Food is any material eaten in order to provide nutrition to an organism for a specified period of time. Generally, food is generally of vegetable, animal or fungi origin, and has vital nutrients, including protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, or minerals, in adequate proportions for the organism to survive. In most cases, a human being requires around 2021 calories of food per day in order to maintain its weight, and must also take into account the calories needed for the growth and maintenance of all other organs of the body. Since the energy requirements of humans increase with age, the amount of food required increases also, making food supply more difficult to keep up with.

The consumption of food, particularly unprocessed foods may help reduce cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. Eating fresh vegetables and fruits every day help to make sure that the food we eat is high in antioxidants and low in fat, while making certain that we avoid saturated fat and sodium, which can cause a buildup in the arteries and consequently contribute to cardiovascular disease. Low-fat dairy products and lean meats help to promote a healthy blood flow and may help to reduce blood pressure and other cardiovascular conditions. There are several recommendations regarding the minimum number of servings of fruits and vegetables per day in order to reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. One of the most important recommendations concerning food, though, is to make sure that what we eat is as natural as possible.

A good way to keep track of your food intake is by keeping a food diary, which allows you to record both the amount of food you consume, as well as the calories that you eat. Most diaries start by listing the major food groups, which are carbohydrates, protein, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, fats, and salt. The bottom of the page or column is reserved for notes or comments, and any adjustments that you may want to make to the food list. You can use a software program, such as those available on the internet, which will allow you to input all of your information, as well as keep track of how many calories you are consuming, as well as tracking your progress over time. Once you have a food diary in which you can monitor your food intake, as well as track your progress, you will be able to see at a glance if you are on track to lose weight, maintain your current weight, or gain weight.