NCERT Class 10 Health and Physical Education Health and Physical Education: Chapter 9 — Dietary Considerations and
This chapter from NCERT Class 10 Health and Physical Education focuses on 'Dietary Considerations and Food Quality'. It emphasizes that food is essential for nourishment and optimal fitness requires careful dietary planning. The lesson highlights that while taste and appearance are considered, the nutritive value and quality of food are paramount. It delves into dietary planning as a process to ensure adequate nutrition within available resources, considering individual variations in age, sex, activity level, and physiological state. The chapter also touches upon factors affecting food choices, such as age-specific needs, gender differences in nutritional requirements, energy demands based on physical activity, and the increased needs during physiological states like pregnancy. The importance of selecting appropriate foods to prevent health issues like anemia and obesity is also discussed, aiming to guide students towards healthier eating habits.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 10 |
| Subject | Health and Physical Education |
| Book | Health and Physical Education |
| Chapter | Chapter 9 — Dietary Considerations and |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 4 minutes |
| Word count | 685 |
Learning outcomes
- Understand the importance of dietary planning for health and fitness.
- Identify factors affecting nutritional requirements (age, gender, activity, physiological state).
- Recognize the significance of food quality and nutritive value.
- Make informed food choices for a balanced diet.
- Appreciate the role of diet in preventing health issues.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Nourishment | The food needed to keep a person or animal alive and healthy. |
| Optimal | Best or most favorable. |
| Nutritive | Having the qualities of food; nourishing. |
| Adulteration | The process of making something poorer in quality by adding another substance. |
| Spoilage | The process of decaying or becoming unfit for consumption. |
| Indiscriminate | Without careful thought or judgment; unselective. |
| Physiological | Relating to the way in which living things function. |
| Adolescents | Young people who are developing into adults. |
| Menstruation | The monthly shedding of the lining of the uterus. |
| Anemia | A condition in which there is a lack of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood. |
| Sedentary | Involving little physical activity. |
| Lactation | The secretion of milk by the mammary glands. |
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Practice questions
- What is dietary planning and why is it important? Answer: Dietary planning is the process of developing meal plans for adequate nutrition within available resources. It is important for staying healthy and fit, saving energy, time, and money, adding variety to meals, and reducing wastage.
- List four factors that affect food choices and nutritional requirements. Answer: The factors are age, gender, physical activity, and physiological state.
- Why do adolescents need extra nourishment? Answer: Adolescents grow at a fast pace and are active, so they need extra nourishment to support their growth and energy expenditure.
- Explain why females may need more iron than males. Answer: Females need more iron due to potential blood loss during menstruation, which puts them at a higher risk of iron deficiency or anemia.
- How does physical activity influence energy and nutrient requirements? Answer: Higher physical activity requires more energy and nutrients to support the body's demands, while sedentary jobs require less.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main goal of dietary planning?
The main goal of dietary planning is to ensure adequate nutrition within available resources while making meals enjoyable, satisfying, and healthy.
How does age affect dietary needs?
Dietary needs change with age; infants need milk, adolescents need extra nourishment for growth, and elders may need softer, easily digestible foods.
What is a key nutritional difference between genders?
Females often need more iron than males due to blood loss during menstruation.
How does physical activity impact food requirements?
Higher physical activity increases the need for energy and nutrients compared to sedentary jobs.
What physiological states increase food and nutrient demands?
Physiological states like infancy, childhood, adolescence, pregnancy, and lactation impose higher demands due to increased growth and development.
Why is food quality as important as nutritive value?
Both nutritive value and quality of food need attention to ensure health and fitness, preventing issues like spoilage and adulteration.
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NCERT Class 10 Health and Physical Education — Health and Physical Education — Chapter 9 — Dietary Considerations and. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.