Components of Food Class 6 Questions and Answers

🥗 Components of Food Class 6 Questions and Answers

NCERT Chapter 2 with Detailed Solutions

Master Components of Food for Class 6 Science with comprehensive questions and answers covering nutrients, tests for starch, protein, fat, balanced diet, deficiency diseases, and roughage. Each answer is explained in simple, student-friendly language for CBSE exams.

📘 BACK TO ALL CHAPTERS

🥗

Components of Food — Questions & Answers

NCERT Class 6 Science Chapter 2

📘 Quick Reference: Components of Food

Food: A basic requirement for all living organisms. It provides energy for carrying out normal physiological activities [citation:1].
Nutrients: The essential components of food that provide nourishment for proper growth and development of our body [citation:15].
Major Nutrients:
- Carbohydrates: Energy-giving food. Sources: Wheat, potato, rice, bread, sugar [citation:1].
- Proteins: Body-building food. Sources: Eggs, meat, milk, pulses, soya beans [citation:1][citation:15].
- Fats: High-energy nutrients. Sources: Oil, ghee, butter, cheese, nuts [citation:1].
- Vitamins: Protective food. Sources: Fruits and vegetables [citation:1].
- Minerals: Protective food. Sources: Milk, green leafy vegetables, pulses [citation:8].
Roughage (Dietary Fibres): Does not provide nutrients but helps in easy movement of food through the digestive system. Sources: Salad, vegetables, fruits, whole grains [citation:1][citation:4].
Water: Essential for all body functions. Does not provide nutrients [citation:2].
Tests for Food Components:
- Test for Starch (Iodine Test): Add 2-3 drops of dilute iodine solution. Colour changes from brown to blue-black [citation:1][citation:5].
- Test for Proteins (Biuret Test): Add copper sulphate and caustic soda solutions. Colour changes to violet/purple [citation:1][citation:5].
- Test for Fats (Grease Spot Test): Wrap food in paper and crush. Oily patch on paper indicates fat [citation:1][citation:5].
Balanced Diet: A diet that contains all essential nutrients in the right proportion along with roughage and water for normal body functioning [citation:1][citation:3].

Deficiency Diseases: Diseases caused by lack of one or more nutrients in the diet over a long period [citation:6].

Nutrient	Deficiency Disease	Symptoms
Vitamin A	Night Blindness	Poor vision, loss of vision in darkness [citation:1][citation:6]
Vitamin B1	Beriberi	Weak muscles, little energy [citation:1][citation:6]
Vitamin C	Scurvy	Bleeding gums, wounds take longer to heal [citation:1][citation:6]
Vitamin D	Rickets	Soft, bent bones [citation:1][citation:6]
Calcium	Bone and Tooth Decay	Weak bones, tooth decay [citation:6]
Iodine	Goitre	Swollen neck (thyroid gland) [citation:6][citation:8]
Iron	Anaemia	Weakness, low red blood cells [citation:1][citation:6]

💡 Study Tip

Try simple food tests at home! Take a potato slice and add a drop of iodine solution (available at pharmacies) — it will turn blue-black, showing starch. Crush a peanut on paper — you'll see an oily patch, proving fat. For protein, you can try the Biuret test with a science teacher's help. Also, check food labels on packets — they show the nutrients present. This will help you understand the components of food in a practical way!

Question 1

What are nutrients?

✅ Answer:

Nutrients are the essential components of food that provide nourishment for proper growth and development of our body [citation:15].

Question 2

Name the major nutrients in our food.

✅ Answer:

The major nutrients are carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals [citation:16].

Question 3

Which nutrient is called energy-giving food?

✅ Answer:

Carbohydrates are called energy-giving food [citation:1].

Question 4

Which nutrient is called body-building food?

✅ Answer:

Proteins are called body-building food [citation:1].

Question 5

Name two sources of carbohydrates.

✅ Answer:

Potato and rice are two sources of carbohydrates [citation:1].

Question 6

Name two sources of proteins.

✅ Answer:

Eggs and milk are two sources of proteins [citation:1].

Question 7

Name two sources of fats.

✅ Answer:

Butter and ghee are two sources of fats [citation:1].

Question 8

Which vitamin is important for good eyesight?

✅ Answer:

Vitamin A is important for good eyesight [citation:1][citation:16].

Question 9

Which mineral is required for healthy bones and teeth?

✅ Answer:

Calcium is required for healthy bones and teeth [citation:1][citation:16].

Question 10

What is roughage?

✅ Answer:

Roughage (dietary fibres) is the indigestible part of food that helps in easy movement of food through the digestive system [citation:1][citation:4].

Question 11

What is a balanced diet?

✅ Answer:

A balanced diet is a diet that contains all essential nutrients in the right proportion along with roughage and water [citation:1][citation:10].

Question 12

What is the iodine test used for?

✅ Answer:

The iodine test is used to test for starch in food items [citation:1][citation:5].

Question 13

What colour change indicates the presence of starch?

✅ Answer:

The colour changes from brown to blue-black indicating the presence of starch [citation:1][citation:5].

Question 14

What is the test for proteins?

✅ Answer:

The test for proteins uses copper sulphate and caustic soda solutions [citation:1][citation:5].

Question 15

What colour indicates the presence of proteins?

✅ Answer:

A violet or purple colour indicates the presence of proteins [citation:1][citation:5].

Question 16

What is the test for fats?

✅ Answer:

The test for fats is the grease spot test — an oily patch on paper indicates fat [citation:1][citation:5].

Question 17

What is night blindness?

✅ Answer:

Night blindness is a deficiency disease caused by lack of Vitamin A, leading to poor vision in darkness [citation:1][citation:6].

Question 18

Which disease is caused by deficiency of Vitamin C?

✅ Answer:

Deficiency of Vitamin C causes scurvy [citation:1][citation:6].

Question 19

Which disease is caused by deficiency of Vitamin D?

✅ Answer:

Deficiency of Vitamin D causes rickets [citation:1][citation:6].

Question 20

Which mineral deficiency causes anaemia?

✅ Answer:

Deficiency of iron causes anaemia [citation:1][citation:6].

Question 21

Which mineral deficiency causes goitre?

✅ Answer:

Deficiency of iodine causes goitre [citation:6][citation:8].

Question 22

Name two foods rich in Vitamin A.

✅ Answer:

Carrots and green leafy vegetables are rich in Vitamin A.

Question 23

Name two foods rich in iron.

✅ Answer:

Green leafy vegetables and jaggery are rich in iron.

Question 24

What is the function of water in our body?

✅ Answer:

Water helps in digestion, absorption of nutrients, and removal of waste from the body.

Question 25

Why do we need a balanced diet?

✅ Answer:

We need a balanced diet for proper growth, energy, and to prevent deficiency diseases [citation:1][citation:10].

Question 26

Name two foods rich in carbohydrates.

✅ Answer:

Wheat and potato are rich in carbohydrates [citation:1].

Question 27

Name two foods rich in proteins.

✅ Answer:

Pulses and soya beans are rich in proteins [citation:8][citation:15].

Question 28

Name two foods rich in fats.

✅ Answer:

Oil and nuts are rich in fats [citation:1][citation:8].

Question 29

What is the role of roughage in our body?

✅ Answer:

Roughage helps in easy movement of food through the digestive system and prevents constipation [citation:1][citation:4].

Question 30

What is the deficiency disease caused by lack of proteins?

✅ Answer:

Lack of proteins causes kwashiorkor and marasmus [citation:11][citation:17].

Question 1

What are the major nutrients in our food? Name them and give one function of each.

✅ Answer:

The major nutrients are:

Carbohydrates: Provide energy to the body [citation:1].
Proteins: Help in growth and repair of body tissues [citation:1].
Fats: Provide energy and store excess energy [citation:1].
Vitamins: Protect the body from diseases [citation:1].
Minerals: Help in various body functions like bone health and blood formation [citation:1].

Question 2

How can you test for the presence of starch in a food item?

✅ Answer:

Iodine Test:
Take a small quantity of the food item. Put 2-3 drops of dilute iodine solution on it. If the colour changes to blue-black, it indicates the presence of starch [citation:1][citation:5].

Question 3

How can you test for the presence of proteins in a food item?

✅ Answer:

Biuret Test:
Make a paste of the food item and add water. Add 2 drops of copper sulphate solution and 10 drops of caustic soda solution. Shake well. If the colour changes to violet or purple, proteins are present [citation:1][citation:5].

Question 4

How can you test for the presence of fats in a food item?

✅ Answer:

Grease Spot Test:
Wrap a small amount of the food item in paper and crush it. Straighten the paper and dry it. If there is an oily patch on the paper, it indicates the presence of fats [citation:1][citation:5].

Question 5

What is a balanced diet? Why is it important?

✅ Answer:

A balanced diet is a diet that contains all essential nutrients in the right proportion along with roughage and water.

It is important because it ensures proper growth, provides energy, and prevents deficiency diseases [citation:1][citation:10].

Question 6

What are deficiency diseases? Give two examples.

✅ Answer:

Deficiency diseases are diseases caused by the lack of one or more nutrients in the diet over a long period [citation:6].

Examples:

Scurvy: Caused by lack of Vitamin C.
Rickets: Caused by lack of Vitamin D [citation:1][citation:6].

Question 7

Why is roughage important in our diet?

✅ Answer:

Roughage is important because:

It helps in the easy movement of food through the digestive system.
It prevents constipation.
It adds bulk to the food and gives a feeling of fullness [citation:1][citation:4].

Question 8

Name two foods each rich in carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

✅ Answer:

Carbohydrates: Potato, rice [citation:1]
Proteins: Eggs, pulses [citation:1][citation:8]
Fats: Butter, oil [citation:1]

Question 9

What are the symptoms of scurvy?

✅ Answer:

Symptoms of scurvy include:

Bleeding gums
Wounds take longer time to heal [citation:1][citation:6]

Question 10

What is anaemia? Which mineral deficiency causes it?

✅ Answer:

Anaemia is a condition characterized by weakness and low red blood cell count.

It is caused by deficiency of iron in the diet [citation:1][citation:6].

Question 11

What is goitre? How can it be prevented?

✅ Answer:

Goitre is a deficiency disease caused by lack of iodine. It results in swelling of the thyroid gland in the neck [citation:6][citation:8].

It can be prevented by using iodised salt in food [citation:2].

Question 12

What is the function of Vitamin A in our body?

✅ Answer:

Vitamin A is important for:

Maintaining good eyesight
Keeping skin healthy [citation:1]

Question 13

Why is water essential for our body?

✅ Answer:

Water is essential because:

It helps in digestion and absorption of nutrients.
It helps in removal of waste from the body.
It regulates body temperature.
It does not provide nutrients but is still essential [citation:2].

Question 14

What are the functions of proteins in our body?

✅ Answer:

Proteins are needed for:

Growth of the body
Repair of worn-out tissues
Building muscles, hair, nails, and blood [citation:1][citation:12]

Question 15

What are the functions of carbohydrates in our body?

✅ Answer:

Carbohydrates are the main energy-giving food. They provide energy for:

Daily activities
Body functions
Growth and development [citation:1]

Question 16

What are the functions of fats in our body?

✅ Answer:

Fats are needed for:

Energy — fats provide more energy than carbohydrates
Storing energy for future use
Absorption of vitamins A, D, E, and K
Protecting internal organs [citation:1][citation:4]

Question 17

What are the symptoms of night blindness?

✅ Answer:

Symptoms of night blindness include:

Poor vision in darkness
Difficulty seeing in dim light
Sometimes complete loss of vision in darkness [citation:1][citation:6]

Question 18

Why is Vitamin C easily destroyed during cooking?

✅ Answer:

Vitamin C is easily destroyed by heat and light during cooking. Therefore, foods rich in Vitamin C (like citrus fruits) should be eaten raw or lightly cooked [citation:11].

Question 19

What is the difference between energy-giving and body-building foods?

✅ Answer:

Energy-giving foods: Carbohydrates and fats provide energy for daily activities.

Body-building foods: Proteins help in growth and repair of body tissues [citation:8][citation:15].

Question 20

What is the importance of minerals in our diet?

✅ Answer:

Minerals are important because they:

Help in bone and teeth formation (calcium, phosphorus)
Help in blood formation (iron)
Regulate body functions (iodine for thyroid) [citation:1][citation:8]

Question 1

Explain the major components of food and their functions in our body.

✅ Answer:

Major Components of Food:

1. Carbohydrates:

Called energy-giving food.
Provide energy for daily activities.
Sources: Wheat, potato, rice, bread, sugar [citation:1].

2. Proteins:

Called body-building food.
Help in growth and repair of body tissues.
Build muscles, hair, nails, and blood.
Sources: Eggs, meat, milk, pulses, soya beans [citation:1][citation:15].

3. Fats:

Provide more energy than carbohydrates.
Store excess energy for future use.
Help in absorption of vitamins A, D, E, and K.
Sources: Oil, ghee, butter, cheese, nuts [citation:1].

4. Vitamins:

Protective food — help fight diseases.
Keep eyes, bones, teeth, gums, and skin healthy.
Sources: Fruits and vegetables [citation:1].

5. Minerals:

Protective food — important for body functions.
Calcium for bones, iron for blood, iodine for thyroid.
Sources: Milk, green leafy vegetables, pulses [citation:8].

6. Roughage (Dietary Fibres):

Does not provide nutrients.
Helps in easy movement of food through the digestive system.
Prevents constipation.
Sources: Salad, vegetables, fruits, whole grains [citation:1][citation:4].

7. Water:

Essential for all body functions.
Helps in digestion and removal of waste.
Does not provide nutrients [citation:2].

Question 2

Describe the tests used to detect the presence of starch, proteins, and fats in food items.

✅ Answer:

Tests for Food Components:

1. Test for Starch (Iodine Test):

Take a small quantity of the food item.
Put 2-3 drops of dilute iodine solution on it.
If the colour changes from brown to blue-black, starch is present [citation:1][citation:5].

2. Test for Proteins (Biuret Test):

Make a paste of the food item and add water.
Add 2 drops of copper sulphate solution.
Add 10 drops of caustic soda solution.
Shake well. If the colour changes to violet or purple, proteins are present [citation:1][citation:5].

3. Test for Fats (Grease Spot Test):

Wrap a small amount of food in paper.
Crush it and straighten the paper.
If there is an oily patch on the paper, fats are present [citation:1][citation:5].

Question 3

What is a balanced diet? Why is it important for good health? What are the consequences of not eating a balanced diet?

✅ Answer:

Balanced Diet:
A balanced diet is a diet that contains all essential nutrients — carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals — in the right proportion along with roughage and water [citation:1][citation:10].

Importance of Balanced Diet:

Provides energy for daily activities.
Supports growth and development.
Prevents deficiency diseases.
Keeps the immune system strong.
Maintains overall health and well-being [citation:3].

Consequences of Not Eating a Balanced Diet:

Deficiency diseases: Scurvy, rickets, night blindness, anaemia, goitre [citation:6].
Weakness and fatigue: Lack of energy.
Poor growth in children.
Obesity: Eating too much fat-rich food.
Kwashiorkor and Marasmus: Protein deficiency diseases [citation:11][citation:17].

Question 4

What are deficiency diseases? Name five deficiency diseases, their causes, and symptoms.

✅ Answer:

Deficiency Diseases:
Deficiency diseases are diseases caused by the lack of one or more nutrients in the diet over a long period [citation:6].

Five Deficiency Diseases:

1. Night Blindness:

Cause: Deficiency of Vitamin A.
Symptoms: Poor vision in darkness [citation:1][citation:6].

2. Scurvy:

Cause: Deficiency of Vitamin C.
Symptoms: Bleeding gums, wounds take longer to heal [citation:1][citation:6].

3. Rickets:

Cause: Deficiency of Vitamin D.
Symptoms: Soft and bent bones [citation:1][citation:6].

4. Anaemia:

Cause: Deficiency of iron.
Symptoms: Weakness, low red blood cells [citation:1][citation:6].

5. Goitre:

Cause: Deficiency of iodine.
Symptoms: Swollen neck (thyroid gland) [citation:6][citation:8].

Question 5

Explain the importance of roughage and water in our diet.

✅ Answer:

Importance of Roughage:
Roughage (dietary fibres) is the indigestible part of food. It is important because:

It helps in the easy movement of food through the digestive system.
It prevents constipation.
It adds bulk to the food and gives a feeling of fullness.
Sources: Salad, vegetables, fruits, whole grains [citation:1][citation:4].

Importance of Water:
Water is essential for life. It is important because:

It helps in digestion and absorption of nutrients.
It helps in removal of waste from the body.
It regulates body temperature.
It is essential for all body functions.
It does not provide nutrients but is still needed by the body [citation:2].

Question 6

What is the role of vitamins and minerals in our body? Name any five vitamins and their functions.

✅ Answer:

Role of Vitamins and Minerals:
Vitamins and minerals are protective foods. They do not provide energy but are essential for:

Keeping our body healthy.
Fighting diseases.
Maintaining normal body functions [citation:1].

Five Vitamins and Their Functions:

Vitamin A: Keeps eyes and skin healthy [citation:1].
Vitamin B1: Helps the body use energy from food [citation:1].
Vitamin C: Helps heal wounds, maintains healthy gums, fights infections [citation:1].
Vitamin D: Keeps teeth and bones healthy [citation:1].
Vitamin K: Important for blood clotting [citation:1].

Important Minerals:

Calcium: For strong bones and teeth.
Iron: For healthy blood.
Iodine: For proper thyroid function [citation:1][citation:8].

Question 7

Why is it said that "tasty food is not always nutritious"? Explain with examples.

✅ Answer:

"Tasty Food is Not Always Nutritious":

This statement means that food that tastes good may not provide all the nutrients our body needs.

Why?

Junk food like chips, burgers, and soft drinks are tasty but contain high amounts of fats, sugar, and salt with very few vitamins and minerals.
Fried foods are tasty but can lead to obesity and heart problems.
Sweets and candies are tasty but can cause tooth decay and provide empty calories.

Examples:

A burger is tasty but lacks roughage and vitamins that a balanced meal (dal, rice, vegetables) would provide.
Cold drinks are tasty but contain only sugar and water — no nutrients.
In contrast, salads and fruits may not be as tasty to some but are rich in vitamins, minerals, and roughage.

Conclusion:
We should choose food based on its nutritional value, not just taste. A balanced diet is essential for good health [citation:2].

Question 8

What are the symptoms of kwashiorkor and marasmus? How can these diseases be prevented?

✅ Answer:

Kwashiorkor:
Caused by severe protein deficiency.

Symptoms:

Swollen belly
Swelling of face, feet, and limbs
Skin problems
Slow growth
Mental delays
Diarrhoea [citation:11]

Marasmus:
Caused by deficiency of both protein and carbohydrates (Protein Energy Malnutrition).

Symptoms:

Extreme thinness
Sunken eyes
Very slow body growth
Lack of energy
Poor muscle development [citation:11][citation:17]

Prevention:

Eating a protein-rich balanced diet.
Including milk, eggs, pulses, and meat in the diet.
Government schemes like Mid-day Meal and ICDS help prevent malnutrition in children [citation:11].

Question 9

Describe the food pyramid and explain how it guides a balanced diet.

✅ Answer:

Food Pyramid:
A food pyramid is a visual guide that shows how much of each food group should be eaten for a balanced diet [citation:3].

Levels of the Food Pyramid:

Base (Bottom):

Carbohydrates — breads, pastas, rice.
Eat the most from this group — they provide energy [citation:3].

Middle:

Fruits and vegetables — rich in vitamins and minerals.
Eat moderate amounts [citation:3].

Upper Middle:

Proteins — meat, chicken, fish, beans.
Eat smaller amounts [citation:3].

Top:

Fats, oils, and sweets — high in calories but low in nutrients.
Eat the least from this group [citation:3].

How It Guides a Balanced Diet:
The food pyramid helps us understand:

Which foods to eat more of (carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables).
Which foods to eat less of (fats, sweets).
How to balance different food groups for good health.

Question 10

Why do growing children need more proteins than adults? What are the sources of proteins?

✅ Answer:

Why Growing Children Need More Proteins:
Growing children need more proteins because proteins are body-building nutrients that help in:

Growth of the body.
Repair of worn-out tissues.
Building muscles, bones, hair, nails, and blood.

Children are in a phase of rapid growth, so their bodies need more proteins than adults who have already reached their full growth [citation:4][citation:11].

Daily Protein Requirement:

Adults: About 1 gram per kilogram of body weight.
Growing children and pregnant women need more [citation:4].

Sources of Proteins:

Plant Sources:

Soya beans
Pulses (dal)
Peas
Groundnuts
Almonds [citation:8][citation:15]

Animal Sources:

Milk
Eggs
Meat
Fish
Chicken [citation:1][citation:15]

Conclusion:
A protein-rich diet is essential for growing children to ensure proper growth and development.

📘 Quick Revision: Components of Food

Nutrients: Carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, roughage, water.
Carbohydrates: Energy-giving; sources: potato, rice, wheat.
Proteins: Body-building; sources: eggs, milk, pulses.
Fats: High-energy; sources: butter, oil, nuts.
Vitamins: Protective; sources: fruits, vegetables.
Minerals: Protective; calcium for bones, iron for blood.
Roughage: Prevents constipation; sources: salad, fruits.
Starch Test: Iodine → blue-black.
Protein Test: Copper sulphate + caustic soda → violet.
Fat Test: Oily patch on paper.
Deficiency Diseases: Night blindness (Vit A), Scurvy (Vit C), Rickets (Vit D), Anaemia (Iron), Goitre (Iodine).
Balanced Diet: All nutrients in right proportion.