Sixth Grade
Worksheets
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for your body. Simple carbohydrates are things such as sugar, white rice, and foods made from white flour. Digestion breaks them down into simple sugars. Complex carbohydrates take longer to break down into glucose, another name for sugar. Complex carbs are found in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and beans. The fiber in carbohydrates helps the digestive process. Foods made from whole grains, like oatmeal cereal and whole-wheat bread, are rich sources of complex carbohydrates. About one-fourth of your food should be carbohydrates. Get them from things like beans, brown rice, whole wheat pasta, whole grain breads, and potatoes. It is better to eat more complex carbohydrates. Doctors say that only ten percent of what you eat should come from simple carbohydrates.
To give your body the good food it needs, choose lots of fiber-rich fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Choose food and drinks that have little or no added sugar. Adding sugar adds calories but little nutrition. Eating whole fruits is better than drinking fruit juice. Your body needs the fiber found in whole foods.
