 Science

Written by Kundali IQ from standard, well-established facts to help with revision. This is not an official NCERT publication; always read your textbook too.