Best Sources of Food in Your Daily Diet

Food is any material eaten to supply nutrition to the organisms. The word food comes from the Greek work “food” and “meal”, indicating that the meals were used to feed an individual. In modern times food is generally of animal, plant or fungi origin, and has vital nutrients, including proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, or other minerals essential to life. Modern people usually eat foods in two to three different forms: ready-to-eat (RTE) food, which are highly processed foods ready to eat (or fast food); ready-to-eat cooked food; and home-cooked food. The type of food depends largely on the type of person: young children have a more limited range of food than older people, who eat a wider variety of food.

Eating healthy is a way to ensure that an organism receives all the nutrients it needs for normal development. A healthy diet consists of a wide variety of foods that provide energy, vitamins and minerals, while avoiding those that contain excess fat, salt or sugar, and those that contain artificial color, flavor, or texture. In order to obtain these nutrients, organisms must chew, swallow, inhale and absorb the food. This process requires different nutrients for different foods, which is why young children require different foods from that of older people.

The best sources of these nutrients include: whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, seeds, protein-rich dairy products, and fats from fish, poultry and meat. Eggs are another good source of vitamin B, although the nutritional value of eggs is unclear. Lean meats, poultry and fish provide vitamin A, as well as essential fatty acids, while dairy products, nuts, legumes, grains and vegetables provide vitamin E. Vitamin K helps form a blood clotting agent and may reduce the risk of stroke and coronary artery disease. Some vitamin C and potassium are good sources of iron, while calcium helps strengthen bones.