Food gives animals energy — Biology, 4–6 years
Animals eat food, and their bodies change some of it into energy for movement, warmth and growth. Different animals find and eat different foods.
Food powers a body
When an animal eats, its body breaks food into useful materials. Some of those materials help release energy, which the body uses to walk, play, keep warm and make new body parts.
Why do animals eat?
Moving muscles, beating hearts and warm bodies all need energy. Eating replaces what the body uses, and food also provides building materials, so an animal can repair itself and grow.
A rabbit after breakfast
A rabbit eats grass. Its body digests the grass and takes useful materials into the blood. Later, the rabbit hops away; muscles use energy from the food, while other materials help its body repair and grow.
Energy is not the same as food
It is natural to say that a sandwich is energy, because eating one can help you run. More exactly, the sandwich contains materials that the body changes into usable energy; some food is also used to build or repair the body.
Choosing food for animals
People choose different food for a rabbit, a cat or a bird because their bodies are suited to different diets. A pet needs enough suitable food and water, not simply whatever a person happens to be eating.
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