Body-building foods

After energy, Dr Poshita moves on to proteins. Protein-rich foods help the body grow and repair itself: when you scrape your knee, proteins help build new skin. That is why they are called body-building foods.

Growing children need the right amount of protein to grow properly. Sportspersons need more protein, to build their muscles.

We get proteins from plants as well as animals:

• Plant sources: pulses, beans, peas and nuts, such as gram, moong, tuar dal, kidney beans (rajma) and soya bean. Edible mushrooms, which grow mostly in dark, damp places, are good sources too.
• Animal sources: milk, paneer, egg, fish and meat.

Find the odd one out: kidney beans, green gram, soya bean, rice. The first three are pulses and beans, rich in protein. Rice is a cereal, a source of carbohydrates. So rice is the odd one out.