Nutritional resources

We are mammals with an omnivorous diet. The lactation period covers around the first two years of life (although there is much variation in populations for the weaning age) and for the rest of our lives we get the necessary nutrients from a diet which combines animal and vegetable foodstuffs.

Independently of its symbolic meaning, the image of Patinir’s painting shown here, illustrates the management of the three main kinds of nutritional resources: mother’s milk, vegetable products and animal products. Wheat appears simultaneously and miraculously in the stages of sowing, stubble and reaping. Among the animals we see pigs and poultry, whose productive, postproductive and distribution management is an important role for women worldwide.