NCERT Solutions for Class 3 EVS Chapter 08 Food We Eat

Question 1. Draw pictures of your favourite homemade food dishes and name them.
Answer: Here is a drawing of my favorite homemade dishes, which are hot chapatis and yellow dal: In simple words: This drawing shows a fresh chapati and a small bowl of yellow dal served on a plate.

Exam Tip: Draw simple, recognizable foods like rotis or a rice bowl, and label them with clear names to score full marks.

Question 2. Share your reasons for why you like the food items you have drawn. We all like to eat and drink different things. Some of these food items are sweet, some are sour, some are spicy and some are bitter. We eat fruits, we eat vegetables and we eat rice, dal or roti. We drink milk, lassi or juice. Have you wondered why we eat and drink?
Answer:
* Rice and Dal: It is a very simple and healthy meal. Fluffy rice and warm dal go together perfectly to give us energy and make us feel full.
* Chapati and Sabji: It is a tasty dish with many healthy vegetables. The soft chapati goes well with different spicy or savory vegetable curries.
* Paneer Butter Masala: I love this because it is rich, creamy, and full of flavor. The soft paneer cubes in the sweet and sour tomato sauce taste delicious.
* Why we eat and drink: We eat food because our bodies need power to run, play, and study. Clean water, milk, and juices keep us hydrated and strong. Eating a mix of good foods protects us from getting sick.
In simple words: We eat different foods because they taste good and give our bodies the energy to play and stay healthy.

Exam Tip: Always describe the taste (like sweet or savory) and the health benefit of your favorite foods when sharing your reasons.

Question 3. Talk to the elders in your family and discuss in the class: Why do we need to eat and drink?
Answer:
* Gives us Energy: Food gives us the power to run, study, and play all day. Without food, we would feel very weak and sleepy.
* Helps us Grow: Eating different kinds of healthy foods helps our bodies grow taller and stronger.
* Keeps us Healthy: Eating fruits and green vegetables acts like a shield. It protects our bodies from catching colds and getting sick.
* Keeps us Hydrated: Water and clean juices help our body digest food and keep everything inside working smoothly.
In simple words: We must eat and drink to get daily energy, grow taller, and stay safe from sickness.

Exam Tip: Group your points into clear, simple benefits like "Energy," "Growth," and "Health" to write a neat answer.

Question 4. Why do we need to eat healthy food?
Answer: We must eat healthy food to get the right vitamins to stay strong, grow, and avoid getting sick. Healthy items like fresh fruits, green vegetables, grains, and milk give us brainpower to focus in school. This balanced diet keeps us active and happy every day.
In simple words: Eating healthy food keeps our bones strong, helps us study well, and protects us from falling sick.

Exam Tip: Use the term "balanced diet" and explain that it means eating a mix of vegetables, fruits, and grains.

Question 5. Tick the food items you eat regularly from the pictures given below. Which foods above do you think should be part of a balanced diet?
Answer:
* The items we should check for eating regularly are: Vegetables (✓), Salads (✓), Fruits (✓), Rice (✓), Dal (✓), Roti (✓), Milk (✓), and Lassi (✓).
* The foods that should be part of our daily balanced diet are fresh vegetables, salads, colorful fruits, rice, dal, rotis, and milk. These foods give us the vitamins, minerals, and proteins our bodies need to stay fit and healthy.
In simple words: A balanced diet should have vegetables, fruits, rotis, rice, and milk. We should avoid eating sweets and oily snacks every day.

Exam Tip: Remember that junk foods like sweets and oily snacks should not be ticked as part of a healthy, balanced diet.

Question 6. Make a list of fruits and vegetables available and special food items that are prepared in the summer and in the winter.
Answer: Here is the list of seasonal fruits, vegetables, and special foods:

In simple words: We eat cool fruits like watermelon in summer, and warm foods like hot soups and carrot halwa in winter.

Exam Tip: Memorize at least three summer items and three winter items for fruits, vegetables, and special drinks.

Question 7. Name these drinks in your language.
Answer: Here are the names of common summer drinks in Hindi and other regional languages:
* Tender Coconut Water:
* Hindi: नारियल पानी (Nariyal Pani)
* Bengali: ডাবের জল (Daber Jol)
* Telugu: కొబ్బరి నీళ్ళు (Kobbari Neellu)
* Mango Juice:
* Hindi: आम का रस (Aam Ka Ras)
* Bengali: আমের রস (Aamer Rosh)
* Telugu: మామిడి జ్యూస్ (Mamidi Juice)
* Aam Panna:
* Hindi: आम पन्ना (Aam Panna)
* Bengali: কাঁচা আমের শরবত (Kancha Aamer Sharbat)
* Orange Juice:
* Hindi: संतरे का रस (Santre Ka Ras)
* Telugu: నారింజ జ్యూస్ (Narinja Juice)
* Lime Water:
* Hindi: नींबू पानी (Nimbu Pani)
* Bengali: লেবুর জল (Lebur Jol)
* Telugu: నిమ్మకాయ నీళ్ళు (Nimmakaya Neellu)
In simple words: We call fresh summer drinks by beautiful names in our native languages, like Nariyal Pani and Nimbu Pani.

Exam Tip: Be sure to write the Hindi names clearly, as they are very commonly asked in environmental studies worksheets.

Question 8. How often do you drink water?
Answer: I drink water many times throughout the day to stay fresh and active. It is best to drink water whenever we feel thirsty, after running or playing, after meals, and when the weather is hot. I try to drink at least 4 to 6 small glasses of water every day.
In simple words: We should drink water several times a day, especially after playing, to keep our bodies healthy.

Exam Tip: Mention a specific number of glasses (like 4 to 6 glasses) to show that you understand how much water kids need.

Question 9. Where does food come from?
Answer: Our food comes from three main places:
* Plants: We get delicious fruits, green vegetables, grains like rice and wheat, and crunchy nuts from plants.
* Animals: Animals give us healthy foods like milk, eggs, honey, and meat.
* Natural Resources: Some daily items, like salt, come from natural places like seawater or salt mines.
In simple words: Most of our food comes from plants and animals, while salt comes from seawater.

Exam Tip: Name the two main sources of food (plants and animals) and give one example of food from each source.

Question 10. Do you know which foods are grown in the fields? Write a few names of such crops. Discuss and write down in what form some of these foods are cooked.
Answer:
* Crops grown in fields: Wheat, Rice, Corn, Barley, Sugarcane, Potatoes, and Tomatoes.
* Forms in which they are cooked:
* Wheat:
* Chapati: A soft, flat bread rolled out and cooked on a hot pan.
* Bread: Baked slices made from wheat flour.
* Pasta: Dried wheat shapes boiled in water.
* Rice:
* Boiled Rice: Grains boiled in water until soft.
* Fried Rice: Stir-fried in a pan with chopped vegetables.
* Rice Pudding (Kheer): Rice cooked slowly with sweet milk and sugar.
* Corn:
* Corn on the Cob: Whole corn boiled or roasted on a fire.
* Popcorn: Fluffy popped kernels heated until they burst open.
* Barley:
* Barley Soup: Healthy soup made with boiled barley grains.
* Barley Porridge: A warm, healthy breakfast cereal.
* Sugarcane:
* White Sugar: Sweet crystals used to make tea or desserts.
* Jaggery (Gur): Sweet, dark blocks of unrefined sugar.
* Potatoes:
* Mashed Potatoes: Boiled potatoes mashed up with a little butter.
* Fries: Long potato strips fried in hot oil.
* Potato Curry: Spicy potato gravy served with rotis.
* Tomatoes:
* Tomato Soup: A warm, smooth soup made from red tomatoes.
* Tomato Sauce: A thick red spread used on pizzas.
In simple words: Farmers grow crops like wheat, rice, and potatoes in fields. We cook these ingredients in many different ways, like turning wheat into chapatis or baking potatoes.

Exam Tip: Give examples of how one basic crop (like wheat or rice) can be turned into three different foods.

Question 11. We eat different parts of plants. Some examples are given below. Put a tick (✓) against the items that you eat.
Answer: Here are the parts of plants we eat regularly:
* Leaves we eat: Spinach (✓), Cabbage (✓), Coriander (✓)
* Fruits we eat: Guava (✓), Apple (✓), Mango (✓)
* Roots we eat: Carrot (✓), Radish (✓)
* Stems we eat: Potatoes (✓), Ginger (✓), Onion (✓)
* Seeds we eat: Grains (✓), Pulses (✓), Dry fruits (✓)
In simple words: We eat different parts of plants, such as spinach leaves, carrot roots, potato stems, and apple fruits.

Exam Tip: Remember that carrots are roots, potatoes are underground stems, and spinach is the leaf part of a plant.

Question 12. Would you share your food with your friend if your friend does not bring lunch?
Answer: Yes, I would happily share my tiffin with my friend if they forgot their lunch. Sharing food is a very kind thing to do and shows we care. It makes lunchtime fun for everyone and helps us make closer friends.
In simple words: We should always share our food with friends who forget their lunch because sharing is caring.

Exam Tip: Sharing is an important value; explain that sharing makes friends feel included and happy during lunch.

Question 13. Why do we need different kinds of food?
Answer: We need different kinds of food because our bodies need many types of fuel to work. For example, some foods give us quick energy, some help build our muscles, and others protect us from catchable illnesses.
In simple words: No single food has all the vitamins we need. Eating different foods keeps our whole body strong.

Exam Tip: Explain that a healthy body needs different nutrients (like vitamins, proteins, and energy-givers) which come from different foods.

Question 14. Why do we eat seasonal foods?
Answer: We eat seasonal foods because they are fresher, taste much better, and cost less. Eating fruits when they grow naturally is healthier and helps local farmers sell their crops.
In simple words: Seasonal fruits and vegetables are fresh, cheap, and have more vitamins because they grow in their favorite weather.

Exam Tip: Mention that seasonal foods are fresher and better for the environment because they do not have to be shipped from far away.

Question 15. How can you tell if a food is healthy or unhealthy?
Answer: Healthy foods are fresh and full of vitamins, like whole fruits, vegetables, and milk. Unhealthy foods often have too much sugar, salt, oil, or artificial colors, like chips, candy, and soda.
In simple words: Healthy food comes from nature and keeps us fit. Unhealthy food is usually processed with too much sugar and oil.

Exam Tip: Use examples of healthy foods (like fruits and vegetables) and unhealthy foods (like chips and sweets) to show the difference.

Question 16. Why is it important to avoid wasting food? Can you think of some ways to reduce food waste at home?
Answer: It is wrong to waste food because it takes a lot of hard work, water, and soil to grow it. Wasting food also means we throw away things that hungry people could eat.
Ways to save food at home:
1. Cook only what you can eat.
2. Put leftover food in the fridge to keep it fresh.
3. Take small portions on your plate so you finish it all.
4. Turn fruit peels and food scraps into compost for garden plants.
In simple words: We must respect food and not waste it. We can save food by taking small portions and keeping leftovers in the fridge.

Exam Tip: List at least two practical rules for saving food at home, like using smaller plates or preserving leftovers in the fridge.

Question 17. List the fruits and vegetables eaten in your family.
Answer: Here are the common fruits and vegetables we eat in our home:
* Fruits: Apples, Bananas, Oranges, Mangoes, Grapes, Pomegranates, Papayas.
* Vegetables: Spinach, Carrots, Potatoes, Tomatoes, Onions, Cauliflower, Bell Peppers, Cabbage, Green Beans.
In simple words: My family eats a healthy mix of common fruits like apples and bananas, and fresh vegetables like potatoes and spinach.

Exam Tip: List at least four types of fruits and four types of vegetables that are commonly used in daily meals.

Question 18. Write the recipe of your favourite dish.
Answer: My favorite dish is Paneer Butter Masala. Here is how we make it:
* Ingredients: 200 grams paneer cubes, 2 tablespoons butter, 1 chopped onion, 2 tomato purees, ginger-garlic paste, cream, salt, and cumin seeds.
* Steps:
1. Melt butter in a hot pan and fry cumin seeds with ginger-garlic paste.
2. Add the chopped onions and fry them until they turn golden brown.
3. Stir in the red tomato puree and let it cook until it gets thick.
4. Toss in the soft paneer cubes and mix in some fresh cream.
5. Let it simmer for five minutes, add a pinch of salt, and serve hot with rotis.
In simple words: To make paneer butter masala, cook onions and tomatoes in butter, add soft paneer cubes, and stir in cream.

Exam Tip: Break down your recipe into two clear sections: "Ingredients" and "Steps" so it is easy to read.

Question 19. Write a name of a food item that includes both plant and animal based ingredients. For example, lassi includes yogurt/curd which is prepared from milk (animal based ingredient) and sugar which is prepared from sugarcane (a plant based ingredient).
Answer: A Paneer Sandwich is a great example of a dish made with both plant and animal ingredients:
* Animal-based ingredient: Paneer (which is made from cow's milk).
* Plant-based ingredients: Bread slices (made from wheat) and chopped vegetables (like cucumbers and tomatoes).
In simple words: A paneer sandwich has bread from wheat (plant) and paneer from cow's milk (animal).

Exam Tip: Clearly point out which ingredient comes from a plant and which comes from an animal to explain your answer fully.

Question 20. Draw three plates or thalis with various food items in your notebook. In these plates draw and label food items that you eat in the morning, afternoon and at night.
Answer: Here is a drawing of a healthy thali showing balanced food items we eat for our main meals: In simple words: This drawing shows a complete Indian meal plate with small bowls of dal, green vegetables, curd, rice, and hot rotis.

Exam Tip: When drawing a balanced plate, include different colored foods (like yellow dal and green vegetables) to show a healthy variety.

Question 21. Imagine you suddenly have a guest visiting your home. What kind of food would you serve them and why?
Answer: If a guest comes over, I would serve them a warm, tasty meal to make them feel welcome:
* Paneer Butter Masala: It is a rich, creamy curry that feels special.
* Soft Rotis and Aloo Sabji: It is very quick to make, and almost everyone loves potatoes.
* Rice and Dal: A simple, warm comfort food that fills the belly.
* Cool Curd (Yogurt): It feels refreshing alongside spicy curries.
* Sweet Gulab Jamun: A delicious sweet treat for dessert that will make them smile.
In simple words: I would serve guests a special paneer curry, rotis, aloo sabji, and sweet gulab jamun to make them feel happy.

Exam Tip: Choose foods that are both quick to cook and widely liked (like potato dishes or paneer) when writing about guest meals.