What is food?
Simply put, food is any material prepared with the intent to provide nutrition to the organisms. In simple terms, food is composed of any organic material and has to be of plant, animal, or fungus origin. Animals are classified as meat eaters and as vegetable eaters. Fungi are classed as herbivores or pests. Plants are classified as vegetables, fruits, nuts and grains.
The process of eating food involves the breaking down of the food into simple sugars and starches, which are further broken down into simple nutrients. The main source of nutrients is the digestive system, which feeds and heals living things by breaking down the food into nutrients. The major part of food that is not digested and used is often used as a byproduct or waste. Animal products and processed foods have a high percentage of byproducts or waste. Plants, however, have very little percentage of waste.
- Almost all people in the world eat food to survive, though not everyone consumes the same amount of food.
- Many cultures have different methods of eating depending on the location, time of year, and availability of food.
- In many cultures, the ceremonial eating of meat was the norm. In other cultures, eating meat is taboo.
- Some of the world’s cultures eat a wide variety of plant foods such as cereals, fruits, seeds, roots, and vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, onions, garlic, potatoes, mushrooms, spinach, asparagus, carrots, spinach, broccoli, brussel sprouts, turnips, cucumbers, peas, beans, etc.
- Some cultures that consume plant foods and other animals eat food that comes from animal sources only, such as milk and eggs. Common animals eat grasses, leaves, seeds, fruits, vegetables, roots, etc.,
- while rare animals eat insects, birds, fish, shellfish, etc. Animals produce methane gas as a byproduct of their digestion. After digesting these foods, animals excrete the gas through their manure.
Plants and animals need the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients found in certain foods for healthy functioning. If any of these foods are not available to an individual, he usually needs to take supplemental vitamin or mineral supplements to get adequate amounts of those essential nutrients. A balanced diet is necessary if an individual wants to get the most out of life and remain healthy.
Today’s society is greatly influenced by the animal products that we eat, especially meat. People eat meat for its taste, smell, texture, and even health benefits. However, animals and plant foods are equally important in providing our bodies with nutrition and keeping us healthy. As we become more aware of the importance of our diets, maybe we will start to take a more holistic approach to healthy living, including a well-balanced diet consisting of all the various food types.
