What is the main source for the food humans eat daily?

January 10, 2026 •

4 min read

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), three grass species—wheat, rice, and maize—supply 60% of human calories. The main source for the food humans eat daily is primarily a combination of plants and animals, forming the foundation of our entire food system.

Quick Summary

The main source of human food is a two-pronged system, comprising both plants and animals. Plants are the fundamental producers, directly providing vital nutrients and calories, while animals serve as a secondary source, consuming plants and other animals. This interconnected food web is crucial for daily human sustenance.

Key Points

Plants are the Primary Producers: All food energy ultimately originates from plants, which convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of the entire food chain.
Both Plants and Animals are Main Sources: Human food comes from both plant and animal sources, consumed either directly or indirectly, with plants being the foundational supply.
Grains are Global Staples: Cereal grains like wheat, rice, and maize are the main source of calories for the majority of the world's population.
Animals Provide Complete Proteins: While plant-based foods offer many nutrients, animal products are a key source of complete proteins, which contain all essential amino acids.
Position in the Food Chain Varies: Humans can act as primary consumers (eating plants), secondary consumers (eating herbivores), or tertiary consumers (eating carnivores), depending on their diet.
Agriculture is Essential: Modern agriculture is the system that produces and distributes the vast majority of our food, securing a predictable food supply for a large population.
Dietary Diversity Exists: While staple foods provide core energy, diverse sources like fruits, vegetables, legumes, and various animal products are necessary for a complete nutritional profile.

Plants: The Foundation of the Human Diet

Plants are the foundational and most important source of all human food, a reality evident throughout the food web. As the primary producers, plants convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of almost every ecosystem on Earth. Humans consume plants directly, enjoying fruits, vegetables, grains, and nuts, or indirectly by eating animals that have consumed plant matter. The majority of our global food energy comes from just a small number of staple plant crops, including maize (corn), wheat, and rice.

Cereals and Grains

Grains are a staple food for most of the world's population, providing significant amounts of carbohydrates for energy. They include:

Wheat: Used to make bread, pasta, and cereals, it's a major energy source globally.
Rice: A dietary staple for almost half of humanity, particularly in Asia.
Maize (Corn): Widely used for human consumption, animal feed, and processed food products.

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables offer a wide array of vitamins, minerals, and fiber essential for health. We eat various parts of plants, from the roots (carrots, beets) and leaves (spinach, lettuce) to the flowers (broccoli, cauliflower) and fruits (apples, tomatoes).

Legumes, Nuts, and Seeds

Legumes (beans, lentils, peas) and nuts are crucial sources of protein, fiber, and healthy fats. Seeds, such as those from sunflower or flax, are also pressed to produce rich oils.

Animals: A Secondary but Critical Source of Food

While plants are the primary producers, animals serve as a significant secondary food source for humans. They consume plant matter, converting it into nutrient-rich products that humans consume. Animal products are a particularly important source of complete proteins, which contain all the essential amino acids required by the human body.

Meat and Poultry

Directly consuming the meat of animals like cattle, pigs, and chickens is a major part of many diets worldwide. Meat provides substantial protein, fats, and micronutrients like iron and vitamin B12.

Dairy Products and Eggs

Animals such as cows, goats, and chickens provide indirect food products like milk, cheese, yogurt, and eggs. These are rich in protein, calcium, and fats, contributing significantly to human nutrition.

Fish and Seafood

Fish and other seafood are important sources of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and other vital nutrients. A seafood-based food chain can be longer, beginning with algae (producers) and passing through several levels of consumers before reaching humans.

Comparison: Plants vs. Animals in the Human Diet


Feature	Plant-Based Diet	Animal-Based Diet
Primary Role	Producer, converting sunlight into energy via photosynthesis.	Consumer, converting plants into animal protein.
Energy Source	Primary source of carbohydrates and fiber.	Secondary source of energy, often higher in fat.
Protein Quality	Can be incomplete; often requires combining different sources to get all essential amino acids.	Considered complete proteins, containing all essential amino acids.
Nutrient Profile	Rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals; naturally cholesterol-free.	Rich in B vitamins, iron, and other minerals; may contain higher levels of saturated fat and cholesterol.
Environmental Impact	Generally lower environmental footprint in terms of land use and emissions.	Typically higher environmental impact due to land use for feed and greenhouse gas emissions.

The Role of the Food Chain

The human food chain illustrates how energy flows from producers (plants) to consumers (animals and humans). All food energy ultimately traces back to the sun, captured by plants. In a simple food chain, humans might eat a plant directly (primary consumer), but in a longer chain, a human could eat a fish that ate a smaller fish that ate algae, becoming a tertiary or apex consumer. This dynamic process highlights our dependence on the entire biological network for nourishment.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the main source for the food humans eat daily is a combined system of plants and animals, with plants forming the fundamental base. Plants, as primary producers, provide the bulk of our food energy and nutrients, while animals, as secondary sources, offer high-quality protein and fats. This intricate relationship within the global food chain is what ensures our daily sustenance. Understanding this relationship is key to appreciating our place in the natural world and the importance of a balanced, sustainable food system. For more information on plant-based food benefits, check out the article on Foods(https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/22/3595).

Fun Facts About Human Food Sources

Over 80% of the world's food energy supply comes from staple plant crops like wheat, maize, and rice.
While there are over 75,000 edible plant species, humans only regularly consume about 300 of them.
Some cultures consume blood as a thickener or in sausages, utilizing animal products to their fullest extent.
The most widely produced crop in the world is sugarcane, though much of it is used for processed sugar and ethanol, not direct consumption.
The development of agriculture revolutionized human society, allowing for stable food supplies and population growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

The single most important food source for humans is plants, as they are the primary producers of energy and nutrients in the food chain. Even the animals we eat derive their energy from plants.

Humans are omnivores, meaning they have the biological ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. This adaptability has allowed humans to thrive in a wide variety of ecosystems throughout history.

The three most significant staple plant crops are wheat, rice, and maize (corn). Together, they provide the majority of the world's food energy supply.

A direct food source is a plant or fungus that humans consume directly, like an apple or a mushroom. An indirect food source is an animal product, such as meat, milk, or eggs, from an animal that has consumed plant matter.

Early humans were hunter-gatherers, relying on wild plants and animals. With the advent of agriculture, humans gained greater control over their food supply by cultivating crops, a shift that enabled population growth and the development of modern societies.

A varied diet is important because different food sources provide different essential nutrients. While plants offer carbohydrates and fiber, animal products provide complete proteins and certain micronutrients like vitamin B12 that can be harder to obtain from plant sources alone.

While not a major caloric source, fungi like mushrooms are consumed directly, and various fungi and bacteria are used in food preparation for fermented products like bread, cheese, and yogurt.