The Essential Part of Life-Food

What is food?

Food is a substance that provide nutrients and energy to living organisms.

Ingredients

• The components required to prepare food items are called ingredients.
• For example: to make vegetable curry need vegetables, salt, spices, water etc.

Sources of food:

• Plants and animals are the two main sources of food for all the organisms.
• The foods obtained from plants include fruits, vegetables, pulses and other food crops which are highly rich vitamins, proteins and  carbohydrates.

Sources of food from plants

• Plants roots are used as a source of nutrition: Radish, beetroot
• Food made for plant stem: potato, coriander
• Uses of plants leaves as a food source: spinach, cabbage

The food obtained from animals include meat, eggs, milk etc. These food products are highly rich in proteins and fats.

Uses of food in our body

• Keeps our body warm
• Giving energy
• Keeps our body healthy
• Repairs or healing of injuries

Classifications of animals:

1. Herbivores,
2. Carnivores
3. Omnivores,
4. Parasites
5. Scavengers

• HERBIVORES – The animals that can eat only plants or plant products are called herbivores.

Example: rabbit, cow, goat

Special characteristics of herbivores

Herbivores like goat and cows have blunt teeth such teeth are suitable for pulling plants off the ground and grinding them.

• Carnivores: An organism that mostly eats meat or flesh of the other animals.

 Example: lion, tiger

Special characteristics of carnivores

Carnivores like tiger and lion have sharp and pointed teeth. They also have sharp claws which help them to tear flesh.

• Omnivores: An animal that eat both plants and animals.

Example: birds, insects

Special characteristics of omnivores

Omnivores like human beings have different types of teeth that help them to eat both plant and flesh of another animal

• Parasites: An organism living in, on or with another organisms to obtains nutrients.

Example: cascuta

• Scavengers: scavengers are the animals that consume their food from dead bodies.

Example: jackal, vulture

Exams related questions:

1. How does the consumption of food help our body?
   1. It helps our body to function properly
   2. It is useful for producing energy for growth
   3. The nutrients provide from food help in healing wounds

2. .What are different edible parts of the plants?

      Different edible parts of the plants are leaves, flower, stem, roots and seeds.

3. .Why we should prefer cooked food?
   1. Cooked food is good in taste and provide nutrients.
   2. Cooking kills the harmful bacteria present in the raw food.
   3. Cooked food is easy to chew and digest.

4. What are the different sources of foods?

Different source of foods are mainly plants and animals. food obtained from animals is the main source of proteins and fats, whereas foods obtained from plants are rich source of fibers.

5. Write the names of some more edible parts of the plants?

We also eat flowers, leaves, roots and stems of some plants.

• Roots: carrot, sweet potato
• Stem: onion, ginger
• Leaves: spinach
• Flower: cauliflower

6. From where does honey come? How is it produced and collected?

We get honey from honeybees. Honey bees develop their nests called hives on trees.    A bee collects nectar from flowers converts it into honey and store it into their hives.