I chew and swallow

Suppose I’ve been playing hard and I’m very hungry. Lunch tastes good.
But as good as the food is, my body can’t use it without changing it.
The changing is called digestion. The most important part of digestion
happens inside of me, in my small intestine. But some changes happen as
soon as I put food into my mouth.

My teeth cut and grind the food into many small pieces. My tongue mixes
it

My body uses proteins to build new cells. Meat, cheese, milk, eggs, and
other foods have protein in them.

with the saliva in my mouth. The food becomes wet and easy to swallow.
Then my tongue pushes it to the back of my mouth.

I don’t swallow the food until I’m ready. But once I have swallowed it,
it is on its way through my body. I don’t have to think about digesting
the food. My body changes the food and uses it as it is needed—to help
me grow, to keep me warm, and to keep my body running smoothly.