NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Science Chapter 03 Mindful Eating

Question 1. Pick the odd one out and give reasons:
(i) Jowar, Bajra, Ragi, Chana
(ii) Kidney beans, Green gram, Soya bean, Rice
Answer:
(i) The odd one is Chana. Jowar, Bajra, and Ragi are all types of millets, but Chana (chickpea) belongs to the pulse family.
(ii) The odd one is Rice. Kidney beans, Green gram, and Soya bean are all pulses, whereas Rice is classified as a cereal.
In simple words: Millets are one type of grain, pulses are another type. Rice is a grain too, but not a pulse like the others.

Exam Tip: When asked to find the odd one out, always group the items by their category (cereal, pulse, millets) and give the reason based on these classifications - examiners expect the category name, not just "it is different."

Question 2. Discuss traditional versus modern culinary practices in India.
Answer: Traditional cooking methods in India relied on clay stoves called chulhas and stone grinders known as sil-batta for grinding grains. Food preparation focused on using fresh ingredients that were grown locally. Modern cooking has shifted to using gas stoves and electric appliances such as electric grinders and mixers, making the process faster. Today, prepared and packaged foods are widely available, and global food styles along with fusion cooking have influenced Indian kitchens. These changes happened due to improvements in technology, better ways to transport food, access to a wider range of ingredients from different places, and changes in how people live and their time constraints.
In simple words: Long ago, Indians cooked on clay stoves and used stones to grind grain. Now we use gas and electric tools. We also eat more packaged food and try dishes from other countries.

Exam Tip: Structure your answer clearly with traditional methods in one section and modern methods in another - listing at least two examples for each shows thorough understanding. Mention at least one reason for the shift to secure full marks.

Question 3. A teacher says that good food may act as medicine. Ravi is curious about this statement and has some questions for his teacher. List at least two questions that he can ask.
Answer: Ravi could ask the following questions:
- How can food function as medicine in treating health problems?
- Can you provide examples of foods that help cure different diseases?
In simple words: You could ask what makes food act like a medicine, or what foods help stop sickness.

Exam Tip: Ensure your questions are open-ended and relate directly to the idea that food has healing properties - avoid yes/no questions and make them meaningful for class discussion.

Question 4. Not all delicious foods are necessarily healthy, while not all nutritious foods are always enjoyable. Share your thoughts along with a few examples.
Answer: Tasty but unhealthy foods include biscuits, cakes, pastries, fried chips, and samosas - these are high in sugar and unhealthy fats. Nutritious but less enjoyable foods include leafy greens like spinach and other vegetables, which contain vitamins and minerals but may not appeal to everyone's taste. Whole grains such as quinoa and brown rice are nutrient-rich and filling, yet some people prefer eating white rice or refined grains instead because they taste better or have a softer texture.
In simple words: Some yummy foods are bad for us because they have too much sugar and fat. Some healthy foods taste boring, so people don't like eating them.

Exam Tip: Always provide specific food examples for both categories - saying "some foods" is too vague. Explain why each food falls into its category (taste, nutrition, or health impact) for a complete answer.

Question 5. Medu does not eat vegetables but enjoys biscuits, noodles and white bread. He often has stomach ache and constipation. What changes should he make in his diet to get rid of these problems? Explain your answer.
Answer: Medu needs to eat more vegetables and fruits to increase his fibre intake. He should switch to whole grains like whole wheat bread and brown rice instead of eating processed foods. Healthy snacks such as nuts and seeds would be better choices than what he currently eats. Vegetables and whole grains contain dietary fibres which aid digestion and help prevent constipation. Cutting back on processed items like biscuits and white bread will also ease his stomach problems.
In simple words: Medu should eat more vegetables and whole grains because they have fibres that help his stomach work better and stop constipation.

Exam Tip: Connect the food change directly to the health problem - explain that fibre helps digestion and prevents constipation by name, as examiners look for understanding of how specific nutrients solve specific health issues.

Question 6. Reshma had trouble seeing things in dim light. The doctor tested her eyesight and prescribed a particular vitamin supplement. He also advised her to include a few food items in her diet.
(i) Which deficiency disease is she suffering from?
(ii) Which food component may be lacking in her diet?
(iii) Suggest some food items that she should include in her diet to overcome this problem (any four).
Answer:
(i) Reshma is suffering from Night blindness.
(ii) The missing food component is Vitamin A.
(iii) Reshma should eat Carrots, Sweet potatoes, Spinach, and Mangoes.
In simple words: When you can't see well in low light, it means your body needs more Vitamin A. Orange and dark green vegetables have lots of Vitamin A, so eating them helps your eyes.

Exam Tip: Always link the deficiency disease directly to the missing nutrient - in this case, low Vitamin A causes night blindness. When listing food sources, pick those rich in the nutrient and ensure you give at least the requested number of examples.

Question 7. You are provided the following:
(i) Canned fruit juice
(ii) Fresh fruit juice
(iii) Fresh fruit
Which one would you prefer and why?
Answer: The best choice is fresh fruit. Fresh fruits contain fibres and more nutrients compared to juices, which often contain added sugars and preservatives.
In simple words: Fresh fruit is better because it still has the skin and fibres. Juice has sugar added to it and less of the good stuff from the fruit.

Exam Tip: Explain why your choice is superior by comparing it to the other options on the basis of nutrition and health value - avoid simply stating a preference without reasoning.

Question 8. Gourav got a fracture in his leg. His doctor aligned the bones and put on a plaster. The doctor also gave him calcium tablets. On the second visit, the doctor gave him Vitamin D syrup along with calcium tablets. Refer to Fig. 3.5 and answer the following questions:
(i) Why did the doctor give calcium tablets to Gourav?
(ii) On the second visit, why did the doctor give Vitamin D syrup along with calcium tablets?
(iii) What question arises in your mind about the choices made by the doctor in giving the medicines?
Answer:
(i) Calcium tablets help strengthen bones and speed up the healing process of the fracture.
(ii) Vitamin D helps the body take in calcium more effectively, allowing better absorption of the mineral into the bones.
(iii) One possible question could be: "Why is Vitamin D necessary along with calcium for bone healing?"
In simple words: Calcium makes bones strong and helps them mend. Vitamin D helps your body use the calcium, so both work together.

Exam Tip: Show that you understand how nutrients work together - calcium alone is not enough without Vitamin D, which is why the doctor gave both. This synergistic relationship is what examiners test.

Question 9. Sugar is an example of carbohydrates. Sugar is tested with iodine solution but it does not change to blue-black colour. What can be a possible reason?
Answer: Sugar is a simple carbohydrate, whereas starch is a complex carbohydrate. Iodine reacts with starch to turn blue-black, but it does not react with simple carbohydrates like sugar in the same way.
In simple words: Sugar and starch are both made of carbohydrates, but they are different types. Iodine only changes colour with starch, not with simple sugars.

Exam Tip: Know the difference between simple and complex carbohydrates - this distinction is the key to answering questions about iodine tests. Mention both starch and sugar by name when explaining.

Question 10. What do you think of Raman's statement, "All starches are carbohydrates but not all carbohydrates are starches." Describe the design of an activity to test your answer.
Answer: Raman's statement means that while all starches are a type of carbohydrate, there are other carbohydrates that are not starches. To test this idea, gather samples like sugar, rice, and potatoes. Perform an iodine test by adding iodine solution to each sample. If the sample turns blue-black, it contains starch. Only starches will show this colour change, while other carbohydrates like sugar will not react the same way. This demonstrates that not all carbohydrates are starches.
In simple words: Starch is one kind of carbohydrate. There are other carbohydrates, like sugar, that are not starch. The iodine test shows the difference - it turns blue-black only with starch.

Exam Tip: When describing an activity, include the materials (samples and iodine), the procedure (what you do), and the observation (what colour change appears) - this three-part structure ensures you get marks for experimental design.

Question 11. While using iodine in the laboratory, a few drops of iodine fell on Mishti's socks and a few fell on her teacher's saree. The drops of iodine on the saree turned blue-black while the colour on the socks did not change. What can be a possible reason?
Answer: The reason the iodine drops turned blue-black on the teacher's saree but not on Mishti's socks is that the saree contains starch, which is likely used during the finishing process of the fabric. Starch reacts with iodine to produce a blue-black colour. Mishti's socks do not contain starch, so there is no colour change when iodine is applied.
In simple words: Starch is often used when finishing fabrics to make them stiff and shiny. The saree has starch, so iodine turned it blue-black. The socks don't have starch, so no colour change happened.

Exam Tip: Remember that iodine tests are not limited to food - starch is used in the textile industry too. This knowledge helps you apply the concept beyond just identifying starch in food items.

Question 12. Why are millets considered a healthy choice of food? Can eating just millets suffice for the nutritional requirements of the body? Discuss.
Answer: Millets are regarded as a healthy food choice because they are nutritious grains packed with vitamins, minerals such as iron and calcium, and dietary fibres. These nutrients support normal body functions and contribute to a balanced diet. However, eating millets alone cannot meet all the body's nutritional needs, since a balanced diet requires a variety of foods to provide all the necessary nutrients such as proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals.
In simple words: Millets are very good for you because they have many nutrients. But you can't eat only millets - you need to eat different kinds of foods to stay healthy.

Exam Tip: When asked whether one food is enough, always explain that variety is essential for a balanced diet - no single food can provide all nutrients the body requires.

Question 13. You are given a sample of a solution. How would you check the possibility of it being an iodine solution?
Answer: To check whether a given solution is iodine, perform a starch test. Take a piece of a food item known to contain starch, such as a slice of potato or bread. Place a few drops of the solution on the food item. If the solution is iodine, it will react with the starch in the food and turn blue-black. This colour change confirms the presence of iodine in the solution.
In simple words: Put a few drops of the solution on starch-containing food like potato or bread. If it turns blue-black, the solution is iodine.

Exam Tip: For identification tests, always mention what you will observe if the test is positive - the blue-black colour is the key indicator that iodine is present and has reacted with starch.