• Written By Parth
  • Last Modified 25-01-2023

Sources of Food

img-icon

Food is the third most important thing for living things to have in order to provide energy and development, sustain life, or promote growth, behind oxygen and water. In actuality, it is among the most challenging chemical groups to comprehend. Food plays a significant role in promoting health and preventing disease. It is composed of essential components that an organism consumes and digests in order to maintain health, including carbs, proteins, fats, minerals, and vitamins. They include nutrient-dense foods like grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, oils, and others.

Food Variety

The food we eat seems to have such a wide range. What materials are these foods made of? Consider the rice you make at home. We cook uncooked rice in water. For the preparation of a dish of boiling rice, only two supplies or components are required. However, certain foods are produced with a variety of ingredients. We need a variety of veggies, salt, spices, oil, and other ingredients to make a vegetable curry.

Food Sources

Energy for life comes from food, without food, humans cannot exist. Therefore, it is essential for us to know where our food comes from. Did you know that cake is made completely of elements from plants? If one wishes to lead a healthy life that includes various carbs, minerals, vitamins, fats, and other nutrients, one must consume a balanced diet. But it’s also crucial to be aware of the maintenance of your balanced diet. Knowing where they originate can help us better comprehend the range of nutrients that a particular food item offers.

There are two main categories of food sources: The two main sources of food are plants and animals. One of these two sources provides all of the food that we eat. The various ingredients used to create the processed foods we consume every day come either from plants or animals. Let’s examine them both. 

Plants as a Source of Food

We obtain a large portion of the food we eat from plants, trees, crops, bushes, leaves, and occasionally even roots. Fruits and vegetables are the most readily apparent examples of the foods we obtain from plants. Fruits and vegetables are all produced by plants.

Crops are another example of plant-based food. These are the seeds of the crop plants, such as rice, wheat, maize, millets, barley, etc. They are harvested once we groom them. The majority of the processed foods we eat, like wheat, bread, biscuits, etc., come from crop plants.

Herbivores are now defined as creatures that only consume food derived from plants. Cows, zebras, hippos, giraffes, buffalo, and other animals are a few examples. Vegetarians are people who exclusively consume meals that come from plants. Let’s look at some instances of foods that come from plants and their various sections.

  • Fruits: Mangoes, apples, oranges, bananas
  • leaves: kale, spinach, coriander, Lettuce
  • Root: Turnips, potatoes, and carrots Seeds: Rice, wheat, corn, and nuts (peanuts, almonds)

Animals as a Source of Food

Our nourishment do not all originate from plants. Animals, primarily cattle, provide a significant amount of the food we eat. Cattle are farm animals that are raised primarily to be killed for human consumption. Some animals, such as deer, rabbits, and even kangaroos, are hunted (killed in their natural habitat) (especially in Australia).

These are a few instances of such meat and its sources:

  • Chicken (poultry)
  • Pork or bacon that comes from pigs
  • Lambs’ meat, or mutton,
  • Beef from cows and buffaloes and venison from deer
  • Chevon is a type of goat meat.

Seafood is another source of food. These are fish and other sea life that we catch, such as crabs, lobsters, oysters, etc. They are also consumed by people and are a significant source of food, particularly in coastal areas.

Dairy products are the next topic. This includes milk, eggs, cream, cheese, butter, curd, and so forth. These are more animal food sources. These are all produced using milk and/or eggs from cows, buffaloes, goats, and other animals. Another meal that comes from animals, specifically bees, is honey.

Unleash Your True Potential With Personalised Learning on EMBIBE