Food is the fuel that keeps humans and other animals alive and enables them to perform the activities necessary for survival. A variety of foods provide the body with the nutrients it needs to function properly and maintain health. Foods can be raw or cooked, and may include animal products, vegetables, fruits, grains, beverages and spices.
People’s diets vary widely, from country to country and even within a country, depending on factors such as available foods, the cost of foods and climate. Early human ancestors were hunter-gatherers, eating a mix of plants and hunting or gathering meat. Today, people in many countries can enjoy a more varied diet than their ancestors because of improved methods of agriculture and transportation that make it possible to grow and ship food year-round.
A healthy diet contains a variety of foods and is low in fat, added sugars, saturated fat, trans fats, salt and cholesterol. It also includes adequate amounts of fiber, vitamins and minerals. The food guide pyramid, developed by the United States Department of Agriculture, is a good reference for determining how much of each type of food to consume.
When choosing healthy foods, read the labels on packaged items to identify ingredients and determine nutritional value. The number of ingredients, the type of fats and any artificial additives should be noted. Foods with a high percentage of “whole grains” are considered to be healthy choices, as are those that are low in sodium and rich in dietary fiber.
Eating fresh, whole foods can help prevent heart disease and diabetes. A person’s diet should contain fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins and dairy products. These foods are low in fat, sodium and added sugars and offer a variety of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals.
Cooking at home is a great way to enjoy healthy foods, and can save money. Buying bulk foods such as rice, pasta and tinned tomatoes can be cheaper than buying them individually. Keeping some foods in the refrigerator or pantry, such as frozen fruit and vegetables and canned tuna and beans, can also be convenient.
Using descriptive language to describe a meal can make reading about food more enjoyable for the reader. For example, a writer might use words such as mouthwatering and flavorful to describe a food.
Writing about food can be challenging because it is an integral part of the everyday life of most people. It is also often subject to debate and opinion. The best way to approach an article about food is to focus on a specific aspect of the topic and provide factual information, as well as personal opinions. For example, a journalist might write an article about the benefits of organic food or the negative effects of genetically modified foods on the environment. The article should then give the reader a clear understanding of the topic and allow the reader to decide for herself whether or not the writer’s opinion is valid. Ultimately, a quality article about food will entertain and educate the reader.