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Food
is
any
substance
consumed
to
provide
nutritional
support
and
energy
to
an
organism.[2][3]
It
can
be
raw,
processed
or
formulated
and
is
consumed
orally
by
animals
for
growth,
health
or
pleasure.
Food
is
mainly
composed
of
water,
lipids,
proteins
and
carbohydrates.
Minerals
(e.g.
salts)
and
organic
substances
(e.g.
vitamins)
can
also
be
found
in
food.[4]
Plants,
algae
and
some
microorganisms
use
photosynthesis
to
make
their
own
food
molecules.[5]
Water
is
found
in
many
foods
and
has
been
defined
as
a
food
by
itself.[6]
Water
and
fiber
have
low
energy
densities,
or
calories,
while
fat
is
the
most
energy
dense
component.[3]
Some
inorganic
(non-food)
elements
are
also
essential
for
plant
and
animal
functioning.[7]
Human
food
can
be
classified
in
various
ways,
either
by
related
content
or
by
how
the
food
is
processed.[8]
The
number
and
composition
of
food
groups
can
vary.
Most
systems
include
four
basic
groups
that
describe
their
origin
and
relative
nutritional
function:
Vegetables
and
Fruit,
Cereals
and
Bread,
Dairy,
and
Meat.[9]
Studies
that
look
into
diet
quality
often
group
food
into
whole
grains/cereals,
refined
grains/cereals,
vegetables,
fruits,
nuts,
legumes,
eggs,
dairy
products,
fish,
red
meat,
processed
meat,
and
sugar-sweetened
beverages.[10][11][12]
The
Food
and
Agriculture
Organization
and
World
Health
Organization
use
a
system
with
nineteen
food
classifications:
cereals,
roots,
pulses
and
nuts,
milk,
eggs,
fish
and
shellfish,
meat,
insects,
vegetables,
fruits,
fats
and
oils,
sweets
and
sugars,
spices
and
condiments,
beverages,
foods
for
nutritional
uses,
food
additives,
composite
dishes
and
savoury
snacks.[13]
