ancestor: people from your family or country that lived before you.
additive: something added to food to change its characteristics.
aeroponics: a system of growing plants without any medium for their roots at all.
agriculture: production of food through farming.
allergen: something that triggers an allergic reaction.
amino acids: chemicals that make up protein.
antioxidant: a substance in food that helps fight disease.
bacteria: microorganisms found in soil, water, plants, and animals that are sometimes harmful.
biodegradable: something that living organisms can break down.
bioplastics: plastic made from plant material.
carbohydrates: one of the basic building blocks of nutrition, that give you energy.
carnivore: an animal that eats other animals.
climate: average weather patterns in an area over a period of many years.
commercial: large businesses producing large quantities.
complex carbohydrate: a food source such as whole grains or beans that gives you steady energy.
culture: the beliefs and customs of a group of people.
dehydrate: to remove the moisture from something.
dehydration: dangerous loss of body fluids.
digestive tract: the passage between the mouth and the anus, including the stomach and other organs that food passes through for digestion and elimination
drought: a period of very dry weather when there is not enough rain.
durable: able to last.
edible: safe to eat.
embalm: to preserve a body.
environment: a natural area with plants and animals.
environmentalist: someone who works to preserve the environment.
enzyme: a natural chemical that causes a reaction.
essential fatty acids: necessary substances found in fish and some plants that your body can’t make on its own.
ethical: acting in a way that upholds someone’s belief in right and wrong.
ethylene gas: a natural ripening agent produced by many fruits and vegetables.
evaporate: change from a liquid to a gas.
expiration date: the date food should be eaten by.
famine: a period of great hunger and lack of food for a large population of people.
fermentation: a chemical reaction that breaks down food.
fertile: land that’s able to produce vegetation.
fertilizers: something added to soil to make it more fertile.
flood: when a dry area is covered by water.
fortified: when certain foods have nutrients added to it.
free-range: animals who are allowed to graze in open areas instead of being confined to an enclosure.
genetic engineering: manipulating genes to alter appearance and other characteristics.
glucose: a basic sugar that provides energy.
gravitropism: the ability of plants to detect and grow roots in the direction of gravity.
greenhouse effect: when gases in the atmosphere permit sunlight to pass through but then trap heat, causing the warming of the earth’s surface.
greenhouse gases: carbon monoxide and other gases that get into the atmosphere and trap heat.
heirloom plants: plants that were grown earlier in human history.
herbicides: chemicals used to kill unwanted plants like weeds.
herbivore: an animal that eats only plants.
histamines: chemicals that protect the body against allergens.
hormones: compounds that work with specific organs in your body.
humanely: treating a living creature with compassion.
hydroponics: growing plants without soil.
immigrant: someone settling in a new country.
Industrial Revolution: the name of the period of time that started in the late 1700s in England when machines replaced people as a way of manufacturing.
innovation: new idea or invention.
irrigation: any method to water crops.
leaching: when water washes substances out of the soil.
legumes: plants with seeds that grow in pods, like peas and beans.
livestock: animals on a farm that produce food like milk and eggs, or products like wool.
locavore: someone who eats foods grown locally whenever possible.
longevity: how long food lasts.
macronutrients: protein, carbohydrates, and fats needed by the body in relatively large quantities every day.
malaria: a deadly, infectious disease.
micronutrients: vitamins and minerals needed by the body in small quantities every day.
microorganism: anything living that is so small you can only see it with a microscope.
migrate: to travel to the same place at the same time each year.
Nile River: a long river in Africa (4,132 miles or 6,650 kilometers) that winds its way from Burundi to Egypt.
nitrogen: a naturally occurring element needed by plants.
nomads: people who move from place to place in search of food.
non-renewable: energy sources that can be used up, that we can’t make more of, such as oil.
nutrients: substances that strengthen or build up your body.
nutrition: the vitamins, minerals, and other things in food that your body uses to stay healthy and grow.
omnivore: an animal that eats both plants and animals.
opaque: not clear.
organic: food grown or raised according to certain standards, without artificial fertilizers, perticides, or hormones.
organism: anything living.
osteoporosis: loss of bone density.
palatable: when something tastes okay.
pasteurized: food that has been heated to destroy harmful bacteria.
perishable: easily spoiled.
pesticides: chemicals used to kill or control insects.
pharmaceuticals: drugs used for medications.
potato blight: a disease that destroys potato crops.
preserve: to save food in a way that it won’t spoil, so it can be eaten later.
prey: an animal caught or hunted for food.
produce: fruits and vegetables.
protein: one of the basic building blocks of nutrition.
rationing: when the supply of something is limited and it is distributed carefully among people.
recalled: when an entire batch of food is returned to the manufacturer because of a safety issue.
regulated: controlled by rules or laws.
salting: using salt to preserve food.
saturated fat: the fat that is the main cause of high blood cholesterol from what you eat. Butter and coconut oil have high amounts of saturated fat.
sodium: foundin salt.
solder: to fuse metal together to form one piece.
sustainable: a resource that cannot be used up, such as solar energy.
typhus: a contagious disease.
vegan: a vegetarian who won’t eat anything that comes from an animal, like dairy or eggs.
vegetarian: someone who eats a plant-based diet.
water cycle: the continuous movement of water from the earth to the clouds and back again.