Food is any material consumed to give nutrition to organisms. It may be in the form of seeds, roots, cereals, vegetables, fruits, cooked or raw food, etc. Generally speaking food is generally of animal, plant or fungus origin, and includes various nutrients, like proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, etc.

The problem with most people today is that they think of food in terms of calories and composition, when it should actually be thought of in terms of nutrition. In fact all food is nutritious, whether real food or processed food. What constitutes real food and which are unhealthy is a matter of debate, but some things that are unhealthy include processed foods, high glycemic index foods, etc. A healthy diet would therefore consist of vegetables and fruits, which are rich in nutrients without being subject to excessive processing.

Vegetables such as tomatoes, carrots, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, etc. are very healthy and are an important part of any healthy diet. Cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, etc., contain high amounts of anti-oxidants and have low calorie content, which is why they are considered ideal for a weight loss diet. On the other hand, fruits including oranges, bananas, apples, grapes, pineapple and mangoes, are regarded as healthy and have low calories, because they contain very little processing and higher nutritional value than their counterparts.

Fruits and vegetables are also recommended for those suffering from chronic diseases called pre-cancer or cancer of the uppermost layer of the skin and colon, because they are a good appetite suppressant and contain good amounts of antioxidants. They can also help relieve the symptoms of diabetes, hypertension, migraine headaches, stroke, arthritis, eczema, constipation, heart disease, asthma, etc. On the whole, it is always recommended to eat at least six servings of fruits and vegetable per day and take in lean meat and poultry as well. If you are suffering from a chronic disease call upon your doctor immediately to make appropriate recommendations regarding your food intake.

The food industry has responded to these food deserts by coming up with highly nutritious yet cost effective food choices, packed in attractive packages. The popular super foods have taken the country by storm and there are many restaurants and eateries that sell these highly nutritious items at reasonable rates. Super foods such as almonds, blueberries, broccoli, cantaloupe, grapes, kale, salmon, tomatoes, spinach, carrots and walnuts are favorite snack choices. Many people have responded positively to these specially prepared food offerings and they have gained a lot of popularity among people who suffer from extreme food deficiencies. The recent survey conducted by a food manufacturing company revealed that more than one million Americans are either severely lacking in essential vitamins and minerals or are excessively overweight.

We need to realize that obesity is caused not only by the lack of real food options but also due to a high level of food consumption that are rapidly increasing in the country. In fact, the United States consumes more food per person than any other country in the world and the unhealthy fast food culture that dominate us today has led to the country being one of the fattest in the world. We need to break this habit and start substituting junk food for healthy food that does not contain excess sugar and fat, thereby ensuring optimum health for all.