Which of the following food components are identified as carbohydrates?

Carbohydrates are organic compounds primarily made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, and they are a crucial macronutrient that provides energy to the body. The components identified as carbohydrates include fiber, starch, and sugar, all of which serve different functions in nutrition.

Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that the body cannot digest, which helps regulate the body's use of sugars, helping to keep hunger and blood sugar in check. Starch is a storage form of glucose in plants and is a key source of energy; it is broken down into glucose by the body during digestion. Sugar, including simple sugars like glucose and fructose, provides an immediate source of energy for the body.

The other options focus on different classes of nutrients: fats primarily provide energy and support cell structure, proteins are essential for building and repairing tissues, and vitamins and minerals are crucial for a variety of biochemical functions but do not provide energy. Hence, the correct identification of fiber, starch, and sugar as carbohydrates aligns perfectly with the understanding of how these components contribute to nutrition.