Nourishment
/ˈnɜːrɪʃmənt/
nounB1
Definition
Nourishment is the process or act of giving the body the food and substances it needs to live and grow. It includes vitamins, minerals, proteins, and other important parts of food that help keep us healthy. Without proper nourishment, people or animals can become weak or sick.
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See It in Action
Food or substances necessary for health and growth
- •Babies need good nourishment to grow strong and healthy.
- •Fruits and vegetables provide important nourishment for the body.
- •Lack of proper nourishment can cause health problems.
The act of providing these necessary substances
- •The mother’s milk is a source of nourishment for the baby.
- •Proper nourishment helps people recover from illness.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "nourishment" like "food," but it means the good parts of food that help your body grow and stay strong, not just eating any food
- ✓Picture a plant growing big and green because it gets water and sunlight—nourishment is like the food and care plants need to grow
- ✓It's the feeling of strength and energy you get after eating a healthy meal that makes you ready to play or work
- ✓Sounds like "NUR-ish-ment" → imagine a nurse gently giving care and food to help someone get better and stronger
- ✓Think of stories where a child grows up healthy because of good food and love—nourishment is part of that care
- ✓NOT like "snack" (small, sometimes unhealthy food), nourishment is about important, healthy food that supports life
- ✓NOT like "hunger" (feeling of wanting food), nourishment is what removes hunger by giving the body what it needs
- ✓NOT like "medicine" (treatment for illness), nourishment is natural help from food to keep the body well
Try Other Words
- •Nutrition: the process of getting and using food to stay healthy (Use when talking about science or health facts)
- •Sustenance: food and drink that keep someone alive (Use when emphasizing survival or basic needs)
- •Food: any substance eaten to provide energy (Use in everyday, general contexts)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "nourish" (to feed or support growth) + "-ment" (a suffix that turns verbs into nouns meaning "the action or result of")
- •Etymology: From Old French "nourissement," from "nourrir" meaning to feed or nourish
- •Historical development: Used since Middle English to mean the act of feeding and supporting life
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in health, cooking, and biology to talk about what bodies need to stay healthy and grow
Reflect & Connect
•How do different types of food provide different kinds of nourishment to the body?
•Can something be food but not good nourishment? How do you decide what to eat for nourishment?
Fill in the blanks
1.Babies need proper nourishment to ___ healthy and strong.
2.Fruits and vegetables are good sources of nourishment because they contain ___ vitamins and minerals.
3.Nourishment is different from just eating snacks because it provides the ___ the body needs.
4.When someone is sick, doctors often focus on helping them get enough ___ to recover.
5.Lack of nourishment can cause the body to feel weak and ___.
6.The word nourishment comes from the action of ___ or feeding the body.
7.Plants get nourishment from water and ___ to grow tall and green.