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- Difficulty
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- Time
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WorksheetYear 9Level 2 · Standard
Free Year 9 Nutrition: Nutrients, Food Tests and Energy in Food Worksheet
Students describe the jobs of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, fibre and water, and interpret the results of the iodine, Benedict's, biuret and emulsion food tests. They calculate the energy in food in kilojoules from its carbohydrate, protein and fat content, read a nutrition information panel and explain how diet affects health.
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- Year
- Year 9
- Subject
- Science
- Topic
- The Human Body
- Difficulty
- Level 2 · Standard
- Estimated time
- 40 minutes
- Curriculum
- New Zealand Curriculum
- Questions
- 15
- Answers
- Included, with working
- Format
- PDF (A4), print or complete online
Students will practise
- describing the functions of nutrients
- interpreting food test results
- calculating the energy content of food in kilojoules
- reading a nutrition information panel
- explaining links between diet and health
Curriculum: New Zealand Curriculum. We show specific outcome codes only where they have been verified against the official curriculum document.
What's next?
Completed: Nutrition: Nutrients, Food Tests and Energy in Food
How to use this worksheet
- Print the PDF or complete it on screen. Write the student's name and date at the top.
- Read the instructions for each part together before starting. Encourage working to be shown.
- Mark with the answer sheet. Use the model answers and success criteria as a guide rather than a single right answer.
- Record the score, celebrate what went well, then follow the "What's next" suggestion.
Common questions
Who is this worksheet for?
Year 9 students (typically ages 13–14) working on the human body. It is pitched at level 2 · standard.
Are the answers included?
Yes. The PDF includes a full answer sheet with model answers and success criteria where there is more than one good answer. You can also view the answers online.
How long does it take?
About 40 minutes for 15 questions. Short, regular sessions work best: two or three a week beats one long one.
Do I need to sign up to download?
No. Click Download Free PDF and it opens immediately. It is free for personal, classroom and homeschool use.
What should we do next?
Try Specialised Cells, Tissues and Organs.
Preview
Success TutoringWorksheetsYear 9 · Science · The Human BodyNutrition: Nutrients, Food Tests and Energy in Food
Name
Date
Score /
Show your working in energy calculations: grams × kJ per gram for each nutrient, then add.
Part A: Nutrients
Food provides nutrients: substances the body needs for energy, growth, repair and staying healthy. The main nutrients are carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, fibre and water.
A balanced diet contains the right amounts of each nutrient. Eating too little of a nutrient can cause a deficiency disease, while too much energy-rich food over time can lead to weight gain.
1.Match each nutrient to its main job in the body.
- Carbohydrates
- Proteins
- Fats
- Fibre
- Calcium (a mineral)
- Vitamin C
- Strong bones and teeth
- Healthy skin and gums, and helps wounds heal
- Main source of energy
- Growth and repair of cells and tissues
- Helps food move through the intestines
- Stored energy, insulation and making cell membranes
2.Which food is the best source of protein?
- ARice
- BEggs
- CButter
- DApples
3.Water is not a nutrient because it contains no energy. ☐ True ☐ False
4.Scurvy causes bleeding gums and wounds that heal slowly. Which nutrient is lacking, and name one food that would help prevent it. (answer space)
Part B: Food tests
Simple chemical tests show which nutrients a food contains. Iodine (starch): orange-brown → blue-black. Benedict's solution (sugar, needs heating): blue → green, yellow or brick red. Biuret solution (protein): blue → purple. Ethanol emulsion (fat): a cloudy white layer forms in water.
These tests are done in the school laboratory with eye protection.
5.A food sample turns blue-black when iodine solution is added. What does it contain?
- AProtein
- BStarch
- CFat
- DSugar
6.A food is heated with Benedict's solution and turns brick red. What does it contain?
- AStarch
- BProtein
- CSugar (glucose)
- DFat
7.Biuret solution is added to a sample of milk and turns from blue to purple. What does this show? (answer space)
8.Food is shaken with ethanol and then poured into water, and a cloudy white layer forms. What nutrient is present? (answer space)
9.Why must Benedict's test be done with safety glasses and a water bath rather than an open flame? (answer space)
Part C: Energy in food
The energy in food is measured in kilojoules (kJ). Each gram of carbohydrate releases about 17 kJ, each gram of protein about 17 kJ and each gram of fat about 37 kJ.
10.How much energy is released by 10 g of fat?
11.A snack contains 20 g of carbohydrate, 5 g of protein and 8 g of fat. Calculate its total energy content.
12.A breakfast cereal contains 1600 kJ per 100 g. How much energy is in a 40 g serving?
Preview — the PDF contains the full resource and answer sheet.
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- Difficulty
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- Time
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- Questions
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- Answers
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About this resource
- Created by
- Success Tutoring Science Team
- Last reviewed
- 1 October 2026
- How it was made
- Written by our team
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