In human evolution, what was our diet like when we first appeared?

 When our early human ancestors first appeared, their diet was significantly different from what we consume today. Let’s delve into the dietary habits of our ancient predecessors:

1. Early Humans and Their Diet:

   • For millions of years, all humans—both early and modern—had to forage for their own food.
   • They spent a considerable part of each day gathering plants and hunting or scavenging animals.
   • Their diet primarily consisted of wild plants, fruits, and whatever animal protein they could obtain.

2. Shellfish and Fishing:

   • By 164,000 years ago, modern humans were already collecting and cooking shellfish.
   • Around 90,000 years ago, they began making special fishing tools¹.

3. Behavioral Shift Approximately 1.65 Million Years Ago:

   • Recent research suggests that approximately 1.65 million years ago, there was a significant behavioral shift related to diet.
   • Human ancestors began to consume more resources from C4 plants, which include grasses and sedges, as well as the animals that fed on them².

4. Meat in Human Evolution:

   • Meat played a starring role in the evolution of the human diet.
   • Our ancestors hunted and consumed various animals, including monkeys, coatis, peccaries, and capybaras.
   • Tapirs, with their long, prehensile snouts, were prized for their meat.
   • However, obtaining enough meat was often challenging due to factors like loggers scaring away animals and weather conditions³.

5. Variety and Adaptation:

   • Early humans adapted to their environments, consuming whatever was available.
   • Their diet varied based on geographical location, climate, and seasons.
   • Plant-based foods, insects, and small game were essential components.

In summary, our early human ancestors followed a diverse diet, relying on both plant-based foods and animal protein. Their survival and evolution were intricately linked to their ability to adapt to changing food sources over time³¹².