Classification of Food

Classification of Food

Eating is a mandatory process that people must perform in order to sustain life. There are numerous choices to choose from when it comes to food ("Adjusting the Servings"). There are fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meat, fish, and many others. Food can be combined with various amounts of other foods and there are a profuse number of ways to cook them ("Adjusting the Servings"). In general, food can be broken down into six categories. This includes: the bread, cereal, rice, and pasta group; fruit group; vegetable group; milk, yogurt, and cheese group or dairy group; meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs, and nuts group; fats, oils, and sweets group.

The bread, cereal, rice, and pasta group contain foods such as crackers, spaghetti, pancakes, and other products. A person should eat 6-11 servings everyday. Foods made from cereal grains provide starches and fiber. Starches are an excellent energy source. Enriched breads and cereals are a source of iron. Iron is a part of hemoglobin which supplies oxygen to body cells. Eating six to 11 servings each day will provide important nutrients and help meet energy requirements ("Food Pyramid Information").

The next class is the fruit group. This can be broken down further into different kinds of fruits. This includes: tropical or exotic, citrus, tree, olives, fruit-vegetables, berries, and melons. Tropical or exotic fruits can be classified further still as bananas, one stoned, segmented, 2-10 seeded, or more than 15 seeded. A person should consume 2- 4 servings each day. Fruits are a good source of potassium, as well as vitamins A and C. Potassium works in combination with sodium to contract and expand muscles, maintain water balance between cells, and transmit nerve impulses. Vitamin C helps form the collagen that gives structure to bones, cartilage, and muscles. The variety of colors, shapes and flavors found in fruits can add nutritional value to any meal (Thefruitpages.com).

The third category is the vegetable group. Examples of vegetables are broccoli, lettuce, corn, potatoes, pumpkins, and many more. A person should eat 3- 5 servings daily. Vegetables are relatively low in calories and fat, and provide many different vitamins and minerals. These low-fat, fiber-rich foods are good sources of vitamin A, vitamin C, and folic acid. Some vegetables contain magnesium, potassium and iron. Vitamin A works to provide healthy skin, hair and mucous membranes. Proper bone growth and tooth development depends on vitamin A. It also assists with night vision or the ability of the eye to adapt to darkness. Vegetables are rich in nutritional value, which are similar to fruits ("Food Pyramid Information").

The next group is the milk, yogurt, and cheese group. This is also referred to as the dairy group. This class includes foods such as ice cream, chocolate milk, cream cheese, or low fat yogurt. A person should ingest 2-3 servings everyday. It is important to eat milk products daily to provide needed calcium, B vitamins and protein. Milk, yogurt and cheese are the best sources of calcium. It helps to build a strong bone structure and not enough calcium can lead to Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is the thinning of the bone due to loss of calcium and other minerals, which makes bones frail and easy to break. Two to three servings from the milk, yogurt and cheese group are needed by everyone