Food

Why Do We Cook Food?

• Cooking makes food soft and easy to chew.
• It improves the taste of food.
• Cooking kills germs and makes food safe.
• It helps in better digestion.

Components of Environment

• Natural Environment → Land, water, air, plants, animals.
• Human-made Environment → Parks, buildings, roads, industries, monuments.
• Human Environment → People, families, communities, religion, education, politics.

Different Methods of Cooking

• Boiling – used for rice, dal, potatoes.
• Frying – used for puri, pakora, chips.
• Roasting/Grilling – used for roti, corn, kebabs.
• Steaming – used for idli, dhokla, momos.

Raw and Cooked Food

• Some food can be eaten raw (fruits, cucumber, carrot, salad).
• Some food must be cooked (rice, dal, chapati, potato).
• Milk can be consumed raw, but boiling makes it safer.
• Cooking changes the texture, color, and taste of food.

Things Needed for Cooking

• Fuel – wood, coal, kerosene, LPG, electricity, solar energy.
• Utensils – pans, pots, cooker, tawa, kadai, ladle, etc.
• Water and spices – to prepare and flavor food.
• Fire and heat are necessary for most cooking methods.

Human Environment

• Early humans lived in close harmony with nature.
• With time, humans modified the environment → invention of wheel, agriculture, industries, trade, transport, communication.
• Today, humans create cities, machines, and technology that change nature.

Safety and Cleanliness in Cooking

• Wash vegetables, fruits, and hands before cooking.
• Keep utensils clean and dry.
• Be careful with fire, gas, and hot utensils.
• Do not waste food and cook only as much as needed.

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