​What happens after you bite into a piece of food? First you chew the food, and then it travels through your body’s digestive system. That system breaks down the food into small pieces so that it can be used as energy for your body.

​Look at the Digestive System

​Food travels to several places as it is digested, or broken down. Follow the trip food takes from the mouth to the intestines.

​Breaking Down Your Food

When you take a bite out of an apple and start to chew, the apple mixes with the liquid in your mouth called saliva. Your saliva helps break down food.

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Sending Food to Your Stomach

When you swallow food, it travels down a tube called the esophagus. That tube leads to your stomach.

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Turning Food Into Liquid

The stomach is made up of muscles that squeeze the food and mix it with special juices. That turns the food into liquid.

​Carrying Nutrients to Your Body

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The liquid moves to the intestines, where it is broken down again. The healthy parts of food that your body needs, called nutrients, are sent to other parts of your body. The unhealthy parts are pushed out of your body.

​Activity, Time, and Calories Burned

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​Watching television: 30 minutes = 16 calories

​Walking the dog: 30 min = 66 calories

​Picking up litter: 30 minutes = 76 calories

​Playing soccer: 30 minutes = 104 calories

​Swimming: 30 minutes = 202 calories