1. Ingestion: Protists that ingest food engulf their prey whole, using temporary food vacuoles to digest it. This method is used by amoebas, paramecia, and other ciliates.

2. Osmosis: Protists that absorb food by osmosis take in dissolved nutrients through their cell membranes. This method is used by some species of flagellates and dinoflagellates.

3. Pinocytosis: Pinocytosis is a process in which protists take in fluids and solutes by forming small pockets in their cell membranes. This method is used by some species of amoebas and ciliates.