Many words in Russian have several meanings. The term “nutrition”, used in various spheres of public life in accordance with its connotations, is no exception. So what is nutrition?
Synonym for food
Although the grammatical structure of the term initially implies a process or action (nutrition as absorption of food), the explanatory dictionaries of the Russian language claim that nutrition is primarily food, food. Most often, the term is used in this sense in texts on medical subjects with such adjectives as “enhanced”, “healthy”, “correct”. The phrase “baby food” can also be attributed to a complex of specialized products suitable for feeding children from infancy to three years. As a rule, infant formula, granular teas, meat and vegetable purees, as well as fermented milk products prepared using special technologies, are not eaten by adults.
Systems approach
In a broader sense, nutrition is a system of absorption of products with certain rules, restrictions, and routines. An excellent example is a diet, which implies the existence of structured principles for the selection, preparation and consumption of food. Some diets are based on a simple system of rules: limit the amount of sweet in the diet, drink alcohol less often, and cook mainly in steam and in the oven. Other diets schedule planned meals for a week, a month, or even for an indefinite period (an excellent example of temporary uncertainty is the famous Ducane diet). There are also such systems that require unconditional obedience to the rules throughout life or the maximum possible period. These include vegetarianism of all varieties, veganism and a raw food diet.
Organizational issue
It is impossible to unequivocally answer the question of what food is, since, in addition to the above values, the term can refer to the organization of food supply. An elementary example is the phrase “catering”, which refers to the complex structure of networks of restaurants, cafes, canteens, pizzerias and other institutions that involve the absorption of food on their territory. An interesting neologism in the Russian language is the term "fast food" - it is almost a literal translation of the English concept of "fast food." Within the framework of logical categories, public and fast food are interrelated as general and particular. It is noteworthy that over time, fast food turns into a separate cooking school: there are dishes that are prepared only in cafes and fast food restaurants.
When it’s not about food
The meaning of the word in question is not only direct, but also figurative. In specialized vocabulary, food is the energy or fuel on which the equipment operates. The parallel between the meanings is obvious: just as a person cannot live normally and act without food, so the cable, engine or any technically sophisticated device is not able to function without power.
Different points of view
Not all scientists equally understand the meaning of the word “nutrition”. Some linguists and philologists claim that this word can mean any edible products, while others are sure that only ready-to-eat meals can eat a person, and not raw ingredients, which are theoretically also food. Moreover, real nutrition should provide the consumer with a maximum of useful substances necessary to maintain his body in good shape and to ensure the normal functioning of all organs and systems. Of course, any points of view have a right to exist; it is possible that an innovative approach to the meaning of the term will soon enter the texts of the explanatory dictionaries of the Russian language.