Foods and Nutrition

Contents & notes: what this topic covers

Under Foods and Nutrition, the JAMB Home Economics syllabus expects you to study:

• 1. Foods and Nutrition a. Definition of Foods and Nutrition i. Classification of nutrients, their sources and functions, deficiency diseases ii. Classification of foods: cereals, fats and oils, milk and milk products, meat, fish, pulses, nuts, fruits, vegetables, etc iii. Food groups: - body building food - energy giving food - protective foods - water and roughages b. Nutrition and health i. Relationship of nutrition and health ii. Factors affecting nutrition e.g., income, food in season, availability of food, etc.
• c. The digestive system d. Nutrition for special groups e.g., infants, toddlers, adolescents, manual workers, etc.

Study notes & guidance

Study Foods and Nutrition using a recommended Home Economics textbook that follows the JAMB syllabus. Work through the contents listed above one by one, make brief notes in your own words, and then practise as many questions on this topic as you can — in Home Economics, understanding and steady practice matter far more than memorising. Use the objectives below as a checklist: if you can do each one confidently, you have mastered this topic.

Objectives — candidates should be able to

After studying Foods and Nutrition, you should be able to:

1. Describe the following: food nutrients, carbohydrates, minerals, fat and oil, vitamin, protein and water;
2. Identify the different classes of food;
3. Differentiate between the food groups;
4. Describe the effect of nutrition on health status;
5. Identify factors affecting good nutrition;
6. Describe the process which breakdown large food molecules;
7. Recommend the nutritional needs for special groups;
8. Determine the reasons for the nutritional needs of the following special groups: - expectant/ lactating mothers, infant, toddlers - sedentary /manual workers - children between 5 and 8 years - adolescent, aged, invalid and convalescent.

These objectives are from the official JAMB syllabus. Use them as a checklist — if you can do each one confidently, you have mastered this topic.

Source: official JAMB UTME Home Economics syllabus (IBASS, jamb.gov.ng). Reproduced for study use. Last checked: 17 Sept 2026. Always confirm the current syllabus on the official portal.