How do we get energy from food and drink?
Cars cannot drive without petrol and planes cannot fly without fuel. Our bodies are no different, they need energy too.
In this article you can learn:
- how much energy we get from food
- the difference between fast releasing and slow releasing foods
- different kinds of sugar in food
This resource is suitable for Health and Wellbeing for primary school learners.
Video - Food as fuel
In this video, different kinds of food are running a race to find out which food is a good energy source. Learn about how different foods fuel our bodies in different ways.
Find out how different foods provide us with energy.
THE GREAT SPOON Ladies and gentlemen, knives and forks, a very warm welcome to this year’s energy race! All food releases energy - some quickly, some slowly. Let’s put this grub to the test! Joining me in the commentary box today is Masher. How are you doing Masher?
MASHER I’m excellent thank you, pal. This is an exciting race.
THE GREAT SPOON Yes, indeed. Everything in a human body uses up energy: from running to breathing to sleeping! To be healthy they need to put into their body the same amount of energy that they use up.
MASHER Fast releasing energy foods give humans a quick boost. Slow releasing energy foods are even better as they provide humans with energy for longer.
THE GREAT SPOON The best way to tell who is a fast releasing food and who is a slow releasing food is to make everyone race! Let’s see who has the energy to keep going!
MASHER In lane 1, we have Pineapple, a huge unit ripe for the challenge. In lane 2, Egg is ready to barrell down the track.
THE GREAT SPOON In lane 3, Sweet Potato looms large. In lane 4, at a massive 240 calories, it’s Chocolate Bar. And lastly in lane 5, hoping he doesn’t slip on his own skin, it’s Banana!
MASHER Let’s race down the kitchen table! Are you ready, food?
ALL CHEER
THE GREAT SPOON On your marks,
MASHER Get set
THE GREAT SPOON Go!
MASHER And they’re off, Chocolate Bar is already zooming ahead! But will he be able to keep it up?
CHOCOLATE BAR Wheeeeeee! Look at me go!
THE GREAT SPOON Remember, it’s not about speed, it’s about how long you can keep going. I’m worried Chocolate Bar is going to use up all his energy!
MASHER Pineapple is not too far behind Chocolate Bar. Maybe she can pace herself better.
THE GREAT SPOON Going at their own gentle paces are Egg, Banana and Sweet Potato.
CHOCOLATE BAR Feeling… quite… tired…
MASHER Oh! And would you look at that! Chocolate Bar has dropped out! Looks like he’s used up all his energy!
THE GREAT SPOON Oh, and Pineapple is out too! Just couldn’t keep it up.
MASHER They are high in sugar which gives a big burst of energy but doesn’t keep people going for a long time.
CHOCOLATE BAR So we’re just as good as each other?
PINEAPPLE We both have lots of sugar energy, but I’m healthier – I’ve got lots of vitamins too.
CHOCOLATE BAR IS OUT OF BREATH
THE GREAT SPOON Sweet Potato is plodding along in her own merry way. She’s a complex carbohydrate who takes longer to digest. So she releases energy very slowly.
SWEET POTATO WHISTLES
MASHER And just like that, Banana has used up all his energy and he’s out of the race.
BANANA PANTING
THE GREAT SPOON Egg and Sweet Potato are battling it out for the top spot. That’s the powerful protein in eggs, pushing him through.
MASHER He’s struggling, he’s struggling, and Sweet Potato hasn’t even broken a sweat.
THE GREAT SPOON And with that, Egg is out of the race and Sweet Potato is the winner!
SWEET POTATO Yeah!
MASHER Congratulations, Sweet Potato. You release energy the slowest helping power people through the day!
PINEAPPLE But wait a minute, me and Chocolate Bar were the fastest!
MASHER At first, yes. When food is eaten it is broken down which releases the energy inside it and powers the human. Some foods release their calories slowly and some do it quickly.
CHOCOLATE BAR And that’s why I lost?
THE GREAT SPOON Exactly!
BANANA So… humans should only eat sweet potatoes?
MASHER AND THE GREAT SPOON Oh Banana!
THE GREAT SPOON Humans should eat a mix of different foods! Starchy carbohydrates are a great way for humans to get energy to keep them going longer, but you are all valuable and give humans lots of energy! In fact, you all get medals!!
ALL CHEER
Why do we need energy?
Everything we do uses energy. Our bodies need it to move, think and grow.
Click through the slideshow to see examples of things we need energy for.
Image caption, Walking to school
Our bodies need fuel to walk to and from school so it's important we eat a healthy varied diet to help power those steps. (RayArt Graphics / Alamy Stock Photo)
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Where do we get energy from?
- We get this energy from food and drinks.
- All food releases energy when its eaten and digested.
- The way our body is fuelled is different depending on what we eat.
- Fast releasing foods, like grapes or jelly sweets, give us an instant quick burst of energy that does not last for long.
- Slow releasing foods, like porridge or wholemeal bread, release energy gradually throughout the day.
Interesting words about energy from food
- Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. – This is what our bodies need to move, think and grow.
- Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. – A nutrient that makes our bodies strong and healthy.
- Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - A calorie is a unit of energy. Just as we could measure length in centimetres, energy contained in food is measured in calories.
- Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. – A group of healthy foods that release energy slowly. They take longer to digest so they help make your tummy feel fuller for longer. For example, brown rice, sweet potatoes and green peas are all complex carbohydrates.
What is sugar?
- Sugar comes from plants and often makes food taste sweeter.
- It gives our bodies a big burst of energy.
- It can be found naturally in fruits and vegetables or it can be processed, like the sugar granules some people add to their tea or coffee.
- Although some fruits, like grapes or bananas, are full of natural sugars, they are also full of vitamins, minerals and fibre unlike sweeties.
To be healthy we need a wide variety of food in our diets as they all provide us with different things.
Complex carbohydrates are great for slow release energy but fast releasing energy foods like fruit give us vitamins. It is all about balance.
Test your knowledge
Question - Archie's breakfast
Archie is six, which breakfast would prepare him for a busy day at school?
Option two would give Archie more energy for a busy day at school.
Option 1 – Quick release food
- For breakfast Archie eats a big bowl of sugary cereal and a glass of orange juice.
- He gets an instant burst of energy from all the sugar in his breakfast. He walks quickly to school, runs around the playground full of energy, and talks to all his friends.
- By the time Archie is getting settled in class to write a story he is feeling a little tired. His tummy is rumbling he is desperate for snack time.
- He has used up all his energy as his breakfast did not contain complex carbohydrates.
Option 2 – Slow release food
- For breakfast Archie eats a big bowl of porridge and has a glass of milk.
- This breakfast is low in sugar and high in complex carbohydrate so its energy is released slowly over the morning.
- By the time Archie is writing his story he still has energy and does not have a hungry tummy waiting for snack time.
Quiz
Challenge
- Choose three foods you can find in your kitchen.
- Imagine you were running a race.
- Which out of the three foods would give you the most energy to run the race?
- Remember you will need slow releasing energy to finish the race.
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