Food Groups

Jaggery contains iron which is important for the formation of Red Blood Cells, which refined sugar lacks

Step 1: Both jaggery and refined sugar belong to the 'Fats and Sugar' food group and primarily provide carbohydrates. Step 2: However, the chapter explicitly states: 'jaggery is better than sugar because jaggery contains iron.' Step 3: Iron is an essential mineral for the formation of Red Blood Cells (RBC) in our body. Deficiency of iron causes anaemia. Step 4: Refined white sugar is processed and loses most of its mineral content during refining, so it provides only empty calories (carbohydrates). Step 5: Option A is incorrect — both provide similar amounts of carbohydrates. Option C is wrong

Soft well-cooked khichri with steamed vegetables and curd

Step 1: The chapter discusses 'Age' as a key factor in meal planning. Step 2: For elderly (old) people, the chapter recommends: soft and easy-to-digest food in small quantity; soft and well-cooked high fibre meal. Step 3: Khichri is a soft, well-cooked dish made from rice (cereal) and dal (pulse) — it is easy to digest and provides complementary protein. Steamed vegetables add fibre and vitamins. Curd provides calcium and is easy to digest. Step 4: Option A is wrong — fried puri and gulab jamun are high-fat, hard-to-digest foods, inappropriate for elderly. Step 5: Option C may seem healthy but

The rickshaw puller requires more carbohydrates and proteins because physical labour demands more energy and muscle repair

Step 1: The chapter identifies 'Occupation' as a key factor affecting meal planning. Step 2: People who do heavy manual work — like labourers, rickshaw pullers, farmers, and sports persons — expend much more energy than those in sedentary occupations. Step 3: The chapter states: 'people like labourers, rickshaw pullers, sports persons and farmers do more manual work...so they require more carbohydrates and proteins.' Step 4: Carbohydrates provide energy for physical work, and proteins are needed for muscle repair after heavy physical activity. Step 5: Option A is a common misconception — vitam

Fats and sugar

Step 1: The five food groups are: (1) Cereals and grains, (2) Pulses and legumes, (3) Milk, egg and meat products, (4) Fruits and vegetables, (5) Fats and sugar. Step 2: Let us map each item — Chapati = Cereals (Group 1) ✓; Arhar dal = Pulses (Group 2) ✓; Paneer curry = Milk products (Group 3) ✓; Potato-beans sabji + tomato salad = Vegetables (Group 4) ✓. Step 3: After checking all five groups, Group 5 (Fats and sugar) has NO representative food item in this meal. Step 4: In a traditional Indian thali, oil or ghee used for cooking or a small amount of sugar/jaggery usually represents this grou