Fruit & Vegetables
Science: Year 3 & 4 National Curriculum, topic 2.1.6
Fruit and Vegetables
Fruit and vegetables are a food group. Fruit and vegetables are a source of vitamins and minerals.
Vitamins and minerals
- Vitamins and minerals are chemicals essential for keeping healthy.
- Not getting enough vitamins and minerals can lead to disease.
Diseases
- Scurvy is an example of a disease caused by a lack of a vitamin.
- Scurvy is caused by a lack of vitamin C.
- Sailors used to get scurvy because they did not have enough fresh fruit and vegetables on long journeys.
- Sailors solved the lack of fresh fruit and vegetables by taking barrels of lemons and limes on board.
A balanced diet
- A child’s balanced diet will contain plenty of fruit and vegetables.
- The recommended amount for a healthy diet is 5 to 7 servings of fruit and vegetables per day.
Servings of fruit or vegetables
- Examples of one serving of fruit or vegetables are:
- A banana.
- An apple.
- A handful of grapes.
- Three tablespoons of peas, carrots or cabbage.
- A bowl of salad.
Test yourself on Fruit & Vegetables
How many servings of fruit and vegetables should children eat in a balanced diet?