HOSA NUTRITION EXAM 2026/2027
COMPLETE TEST BANK, PREP QUESTIONS & UPDATED STUDY GUIDE
300 PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS AND DETAILED
RATIONALES ORGANIZED BY TOPIC | ALIGNED WITH HOSA
COMPETITIVE EVENT GUIDELINES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1: Nutrition Fundamentals & Terminology
Section 2: Carbohydrates
Section 3: Proteins
Section 4: Fats/Lipids
Section 5: Vitamins
Section 6: Minerals
Section 7: Digestion & Absorption
Section 8: Energy Balance & Metabolism
Section 9: Food Safety & Foodborne Illness
Section 10: Life Cycle Nutrition
Section 11: Medical Nutrition Therapy & Clinical Nutrition
Section 12: Dietary Guidelines & MyPlate
SECTION 1: NUTRITION FUNDAMENTALS & TERMINOLOGY
Question 1
The result of those processes whereby the body takes in and uses food for
growth, development, and maintenance of health is:
A) Respiration
B) Diet therapy
C) Nutrition
D) Digestion
Answer: C
Rationale: Nutrition is the study of how the body takes in and uses food for
growth, development, and maintenance of health. Digestion (D) is the mechanical
and chemical breakdown of food, which is only one part of nutrition.
Question 2
Nutritional status is determined primarily by:
1
,A) The amount of food consumed
B) The balance between nutrient intake and nutrient requirements
C) The frequency of meals
D) The type of cuisine preferred
Answer: B
Rationale: Nutritional status reflects the balance between the nutrients a
person consumes and the nutrients their body requires. It is not simply about
quantity but about meeting specific nutritional needs.
Question 3
Which of the following is NOT a function of nutrients in the body?
A) Providing energy
B) Building and repairing tissues
C) Regulating body processes
D) Eliminating waste products
Answer: D
Rationale: Nutrients provide energy, build and repair tissues, and regulate
body processes. Elimination of waste is a function of the excretory system,
not a direct function of nutrients.
Question 4
What is the term for the study of how food affects the body's health and
disease?
A) Dietetics
B) Nutrition science
C) Clinical nutrition
D) All of the above
Answer: D
Rationale: Dietetics, nutrition science, and clinical nutrition all relate to
the study of food and its effects on health. These terms are often used
interchangeably in the field.
Question 5
2
,Malnutrition refers to:
A) Only undernutrition
B) Only overnutrition
C) Both undernutrition and overnutrition
D) A lack of vitamins only
Answer: C
Rationale: Malnutrition encompasses both undernutrition (deficiencies,
starvation) and overnutrition (excess intake, obesity). It is an imbalance
between nutrient intake and requirements.
Question 6
Which of the following is NOT a class of nutrients?
A) Carbohydrates
B) Minerals
C) Fiber
D) Vitamins
Answer: C
Rationale: The six classes of nutrients are carbohydrates, proteins, fats,
vitamins, minerals, and water. Fiber is a type of carbohydrate, not a separate
nutrient class.
Question 7
The process by which food is broken down into absorbable units is called:
A) Metabolism
B) Digestion
C) Absorption
D) Assimilation
Answer: B
Rationale: Digestion is the mechanical and chemical breakdown of food into
smaller components that can be absorbed. Metabolism (A) refers to all chemical
reactions in the body.
Question 8
3
, Which nutrient provides the most energy per gram?
A) Carbohydrates
B) Proteins
C) Fats
D) Vitamins
Answer: C
Rationale: Fats provide 9 kilocalories per gram, while carbohydrates and
proteins each provide 4 kilocalories per gram. Vitamins provide no energy.
Question 9
The term "essential nutrient" refers to a nutrient that:
A) Is found in all foods
B) Must be obtained from the diet because the body cannot make it in sufficient
amounts
C) Is only needed in small amounts
D) Provides energy to the body
Answer: B
Rationale: Essential nutrients are those that the body cannot synthesize in
adequate amounts and must therefore be obtained through the diet. Examples
include essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.
Question 10
What is the primary function of water in the body?
A) Providing energy
B) Acting as a solvent and transporting nutrients
C) Building muscle tissue
D) Storing fat
Answer: B
Rationale: Water serves as a solvent, transports nutrients and waste, regulates
body temperature, and participates in many chemical reactions. It does not
provide energy.
Question 11
4
COMPLETE TEST BANK, PREP QUESTIONS & UPDATED STUDY GUIDE
300 PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS AND DETAILED
RATIONALES ORGANIZED BY TOPIC | ALIGNED WITH HOSA
COMPETITIVE EVENT GUIDELINES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1: Nutrition Fundamentals & Terminology
Section 2: Carbohydrates
Section 3: Proteins
Section 4: Fats/Lipids
Section 5: Vitamins
Section 6: Minerals
Section 7: Digestion & Absorption
Section 8: Energy Balance & Metabolism
Section 9: Food Safety & Foodborne Illness
Section 10: Life Cycle Nutrition
Section 11: Medical Nutrition Therapy & Clinical Nutrition
Section 12: Dietary Guidelines & MyPlate
SECTION 1: NUTRITION FUNDAMENTALS & TERMINOLOGY
Question 1
The result of those processes whereby the body takes in and uses food for
growth, development, and maintenance of health is:
A) Respiration
B) Diet therapy
C) Nutrition
D) Digestion
Answer: C
Rationale: Nutrition is the study of how the body takes in and uses food for
growth, development, and maintenance of health. Digestion (D) is the mechanical
and chemical breakdown of food, which is only one part of nutrition.
Question 2
Nutritional status is determined primarily by:
1
,A) The amount of food consumed
B) The balance between nutrient intake and nutrient requirements
C) The frequency of meals
D) The type of cuisine preferred
Answer: B
Rationale: Nutritional status reflects the balance between the nutrients a
person consumes and the nutrients their body requires. It is not simply about
quantity but about meeting specific nutritional needs.
Question 3
Which of the following is NOT a function of nutrients in the body?
A) Providing energy
B) Building and repairing tissues
C) Regulating body processes
D) Eliminating waste products
Answer: D
Rationale: Nutrients provide energy, build and repair tissues, and regulate
body processes. Elimination of waste is a function of the excretory system,
not a direct function of nutrients.
Question 4
What is the term for the study of how food affects the body's health and
disease?
A) Dietetics
B) Nutrition science
C) Clinical nutrition
D) All of the above
Answer: D
Rationale: Dietetics, nutrition science, and clinical nutrition all relate to
the study of food and its effects on health. These terms are often used
interchangeably in the field.
Question 5
2
,Malnutrition refers to:
A) Only undernutrition
B) Only overnutrition
C) Both undernutrition and overnutrition
D) A lack of vitamins only
Answer: C
Rationale: Malnutrition encompasses both undernutrition (deficiencies,
starvation) and overnutrition (excess intake, obesity). It is an imbalance
between nutrient intake and requirements.
Question 6
Which of the following is NOT a class of nutrients?
A) Carbohydrates
B) Minerals
C) Fiber
D) Vitamins
Answer: C
Rationale: The six classes of nutrients are carbohydrates, proteins, fats,
vitamins, minerals, and water. Fiber is a type of carbohydrate, not a separate
nutrient class.
Question 7
The process by which food is broken down into absorbable units is called:
A) Metabolism
B) Digestion
C) Absorption
D) Assimilation
Answer: B
Rationale: Digestion is the mechanical and chemical breakdown of food into
smaller components that can be absorbed. Metabolism (A) refers to all chemical
reactions in the body.
Question 8
3
, Which nutrient provides the most energy per gram?
A) Carbohydrates
B) Proteins
C) Fats
D) Vitamins
Answer: C
Rationale: Fats provide 9 kilocalories per gram, while carbohydrates and
proteins each provide 4 kilocalories per gram. Vitamins provide no energy.
Question 9
The term "essential nutrient" refers to a nutrient that:
A) Is found in all foods
B) Must be obtained from the diet because the body cannot make it in sufficient
amounts
C) Is only needed in small amounts
D) Provides energy to the body
Answer: B
Rationale: Essential nutrients are those that the body cannot synthesize in
adequate amounts and must therefore be obtained through the diet. Examples
include essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.
Question 10
What is the primary function of water in the body?
A) Providing energy
B) Acting as a solvent and transporting nutrients
C) Building muscle tissue
D) Storing fat
Answer: B
Rationale: Water serves as a solvent, transports nutrients and waste, regulates
body temperature, and participates in many chemical reactions. It does not
provide energy.
Question 11
4
