Question

Choose the correct option. The right meal for adolescents consists of
A) Chips, noodles, coke
B) Chapati, dal, vegetables
C) Rice, noodles, burger
D) Vegetable cutlets, chips and lemon drink

Answer 1

Hint: The right meal for all age groups (except babies) is a combination of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals in the right proportions. A shortage or insufficient intake of any one of these components can lead to deficiencies.

Complete answer:
Adolescents refer to the children at that age when they are undergoing a transition from childhood to adulthood through growth and development. This growth and development are physical, mental as well as physiological. A balanced diet, containing carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, etc. in appropriate amounts is very necessary at this age to facilitate the growth and development of children.

Carbohydrates – are energy-providing substances found in plant products in the form of starch and sugars.
Fats – are substances that provide much higher amounts of energy and are hence required in smaller amounts by our body. Fats found in plants are mono or polyunsaturated fats, while fats in animals are saturated.
Proteins – are substances that are required for building the muscles in our body and it should cover a significant portion of our meal.
Vitamins and minerals – are salts, metal and non-metal elements, organic compounds found in nature. They are also required in small amounts in our body.

Option (B) is Chapati, dal, vegetables – In this diet, we have chapati that contains starch. It also has dal i.e. pulses. Pulses contain mostly proteins and some amounts of fat. Vegetables contain vitamins, minerals and roughage. All these are essential components of a balanced diet. Thus, this option is correct.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option (B) The right meal for adolescents consists of Chapati, dal, and vegetables.

Note: The other options given in the question include chips, noodles and coke which contain excess fat, white flour and excess sugar respectively. This is very unhealthy as there is no protein or vitamins or minerals. Similarly, the third combination of ‘rice, noodles and burger’ and the fourth combination ‘vegetable cutlets, chips and lemon drink’ also contain only starch and fats.