Introduction

Food is needed by all living beings for four main purposes:

• for their growth.
• to provide energy for doing work.
• for the repair and replacement of the damaged tissues.
• to provide resistance and protection against diseases from infections.

If a person does not get food, she/he feels weak and is likely to fall ill.

Different people have different choices of food.

There is a wide range of food items eaten across various states of India. Different organisms eat different kinds of food.

Human beings are omnivores.

Our food comes from different sources.

We get food from plants as well as animals.

We eat animals (as meat) as well as their different products like milk, eggs and honey.

Cooked food can be easily consumed and absorbed by our body. Cooking also kills the harmful germs.

We should have sprouted seeds every day. Sprouted seeds are rich in nutrients.

Agriculture is the science, which mainly deals with the diverse processes or the methods used for the cultivating different varieties of plants and livestock farming or animal husbandry on the basis of human requirements. The entire world ia depends on agriculture for its food. Therefore, it is very important to produce and store the harvested crops carefully.

Introduction
A substance which gives energy and keeps the body in good health is called food. Several types of nutrients constitute food. Food is one of the basic requirements of all living organisms. In fact, no organisms need food for their growth and development. Food also provides energy for various life processes in the body. Food is necessary for both plants and animals.

Why do we need Food?

• We know that all living things be it plants and animals need food and water to live on.
• We need food because food gives us energy.
• The food we eat gives our body essential nutrients to help us grow and heal when we are injured or are ill.
• Thus food keeps us healthy and provides us with essential nutrients to fight diseases and maintain body functions.

Food is a substance eaten by us to do work, growth, maintain our body and remain healthy.

• Food Definition: - It refers to the edible substances consumed by humans and other animals in order to obtain energy for various tasks as well as growth and development.
• We must NEVER WASTE food in any way.
• We must consume food four times a day to remain healthy -> Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Snacks, Dinner.

Importance of Food

• The importance of food for living organisms is as follows:
  1. It helps in the growth of living organisms.
  2. It also helps to repair and replace damaged parts of the body.
  3. This provides the energy required for various activities.
  4. It provides protection from infections and various diseases.
  5. It helps in the overall growth and development of an organism.
• We must eat different kinds of food at different times for proper Nutrition.
• Different people eat different types of food according to their habits, lifestyle, taste, region, religion, availability and various other factors.
• Even in a single-family different people have different choices of food.