Chapter - 1 (Class-6)

Food: Where Does it Come From?

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1. Define Food -
The component that we consume, which provides nourishment to the body, is called food.
E.g., Rice, chapati, curry, fruits, vegetables, cheese, bread, milk, curd, butter, etc.

2. Define Ingredients -
The components or materials required to prepare a food item are called as ingredients.
E.g., different types of vegetables, spices are ingredients for sambar.

3. Why Is Variety In Food Important?

Variety in food ensures that we eat healthy food and find different options so as to maintain a
balanced diet while not getting bored with eating. It also ensures that we get all the nutrients
that our body requires to function properly. A single food item does not provide all the
required nutrients, even within a particular food group such as fruits and vegetables, the
variety of nutrients offered by each is diverse. For example, Spinach has high levels of folate
whereas oranges are rich in Vitamin C. Variety also makes sure that we are not loaded with an
excess of one nutrient which would be derived by eating a specific type of food item only.

4. What Are Nutrients?

Nutrients are food molecules essential for the growth and maintenance of the life of entities.
Major nutrients in our food are carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, vitamins, etc. These
macro and micronutrients are essential in carrying out chemical reactions in our body aiding
smooth digestion and hence growth. The food we consume must be rich in its nutritional value
and low on unnecessary fats.

5. Define Balanced Diet -

A balanced diet refers to a diet that includes a variety of foods from different food groups in the
right proportions to provide the nutrients that are necessary for the growth, development, and
maintenance of a healthy body. A balanced diet should include:

Carbohydrates: These provide energy for the body and are found in foods such as rice, bread, pasta,
and cereals.

Proteins: These are important for growth and repair of the body and are found in foods such as meat,
fish, eggs, and beans.

Fruits and vegetables: These provide vitamins, minerals, and fiber that are essential for maintaining
a healthy body. It is recommended to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables of different colors.

Dairy products: These provide calcium and other nutrients that are important for bone health.
Examples include milk, cheese, and yogurt.

Fats and oils: These provide energy and help the body absorb certain vitamins. However, it is
important to limit intake of saturated and trans fats found in processed foods and instead focus on
healthy fats found in foods such as nuts, seeds, and fish.
Eating a balanced diet in the right proportions is important for maintaining good health and
preventing chronic diseases.

6. Named different types Of food groups.

There are five major food groups:

1. Fruits – Provides phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals, and roughage and are easily available.
They are directly obtained from plants.
2. Vegetables – They are obtained from plants and are high in phytonutrients, vitamins and
minerals which form important constituents of our food.
3. Dairy products – An excellent source of calcium for our bones and teeth
4. Poultry, lean meats, fish and eggs – High in proteins and vitamins which helps in building
tissues and muscles and provides immunity.
5. Cereal, legumes- Obtained from plants, rich in high fibres.

7. What are food sources?

Food sources are the different sources that provide food for the survival of humans and
animals. The major sources of food on earth are plants and animals.

8. What are the main sources of food?

Plants and animals are the main source of food for all the organisms on earth. Food obtained
from animals is the main source of protein and include fish, milk, meat, poultry, and cheese.
Whereas plants provide us with fruits and vegetables, which are an important source of fibres,
proteins and carbohydrates.

9. What are the different food products obtained from animals?

The food obtained from animals include beef, pork, meat, egg, milk, and chicken. These food
products are highly nutritious and rich in proteins and fats.

10. What are the foods obtained from plants?

The foods obtained from plants include fruits, vegetables, rice, wheat, maize, pulses, and other
food crops which are highly rich in proteins, fibres and carbohydrates.

11. What are the different parts of the plants that are used as food?
The roots, stem, leaves, flowers, seeds and fruits of a plant are used as food. For eg., carrot,
radish, potato, turnip, beetroot and sweet potato.

12. What are the main components of food?

The main components of food include- vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, fats, fibres
and water.

13. How are animals an important source of food?

The food obtained from animals provides a variety of micronutrients that are difficult to obtain
from plant sources. The food obtained by them is highly nutritious and rich in vitamins and
proteins.
14. What is the different types of Food Materials and their Sources ?
Food is mainly obtained from plants and animals.

Plant Products-

 The food products that we get from plants are called as the plant products.
 E.g., ginger is the root of a plant that we use in cooking.

Animal Products-

 The food products that we get from animals are called animal products.
 E.g. Milk, butter, chicken, meat, honey etc.

15. Describe Different types of Food Materials which Obtained From Plants.
Vegetables are obtained from the plants. Some nutrient-rich vegetables such as beetroot,
turnip, spinach, cauliflower, etc. are obtained from plants. Roots, leaves, and stem of some
plants are edible.
Like as:
Roots-
Radish, turnip, carrot, beetroot are some of the roots that are eaten as vegetables.
Stem-
Potato and ginger are the stems that are eaten as vegetables.
Leaves-
Spinach, cabbage, lettuce are the leaves eaten as vegetables.
Flowers-
Broccoli and cauliflower are the flowers eaten in the form of vegetables.
Fruits-
Fruits are a healthy source of food from plants. Orange, mango, apple, grapes are some of the
fruits consumed by humans.
Cereals-
Cereals include rice, wheat, maize, jowar, barley, etc. These are a rich source of nutrients
provided by the plants.
Tea, Coffee-
Coffee and tea are widely grown in the southern parts of India. These are also obtained from
the plants. Not just these, sugar is also obtained from the plants. It is processed from the
sugarcane plant.
Oil-
Oil can be extracted from the seeds and leaves of the plants. Some of the plants producing oil
are castor, mustard, and sunflower.
Spices-
Cinnamon, cardamom, pepper, clove, cumin seeds, and ginger are obtained from the plants and
used for cooking purposes.
16. Describe Different types of Food Materials which Obtained From Animals.
Animal products too are a rich source of nutrients. The food chain is composed of exactly these
animals starting with organisms that use the energy of the sun to the apex at which the
organisms are predators and rely on producers.
Let us have a look at some of the food obtained from animals:
Milk-
Cows, buffaloes, sheep, goat, and camels are a great source of milk. Milk is also called as an ideal food.
It is rich in vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates and fats.
Eggs-
Chickens, ducks, geese, and quails are raised for eggs and meat. The egg is a rich source of protein and
vitamin. The yolk of the egg is mostly made up of egg. It also contains vitamins, phosphorus, calcium
and iron.
Meat-
Meat is of two types- red meat and white meat.
The meat of goat, sheep and pigs has a lot of fat and is called red meat. White meat contains less fat
and is obtained from chicken and fish. White meat is healthier and can be easily digested as compared
to the red meat.
Meat is rich in proteins, vitamins, zinc, phosphorus and iron.

17. What Do Animals Eat?

Based on the mode of nutrition, animals can be classified into two categories:

 Carnivores or Carnivorous animals

 Herbivores or Herbivorous animals
 Omnivores

Herbivores-
Herbivores or herbivorous animals are those animals that feed on plants, leaves, fruits and other
plant-based food for nutrition. They are known as primary consumers and occupy level 2 or higher in
the food chain. Cow, goat, giraffe, sheep, and zebra are common examples of herbivores.

Carnivores-
Carnivores or carnivorous animals rely on other animals for their food. These animals have several
adaptations that help to hunt prey. For instance, most big cats such as lions and tigers have robust
bodies, accompanied by powerful jaws capable of crushing bones and tearing flesh.

Omnivores-
Omnivores animals are those animals that feed on both plants and other animals.
E.g., bears, Human Being.
18. Define Vitamins.
The word vitamin is a combination of Latin words “vita” and “amine” which means life and
nitrogen respectively. Vitamins are organic compounds, found in natural foods which are
required for normal growth and maintenance of the body. Both humans and animals require
vitamins for their growth.
E.g, Vitamin A, Vitamin C,Vitamin D etc.

19. Different types of Vitamins , Food Source and diseases caused by the deficiency of those
vitamins.

Name Food Sources Deficiency Diseases

Vitamin A Green leafy vegetables, ripe yellow fruits, Hyperkeratosis, night blindness,
guava, milk, liver, nuts, tomatoes, oranges, and keratomalacia
carrots, broccoli, watermelon etc.

Vitamin B1 Fresh fruits, potatoes, sweet potatoes, peas, Beriberi

(Thiamine) corn, cashew nuts, wheat, milk, black beans,
dates etc.

Vitamin B2 Banana, dates, mushrooms, grapes, Slow growth, sore eyes

(Riboflavin) mangoes, peas, pumpkin, popcorn etc.

Vitamin B3 Meat, fish, eggs, milk products, cereals, Pellagra

(Niacin) mushroom, guava etc.

Vitamin C Fresh fruits, black currant, broccoli, goat Scurvy

milk and chestnuts.

Vitamin D Fish, egg, liver, beef, cod, chicken breast etc. Rickets and Osteomalacia

Vitamin E Potatoes, pumpkin, guava, mango, milk, Heart problems, Haemolysis and
nuts, seeds etc. sterility

Vitamin K Tomatoes, broccoli, chestnuts, cashew nuts, Haemorrhage

beef, lamb, mangoes, grapes etc.

20. Define Minerals.

Minerals are also organic compounds found in nature, which helps in the growth of the human
body. Minerals are essential for the human body to work properly. Deficiency of minerals
leads to several disorders.
E.g, Calcium, Sodium, Iodine etc.
21. Different types of Minerals, Food Source and their functions.

MINERALS SOURCES FUNCTIONS

Calcium Blackberries, dates, milk, Important for healthy bones, teeth and immune
egg, pomegranate, system
almonds, wheat,
soybeans etc.

Sodium Passion fruit, onions, Helps in the regulation of blood pressure and blood
fresh fruits, sweet potato, volume. It also helps in the proper functioning of
broccoli, pumpkin seeds, nerves and muscles
eggs, milk etc.

Iodine Sea foods, iodised salt, Promotes healthy hair, nails, skin and teeth. Also
milk and foods that are controls body weight and growth
grown in iodine-rich
places

Phosphorous Passion fruit, Phosphorous along with calcium is necessary for the
pomegranate, dates, beef, formation of bones, teeth etc.
tuna, oats etc.

22. How are herbivores different from carnivorous animals?

Herbivores are animals that feed only on plants or plant products. For eg., cows, goats buffaloes,
etc. Carnivorous animals, on the other hand, feed on other animals for nutrition. Lions, tigers,
and leopards are carnivorous animals.

23. What do carnivorous animals eat?

Carnivorous animals are meat-eaters. They feed on animal flesh by hunting their prey. For
example, a large carnivore can prey on a deer, a medium-sized carnivore might prey on rodents,
insects, frogs while a small-sized carnivore may feed on worms.
24. Why are humans classified as omnivores?
Humans are classified as omnivores. Omnivores are organisms that feed on different types of
food of plant and animal origin. Humans consume different varieties of plant and animal food
products and are hence considered omnivores.
25. What are the distinguishing features of carnivorous animals that help them to feed on other
animals?
The carnivorous animals are provided with powerful jaws and extremely sharp teeth to kill their
prey and tear the flesh apart. They have strong claws that help them to capture their prey.

26. What is the meaning of plant-based food?

Plant-based eating patterns focus on foods primarily from plants. This includes not only fruits
and vegetables but also nuts, seeds, oils, whole grains, legumes and beans.

27. What are some of the examples of ‘Omnivores’?

Examples of omnivores include bears, birds, dogs, raccoons, foxes, certain insects and even
humans.
 NCERT EXERCISE QUESTIONS:
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1. Do you find that all living beings need the same kind of food?
-->No, all living beings do not need the same kind of food. Some animals eat plants as food, and they
are called herbivores. Some animals eat other animals, and they are called carnivores. Some others
eat food from plant sources as well as animals, and such living beings are called omnivores.

2. Name five plants and their parts that we eat.

-->Brinjal – Fruit
Groundnut – Seed
Potato – Stem
Spinach – Leaves
Beetroot – Roots

3. Match the items given in Column A with that in Column B

-->

Column A Column B

Milk, Curd, Paneer, Ghee Are all animal products

Spinach, Cauliflower, carrot Are vegetables

Lions and tigers Eat other animals

Herbivores Eat plants and plant products

4. Fill up the blanks with the words given: herbivore, plant, milk, sugarcane, carnivore
(a) Tiger is a ____________________ because it eats only meat.
(b) Deer eats only plant products and so, is called ______________.
(c) Parrot eats only _________________ products.
(d) The ________________ that we drink, which comes from cows, buffaloes and goats is an animal
product.
(e) We get sugar from ___________________.
-->(a) carnivore
(b) herbivore.
(c) plant
(d) milk
(e) Sugarcane.

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