Making Food Healthy and Tasty

Hi, friends! Today we are going to talk about healthy eating. A long time ago, a smart scientist named Kevin Hall learned something important. He learned that some foods we buy at the store are called “ultra-processed.” These foods are made in big factories. Sometimes, if people eat too many of these foods, it can be easy to gain weight.

But the scientist, Kevin Hall, said we don’t have to be scared of all these foods. He said we can make them better! This was big news when he shared his ideas in the year 2025. That was not too long ago.

Kevin Hall is also a dad. On busy school nights, his family needs to make dinner fast. One food his family likes is pasta with red sauce from a jar. The sauce from the jar is an ultra-processed food. But Kevin Hall has a smart trick to make it healthy.

Here is his trick for a yummy and healthy dinner:

Sauce from a Jar: He picks a jar of tomato sauce that does not have too much sugar or salt.
Good Pasta: He uses whole-grain pasta. This kind of pasta is good for your body and helps you feel full.
Magic Veggies: This is the best part! He grills vegetables like peppers, zucchini, and onions. Then he mixes them right into the pasta.

By adding the grilled vegetables, the meal becomes full of vitamins. The vegetables make the meal bigger and more filling without adding too many calories. Calories give our bodies energy, but we don’t need too many.

So, the scientist says it’s okay to use some foods from a jar to save time. The important thing is to add healthy things to it, like colorful vegetables. This way, we can make a quick meal that is also good for our growing bodies!

Vocabulary Words

Healthy: Good for your body; helps you grow strong.
Scientist: A person who studies things to learn how they work.
Vegetables: Foods like carrots, broccoli, and peppers that come from plants.
Nutritious: Another word for healthy; full of good things your body needs.
Meal: The food we eat at a certain time, like breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Comprehension Questions

What did the scientist Kevin Hall learn about some store-bought foods?
A. They are all very good for you.
B. They can sometimes make it easy to gain weight.
C. They should never be eaten.
D. They are only for grown-ups.
When did Kevin Hall share his big ideas about food?
A. A very long time ago.
B. Last week.
C. In the year 2025.
D. When he was a baby.
What is one thing Kevin Hall adds to his pasta to make it healthy?
A. More salt.
B. Lots of candy.
C. Grilled vegetables.
D. Ice cream.
What kind of pasta does Kevin Hall use for his dinner?
A. Sweet pasta.
B. Blue pasta.
C. Whole-grain pasta.
D. Cold pasta.
Why does Kevin Hall’s family sometimes use sauce from a jar?
A. Because it is the only food they like.
B. To save time on busy school nights.
C. Because it has no taste.
D. Because it is the most expensive.