Food energy

High school (ages 12+)
Food & Cooking

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/food-energy

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the chemical energy source?Stored in the covalent bonds of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins
2. What is the primary energy extraction process?Aerobic respiration, combining macronutrients with oxygen to produce ATP
3. What is food energy and why does it matter for my body?Food energy is the chemical power stored in the bonds of the food we eat. It gives us the energy to run, jump, and play. It also helps our cells repair and grow.
4. How does my body turn food into the energy I need?The body breaks down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into smaller molecules. These molecules go through aerobic respiration, producing ATP, the cell’s energy currency. ATP then powers all our movements and body functions.

Catabolism: Metabolic pathways that break down molecules, releasing energy.
Oxidative Phosphorylation: The metabolic pathway that generates the majority of ATP during aerobic respiration.
Energy Density: The amount of energy stored per unit of mass or volume of a substance.