Food is an important source of nourishment for humans and other animals alike, providing energy and stimulating growth. Without it, human life would cease to exist. People eat for various reasons including getting nutrients they need to meet hunger cravings as well as maintaining a healthy weight; additionally, many consume food culturally significant to them or to ensure economic security or emotional comfort.
Food options available worldwide vary drastically and diets of people vary greatly from country to country and within a nation, often dependent on factors like the availability of ocean-based fish or land-based vegetables. Culture also plays a part, with various rituals associated with preparation and eating meals being observed by different communities.
A healthy diet should include foods from each of the five food groups – cereal grains, fruits and vegetables, legumes (beans and lentils), dairy products and meat/poultry/fish are the five food groups. Anything outside these categories are known as discretionary choices and should only be eaten occasionally.
Selecting whole, minimally processed foods is crucial for good health. Such food items provide more vitamins, minerals and fibre than their refined counterparts while being low in saturated fats, trans fats and added sugars.
An Essential Component of Daily Life
Food plays an integral part in our health and wellbeing. A diet rich in nutritious food can protect against chronic illnesses like cardiovascular disease and diabetes while managing other conditions like asthma, arthritis and depression.
Affordable and nutritious foods are especially essential for people living in poverty. Malnutrition has serious long-term repercussions for both physical and mental health, including reduced growth and development, increased susceptibility to infectious diseases, impaired cognitive performance and poor mental wellbeing. If this trend continues unchecked, famine could even occur. Food aid provided to those living in poverty is often one of the most cost-effective means of improving their lives and decreasing hunger and malnutrition. Governments, non-government organizations and humanitarian agencies typically provide this form of aid which may take the form of cash vouchers, food baskets or emergency relief supplies.
