There are many different nutrients.We divide them into:
Macro (big) nutrients that we need in large amounts. These are:
• carbohydrates (starches, sugars and dietary fibre);
• fats - there are several kinds (see Box 4);
• proteins - there are hundreds of different proteins.
Micro (small) nutrients that we need in small amounts. There are many of these but the ones most likely to be lacking in the diet are:
• minerals - iron (see Box 6, page 19), iodine and zinc;
• vitamins - vitamin A, B-group vitamins (including folate) and vitamin C.