Nutritional Classification of Food

Since foods vary widely in their contents of various nutrients, they have been broadly grouped under three heads from the nutritional point of view: 

(i) Energy yielding food 

(ii) Body building food and 

(iii) Protective food. 

These are briefly discussed below:

Energy yielding food: Foods rich in carbohydrates and fats are called energy yielding foods. Cereals, roots and tubers, dried fruits, sugars and fats are included in this group. Cereals contain, in addition, fair amounts of proteins, minerals and certain vitamins and form the important sources of the above nutrients in poor dietaries.

Body building food: Foods rich in proteins are called body building foods. Milk, meat, fish, eggs, pulses, oil seeds and nuts and low-fat oil seed flows are included in the group of body building foods.

Protective food: Foods rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals are termed as protective foods. Milk, eggs, liver, green leafy vegetables and fruits are included in this group. Protective foods are broadly classified into two groups: (a) foods rich in vitamins, minerals and proteins of high biological value, e.g., milk, eggs and liver and (b) foods rich in certain vitamins and minerals only, e.g., green leafy vegetables and fruits.