Food gives energy and nutrient support to the organism. Animals ingest it for development, health, or enjoyment. Food can be ingested in raw, processed, or prepared form. To make a variety of foods, various ingredients are needed. A food ingredient is any substance that is added to food to get the desired result.
- To make a dish of boiled rice, only two elements or ingredients are required.
- On the other hand, certain foods are prepared using a large number of ingredients.
- Salt, spices, oil, and several types of vegetables are required to make a vegetable curry. .
| Table of Content |
Key terms: Food, Animals, Plants, Ingredients, Herbivores, Carnivores, Omnivores, Decomposers, Food wastage.
What is Food?
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Food is a substance that fuels and nourishes the body. All things that living organisms eat or can eat are referred to as food. Organisms use food for a variety of purposes.
- It provides energy for bodily function and work.
- It promotes health and aids in wound healing.
- In order to live a healthy life and ward off sickness, it gives nutrients like fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, etc.
- Without food, the body lacks the nutrients it needs, which can lead to health problems or even diseases.
- Food is mainly composed of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and fibers.
To understand the various nutrients that a certain food item provides, one must first understand where the food comes from.
- The primary food sources for all living things on earth are plants and animals.
- Plants give fruits and vegetables, which are significant sources of fiber, proteins, and carbohydrates.
- In contrast, animal products, such as fish, milk, meat, poultry, and cheese, are the primary sources of protein.
Food Material Obtained From Plant
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Food is primarily derived from green plants. Fruits, vegetables, cereals, legumes, nuts, oils are the examples of food provided by plants. There are plant parts that can be consumed raw or cooked.
- The edible plant roots include carrot, radish, turnip, onion , and beetroot.
- The plant's stems include ginger, potato, sugarcane and coriander.
- The plant's leaves can be eaten, including curry leaves, cabbage, and spinach.
- Flowers on pumpkin and cauliflower are edible.
- Some of the fruits harvested from the plants include the mango, guava, apple, and pear.
- The edible plant seeds include grains, pulses, and oilseeds.
Food Material Obtained From Animals
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Humans get a significant amount of food from animals. Animals provide food in the form of a variety of goods, many of which are nutrient- and protein-rich and also high in calcium. Fish, honey, milk, eggs, meat, etc are the food obtained from animals..
- The non-vegetarian diet includes meat, such as goat, chicken, pork, fish, and prawns.
- Eggs of Hen, Duck, and Goose eggs are also consumed by non-vegetarians.
- It is important to note that eggs are not considered as meat.
- Animals like cows, buffalos, goats, and camels give milk that further provides various dairy products.
- Bees gather nectar, or the sweet liquids found in flowers, transform it into honey, and then store it in their hive.
- People can obtain honey from these hives.
Animals and Their Food Habits
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Animals can be classified as herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, and decomposers depending on the sort of food they consume.
- Herbivores are animals that only consume plants as a diet.
- They are also known as grass-eating animals.
- Cows, buffaloes, goats, deer, etc. are a few examples.
- Carnivores are creatures that consume other creatures.
- They hunt other animals to obtain food.
- Examples include tigers, lions, jackals, etc.
- Omnivores consume both plants and animals for food.
- Humans, dogs, and bears are some examples of omnivores
- Decomposers are organisms like microorganisms (bacteria, fungi), which feed on the rotting remains of animals and plants.
- They are a part of the soil, water, and air.
Food Wastage
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Food wastage can be defined as the food that is discarded even though it can be consumed. The wastage of food occurs when a consumable food material is discarded due to lack of storage facilities or it is spoiled because of over storing. When consumable items cross its expiry dates, it starts degrading and one can not consume it. This leads to wastage of food.
Major possibilities of food wastage are market oversupplies and specific consumer purchasing/eating behaviors.
- Food waste is a major issue that has to be addressed.
- Food waste costs money, depletes resources, and is terrible for the environment.
- Distribution of excess food to the needy ones can decrease wastage and malnutrition issues.
Also Read:
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| Food Materials and Sources | Balanced Diet | Food Deficiency |
| Enhancement in Food Production | Food Variety | Dietary Fiber Significance |
Things to Remember
- The basic building block of life is food.
- The body's ability to develop, function, and absorb nutrients is aided by food.
- The six primary nutrients are water, proteins, carbs, fats, vitamins, and minerals.
- Plants and animals are the main sources of sustenance for humans.
- Herbivores are creatures that only consume plants as food.
- Carnivores (predators) are animals that consume exclusively other animals.
- Animals that consume both plants and animals are referred to as omnivores.
- Any food that is wasted or lost due to deterioration is referred to as wasted food.
- Food loss and waste are both included in the term "wastage”.
Sample Questions
Ques. What is the importance of food? (2 marks)
Ans. Our bodies need nutrients and energy to grow, be active and healthy, move, play, work, think, and learn. Food provides energy for bodily function and work. Moreover, it promotes health and aids in wound healing. Food helps our body to synthesize nutrients and maintain the healthy growth of organs for development. Certain substances of food are also used as therapeutics for certain health issues.
Ques. Write the components of food. (1 mark)
Ans. Carbohydrates, Mineral salts, fats, vitamins, protein, water and fiber are the main components of food.
Ques. Define sources of food. (3 marks)
Ans. The primary food sources for all living organisms on earth are plants and animals. Plants give us fruits and vegetables, which are significant sources of fiber, proteins, and carbohydrates. Animal products are a significant source of protein. For example, fish, chicken, meat, eggs, milk etc are the animal products that give proteins and calcium. Some insects and animals are the food source for the higher animals. A lion eats deer, An eagle eats dead creatures, Marine animals utilize marine plants and animals as a food source. These are all defined as carnivores, omnivores and decomposers that feeds on other animals.
Ques. Give an example of animal products used in food.(3 marks)
Ans. Many animal products are used as food. There are two categories of food- Vegetarian and nonvegetarian. The former one includes plants and vegetables along with a major animal product- Milk. The milk obtained from cow, buffalo, and goat is useful to make many dairy products. On the other hand, nonvegetarian meals include animal products like fish, prons, chicken, goat etc. These all are a protein-rich food material. The egg obtained from hen for an eating purpose is not considered as non vegetarian food. However, it is a matter of debate.
Ques. What are edible parts of plants? (2 marks)
Ans. The majority of plant parts, including the leaves, stems, roots, fruits, and seeds, are edible. The edible plant roots include carrot, radish etc. The plant's edible stems include ginger and potato. The plant's leaves also can be eaten. For instance, curry leaves, cabbage, and spinach. Fruits harvested from the plants such as mango, guava, banana, apple etc are commonly eaten to gain vitamins and other nutrients.
Ques. What are different food habits of animals? (2 marks)
Ans. Animals can be classified as herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, and decomposers according to the food they eat. Herbivores only consume vegetation. Carnivores are animals that eat the flesh of other animals. Animals that can consume both plants and animals are called omnivores. Decomposers are the microorganisms and birds that feed on dead animals. For example, a crow and eagle decomposes a dead creature by eating it. Bacteria decomposes the dead organic materials and it benefits the soil for recycling the nutrients.
Ques. What are Decomposers? (1 Mark)
Ans. Decomposers are organisms which feed on the rotting remains of animals and plants.
Ques. Define food wastage. (2 marks)
Ans. Any food that is wasted or lost due to deterioration is referred to as wasted food. Food loss and waste are both included in the term "wastage”. The wastage of food is the result of overproduction, oversupplies, lack of storage facilities and poor management of processed food. Improper distribution of food also leads to a huge wastage. The excess food can be distributed to the slum population in order to decrease both wastage and malnutrition.
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