Model of nutrition in plants and animals

Green plants prepare their own food from carbon dioxide, water by using sunlight energy in the presence of chlorophyll. This process is known as photosynthesis. Therefore, green plants are known as autotrophs.

On the other hand, animals depend on other organisms for food. They cannot make their own food and are known as heterotrophs. All living organisms need energy to perform various life processes.

There are more than 40 different kinds of nutrients in food and they can generally be classified into the following 7 major groups: Carbohydrates. Proteins. Fats. Vitamins. Minerals. Dietary fibre. Water.

The mode of nutrition where organisms depend on other organisms for their food requirements is called heterotrophic nutrition. Animals are called consumers as they depend on autotrophs for their nutrition requirements. So nutrition in animals is heterotrophic in nature.