When cooking, following the recipe often leads to the greatest success. It calls out the appropriate amounts and proportions of each ingredient, ensuring the dish comes out as planned. The same logic is true at the nutrient level of food. Without each of the essential components of food, it would look, taste and feel different.
Knowing the different components of food and their sources is important in creating a balanced diet, as well as improve your skills as a chef at home. With that in mind, here is a quick rundown of the components that make up what we eat and what makes them vital for our health.
Carbohydrates
These include sugars, starches, cellulose and gums, and make up the main source of energy for your body. Foods that contain a high proportion of carbs include bread, fruit, whole grains and anything that is sweetened with sugar.
Proteins
Another crucial energy source for your body’s systems, proteins are the building blocks of your muscle tissue and organs. There are multiple ways to get the proteins you need. Meats, fish, dairy products and eggs contain high levels of it, but you also can turn to plant-based sources such as nuts, beans and seeds. As the world moves towards sustainable proteins sources in plants, it’s vital to understand that proteins are not equivalent to meat. Vegetables also provide protein and can used as sustenance without meat if your diet dictates it.
Fats/Lipids
Even though many people try to avoid them altogether, we need a certain amount of fat in our diets. Fat breaks down inside the body to create fatty acids needed for proper nutrition, while also helping process some vitamins. Common sources of fat include meats, cheeses, oils and butter. For many years, fats were seen as the “enemy” in food, while recent studies show that there are not only healthy fats, but they are vital for flourishing and should be included in the human diet.
Vitamins/Minerals
Vitamins and minerals in their correct doses are absolutely vital to the proper functioning of the human body. These organic compounds help energy transport as well as nourish our most important internal systems. No one food contains all of these essential food components, which is why it’s necessary to eat a balanced diet to ensure you consume everything your body needs to thrive.
Fiber
Although it is not digested by the body, fiber nevertheless is important for promoting healthy digestion and regulating cholesterol. Foods that contain high amounts of fiber include fruits and vegetables as well as nuts, seeds and legumes.
Water
In addition to drinking a healthy amount of water every day, our bodies also receive hydration from many of the foods we eat. Primarily, fresh produce is a major source a water from our food.
Trust PacMoore for Food Expertise
Although the various elements of food come from numerous sources and serve different purposes, one thing they all have in common is that quality matters. Manufacturers want to be certain that the ingredients used in their products are of the highest caliber. That means working with contract food manufacturing partners who are committed to delivering the best overall products in every respect.
As a complete resource for processing and procurement, PacMoore is able to provide guidance and support as you source your ingredients for us to process. To learn more about our full range of capabilities and services, get in touch with us today.