Final answer:
Nutrition is the process by which organisms obtain and utilize energy, either through photosynthesis in autotrophs or consumption and digestion in heterotrophs, and subsequently convert it to ATP for cellular functions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nutrition is the process by which organisms obtain and utilize energy. The correct order of processes by which nutrients and energy are obtained from food involves ingestion, digestion, absorption, and finally assimilation into the cells where energy is converted to ATP for cellular functions. While organisms like bacteria might have different metabolic pathways, all living things, including autotrophs and heterotrophs, need energy to grow and sustain their metabolic activities. Autotrophs, such as plants, capture energy directly from the sun through photosynthesis and convert it into chemical energy stored in food, while heterotrophs, like animals and humans, obtain energy by consuming and digesting other organisms or organic matter.