During early ages of human life, humanity ate what nature provided unaided. Man then simply sought plants and animals for food. Later, as human homes became more settled, food began to be produced by man. He worked with nature to raise near his home the foods the family needed in order to live, grow, work.

Cultivation of foods suited to human needs has increased as humanity has lived on. Preparation of food has also been extended. As humanity has itself become more intelligent, it has begun to study its food and how this nourishes it.

Seeking Food

Producing, preparing, studying it - is teaching humanity what and how it needs to eat for health, strength, length of life. Thus is learned what the need for food is under different conditions, what food is and does, how food should be prepared, and how the body can use it.

Producing and preparing food are everyday, necessary activities. They are world-wide occupations of women and men and have been throughout the civilized life of humanity. The well-being of humanity, its ability to grow, and its power to work, require that good food be produced and be well prepared.

When one does not eat, he feels hungry; he needs food. If hunger continues unsatisfied, there is loss of strength. But after eating, strength returns and one feels like being active again or at work. When food is cooked, it often seems easier to eat, and many foods taste better. But all foods are not more digestible when cooked; eggs, for example, are not. Cooking seems to do something to food. Foods do not all seem alike, but all seem to do something for the human body.

What a food does in the human body to nourish it and what happens when a food is cooked depend upon what the food is.