Aim: What is Nutrition- Protein?

DO NOW: What foods do you find delicious? Are they good for you? Explain why or why not.


Teacher will read. Think for a minute about the last time you went to the supermarket.
What do you remember seeing as you walked through the store?
(a) a little baby in a shopping cart pushing over a gigantic display of canned corn
(b) people with filing cabinets full of coupons
(c) a vending machine with just the prize you wanted
(d) five people all trying to reach for the last cantaloupe
(e) thousands of food packages with these words on them: "Low fat!"
"Protein enriched!""Low calorie!""FAT FREE!"
"Good source of complex carbohydrates"
"LITE - now with reduced calories!"


Protein: On the Scene!
Even though it sounds like just one substance, protein (say: pro-teen) is really a combination of many chemicals called amino (say: ah-mee-no) acids. Scientists have found 20 different amino acids in protein, and these 20 amino acids can combine in lots of ways - in fact, they have joined together to make thousands of different proteins!
Some types of amino acids are made by you, right inside your body, without you ever thinking about it or doing anything special. These are called nonessential amino acids, and there are 11 of them. And they are necessary - meaning you need them to keep your body in tip-top shape - but they are not essential as part of the food you eat. The essential amino acids - all nine of them - must come from food. No matter how hard you concentrate or how still you sit, your body won't ever make essential amino acids. That's where eating foods with protein comes in, to give your body the amino acids it needs.
Why Do We Need Protein?
This is one nutrient that's VIP - Very Important Protein! Protein is so important that your body needed it and used it even before you were born. Your body uses protein in lots of ways. Protein's biggest job is to build up, keep up, and replace the tissues in your body. Your muscles, your organs, even some of your hormones are made up mostly of protein. Making a big muscle? Taking a deep breath with your big lungs? Running down the street on your strong feet? You've got the power of protein!
Protein helps your body in other ways, too. It likes to make sure things get around by making hemoglobin, the part of red blood cells that carries oxygen to every part of your body. It even makes antibodies, the cells that fight off infection and disease. And the next time you fall off your bike and scrape your knee, call for protein to the rescue - it's what helps make your cuts and scrapes heal!
It's easy to get the protein your body needs. Protein is in tasty foods like meat, chicken, fish, eggs, and nuts. And you'll want to say, "More protein, please!" every time you eat some cheese - dairy products like cheese, milk, and yogurt are good sources of protein. And don't forget your bean - your lentil beans or peas, that is! These guys are full of protein.
Group questions to answer.
Why do we need protein?

What is an amino acid?

Where must essential amino acids come from?

Where can you find protein?