What is a definition of "food" for a heterotroph and a autotroph?please help thanks

A heterotroph is an organism that uses carbon for growth. That is their primary food source. They obtain their carbon from other heterotrophs and autotrophs. "Heterotrophs are consumers in the food chain." Some examples of heterotrophs are animals,fungi, and bacteria. There are two types of heterotrophs:

1. Photoheterotroph-"obtains energy from light but needs organic carbon for growth"


2. Chemoheterotroph-"needs organic carbon for growth and an energy source"

Autotrophs are organisms that "produces complex organic compounds from simple inorganic molecules using energy from light or inorganic chemical reactions." They can produce their own food.  "Autotrophs are producers in the food chain."  Some examples of Autotrophs are plants and algae.

So food for a heterotroph are plants and algae (autotrophs).  Food for an Autotroph are sunlight and inorganic chemicals.