BASIC GROUPS OF FOOD

Need of food grouping – Foods grouped together give an idea on account of the key nutrients of that food group for example-Milk , cheese contains calcium and protein. It is also important to enjoy variety of food with in each food group because different food vary in the amount of nutrients that they provide. For example-In vegetables group pumpkin and carrots contain more vitamin-A that potatoes.

Classification of food into four food group

1. Cereals , Millets and Pulses

i)Cereals : The cereals wheat, rice and their products like wheat flour, semolina, bread and other such items. Cereals are rich source of energy as rich in carbohydrates. 

ii) Millets : The millets sorghum, bajra, ragi, corn flacks and other. Millets are also rich source of carbohydrates. Millets are considered as course grain .  

iii)Pulses and Legumes : Legumes such as Bengal gram, black gram, Green gram lentil and their dals are included. Some other legumes like cow-pea , moth beans , soyabean are also included. Pulses and Legumes are rich source of protein. 

 Cereal , millet and pulses also provide beta -complex , vitamin and fiber.

2. Vegetables and and fruits Group

i) Green leafy vegetables: Spanish , fenugreek , coriander , onion leaves , cabbage, dill leaves and others, these leafy vegetables are rich in vitamins like beta-carotene, vitamin C and minerals like calcium, iron and fiber.      

ii) Roots and tubers : These includes potatoes, sweet potatoes , carrot and reddish. Roots and tubers are rich source of carbohydrates in form of starch.     

iii) Other Vegetables : These includes all other parts of plant like fruit, flowers, seeds nuts and other. Vegetables such as Ladies finger , tomato , brinjal , all types of gourds and all other vegetables not included in subgroup.     

IV) Fruits : It includes beta-carotene rich fruits such as orange, mango, papya , etc. Vitamin rich fruits such as guava , orange, lemon, sweet lime , pine apple , strawberry , custard apple and others are also included.

All fruits provide carbohydrates in the form of sugar , fiber , vitamin and minerals.

3. Milk and Milk Products , Eggs , Meat , Fish , Poultry and their products

Milk : this includes whole milk , toned milk ( low fat) , double toned milk(very low fat) , skim milk , condensed milk , powdered milk, etc.

Milk products: it includes curd , khoa , cheese, paneer , yogurt which are good source of protein, vitamin like B complex , vitamin-A and minerals like calcium. 

Eggs : chicken eggs , duck eggs. 

Meat : red meat ,lean meat, beef, veal, pork are good source of iron, zinc and B12 vitamin. 

Fish and sea food: Fish, prawns, crab, lobster, mussels, oysters, scallops, clams are good source of vitamins, minerals, proteins and omega-3 fatty acids.   

Poultry : chicken, turkey, duck,goose.

This food group is the best source of proteins and minerals. Daily consumption of these products in a moderate level is very beneficial for the healthy life.

4. Oil and Fat, Nuts Oil seeds, Sugar

i) Oil and Fats : This groups includes oil and fats like butter , pure ghee , cream , vanaspati ghee and vegetables oils which are the concentrated source of oil . 

ii) Nuts and oilseeds : these includes groundnut ,gingelly seeds , cashewnuts , almonds , dry coconut , walnuts etc. These are rich source of energy , protein and minerals. 

iii) sugar : these includes cane sugar , jaggery etc. Sugar is a good source of energy. 

Olis, Oil-seeds and sugar are good sources of fats and vital minerals, proteins also improves the taste of food.

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