Session Objectives
      By the end of the session, participants should be 
      able to:
      • Define common nutrition terms
      • Explain the importance of adequate nutrition for 
        health
      • Describe essential nutrients needed by the body 
        and their roles
      • Identify food sources of specific nutrients
                      Integrating Nutrition Assessment, Counselling, and Support into Health 
                      Service Delivery                          2
    Key Nutrition-Related Terms
     Brainstorm: What do these terms mean to you?
     
       Nutrition
     
       Food 
     
       Nutrients
        oMacronutrients
        oMicronutrients
     
       Energy
     
       Balanced/nutritious diet 
                     Integrating Nutrition Assessment, Counselling, and Support into Health 
                     Service Delivery                         3
     Key Nutrition-Related Terms
     Nutrition is a process by which food and drink is 
        taken, digested, absorbed, and used by the body 
        for physical activity, growth, development, and 
        health.
     Food is any substance (solid, semi-solid, or liquid) 
        taken into the body to provide one or more 
        nutrients.
                      Integrating Nutrition Assessment, Counselling, and Support into Health 
                      Service Delivery                            4
    Key Nutrition-Related Terms
      Nutrients are nourishing substances needed by the 
        body for physical activity, growth, development, 
        and health. They include:
        o Macronutrients: needed in large quantities and provide energy. 
           Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins are macronutrients.
        o Micronutrients: needed by the body in very small amounts. Vitamins and 
           minerals are micronutrients.
                     Integrating Nutrition Assessment, Counselling, and Support into Health 
                     Service Delivery                          5
    Key Nutrition-Related Terms
      Energy, measured in kilocalories (kcal), is required for all functions of the 
      body. The body gets energy through consumption of macronutrients. 
      A balanced or nutritious diet is a combination of foods that provides the 
      energy and nutrients the body needs in the right amounts to maintain health, 
      growth, and development.
                    Integrating Nutrition Assessment, Counselling, and Support into Health 
                    Service Delivery                      6