Food is any substance, usually comprised primarily of carbohydrates, fats, and/or proteins, that can be consumed by animals (including humans) for nutrition or pleasure. Almost all foods are of plant or animal origin. Many cultures have a recognizable cuisine, a specific set of cooking traditions, preferences, and practices.

The study of food is called food science. In English, the term food is often used metaphorically or figuratively, as in food for thought.

Human eating habits

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Historical development

Humans are omnivorous animals that can consume both plant and animal products. Evidence suggests that early humans employed hunter-gatherer techniques as their primary method of food collection. This involves combining stationary plant and fungal food sources (such as fruits, grains, roots, and mushrooms) with mobile animals which must be hunted and killed in order to be consumed. Additionally, it is believed that humans have used fire to prepare food prior to eating since their divergence from Homo erectus, possibly even earlier.

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Reader's Digest

Foot Care and Diabetes: Expert on Diabetic Neuropathy and More
Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400
Expert answers to 5 common questions.
Diet for a Long Life: Meat and Healthy Eating
Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400
The advice to dial back on burgers, steaks, and cold cuts just took on a bit more oomph.
50 Dentist Secrets: DDMs Share Hygiene Advice on Teeth, Gums and More
Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400
Dentists from across the country tell us what they're really thinking as they peer at our teeth.

TIME.com: Top Stories

5 Media Myths Debunked by Michael Jackson's Death
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:30:00 -0500
Michael Jackson's death should have provided a blueprint for how new media has overthrown old. But what it actually did was shine a white hot spotlight on the myths of the current media landscape
Beaten Back, Iran's Opposition Looks To Reform From Within
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 05:45:00 -0500
Having lost the battle for the streets, those who lead the opposition to the reelection of President Ahmadinejad are now forced to fight on within the regime where the hardline security establishment is ascendant
In Liberia, President Johnson Sirleaf's Past Sullies her Clean Image
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:23:30 -0500
In its final report released yesterday, Liberia's Truth and Reconciliation Commission makes the surprising recommendation that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's first elected woman president, should not serve in government for 30 years

U.S. News

CBS's Bob Schieffer Opens His Home to Russian Student
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:07:00 -0400
The Face the Nation host is a mentor for a student touched by the Chechen school massacre.
Drawing Lines on Doing Favors
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:50:00 -0400
It can be hard to make an ethical call on using your connections.

Newsweek Top News

Michael Jackson's Parallels to Judy Garland
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:32:37 -0000
The parallels between Michael Jackson and Judy Garland are haunting.
Veterans: America's New Green Warriors
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:54:05 -0000
Why veterans are stepping out of their camouflage and into the renewable energy industry.
How to Make an American Flag
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:19:26 -0000
This 130-foot U.S. flag was lost and then destroyed, but that didn't stop its makers from building it again and again.

Esquire.com Article Feed

Fish House Punch: A Great Drink That's as Old as America Itself
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:29:00 -0500
For July Fourth, our drinks correspondent recommends an authoritative yet delicious bowl of booze that even the Founding Fathers might've toasted with
10 Reminders for Obama on His (Somewhat Useless) Trip to Russia
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:27:00 -0500
The cold, post-Cold War truth about Putin's — er, Medvedev's Moscow? It doesn't matter as much it used to. But if Obama's got his wits about him next week, he'll pretend like it does.
Stars Who Served Uncle Sam: A Timeline
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:48:00 -0500
As the Fourth arrives, we take a war-by-war look at the surprising ways in which America's most famous folk performed their patriotic duty.

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