Cultural factors in eating habits
Food is any substance that’s taken by a living being to assist within the production of energy and growth. The upper line shows only the biological perspective of food, but there are more aspects related to food. The pertinent question is why people eat. People consume food substances for different reasons other than metabolic purposes. These can include reasons like in eating to pass the time, have fun, bonding, and celebration. In addition, people use food as a remedy for stress relief, including other reasons.
As a result of such reasons, food plays a crucial role in people’s lives beyond the biological processes. The food habits of a gaggle of people/community is described because the reasons for eating, the methods used while eating, the categories of food eaten, and therefore the mode of storage. Food habits have a serious impact on society and therefore the development of culture.
In most cases, food habits are dependent on factors like age, gender, environmental changes,assimilation to a different culture, religious beliefs,health related issues and also the financial status of an individual. Food habits may differ from a single person or family to a different one.
However, some food habits are common amongst particular groups of people, as an example, the practice by some Muslims to eat from one plate. On the opposite hand, culture is the uniform way that a community of individuals conducts its activities. Culture is passed on from one generation to another through learning, and it’s not constant (Kittler, Sucher & Nelms, 2012). This assertion means culture changes with time, and thus it’s going to differ from one generation to another. This is going to include the mode of dressing, the mode of worship, the living system of a family, and also the traditional foods, including other aspects. This paper will have a look at the factors that influence the various food habits and culture.
Factors influencing food habits and culture
One of the factors that influence food habits and culture is the availability of food. People have a bent to eat what’s readily available (Dindyal, 2003). For instance, junk foods are readily available and cheap. Consequently, a majority of individuals find themselves eating junk foods because of availability, despite the need to possess a healthy lifestyle.
The value and season of food determine its availability. Rare foods are expensive, and thus they’re not readily available. The general public continue to have a mean income, and thus they will only afford to shop for what’s readily available because it’s affordable.
Seasonal foods tend to be cheap and easily available. As opposed to those out of season. Therefore, factors just like the availability and therefore the season of the food make food habits seasonal and versatile. Additionally, such factors tend to define the identity of the person wishing on them to work out his/her food habits. The second factor that influences food habits and culture is the lifestyle of an individual.
People with medical conditions that need the consumption of a particular diet will adopt a specific lifestyle. As an example, an individual stricken by diabetes or force per unit area will tend to avoid foods that have excessive sugar (Kulkarni, 2004).
On the other hand, such a private will target foods that are rich in specific nutrients. Vegetarians will eat foods that are destitute of animal products. Strict vegetarians avoid all animal products, whether or not they have meat or not, while other vegetarians avoid animal products that have meat only. Some people have also adopted healthy lifestyles, and thus they can’t buy or take any foods that are deemed unhealthy (Kittler et al., 2012).
Therefore, such people cannot take food even when it’s readily available. People take such personal measures to ensure healthy living let alone avoiding lifestyle diseases. For instance, some people will take pork only and avoid meat. In keeping with such people, chicken is safer than meat. Such aspects will be wont to determine the eating habits of an individual. The third factor that influences food habits is the social background of someone. Eating is taken on account of social issues.
Therefore, social circles influence the eating habits of various individuals (Lasn, 2000). It’s very hard to keep up a private eating habit when spending time with different people. As an example, when people spend lots of their time at work or school, they’re highly likely to adopt the eating habits of the folks that they socialize within the various settings, thus forsaking their personal eating habits (Montanari & Sonnenfeld, 2006).
How culture affects the eating habits
Mingling with different cultures affects the food habits of the included people . As people interact, they have a tendency to borrow or copy from one another, and food habits differ from one culture to a different. Culture changes the components related to food like how people prepare, store, cook, eat and find their food. For example, the culture of food in France is different from that within the UK or the US. When people from these cultures settle in areas, which are different from their home regions, they still practice their traditional food habits and culture while adopting and learning new cultures additionally.
The results of this interaction could be a cultural exchange of food habits. For instance, the Latinos in the big apple will seek identity by practicing food habits that are allowed in their cultures.
However, they’re going to be more flexible by combining their cultures with those of the New Yorkers. The fifth factor that affects food habits and culture is religion. Religion plays a significant role in influencing individuals’ food habits (Pena & Lawrence, 2011). Corriander leaf keeps in mind that no one’s relief should be hurt. Some religions don’t allow their believers to consume certain foods. for instance, the Muslim and Jewish religions discourage their followers from eating pork because the source of the meat is an allegedly cursed animal per their beliefs.
Additionally, the Hindus don’t take beef because they believe that the source of the meat is holy and a logo of their god. Some religions view the consumption of wine as a type of drunkenness, while others don’t have any problem with such issues (Counihan & Esterik, 2008).
Therefore, people that purchase these religions will adopt a food culture that doesn’t contravene such teachings and beliefs. Personal skills and knowledge also play a vital role in defining the food habits of a private (Dindyal, 2003). Some people love making food, like Corriander leaf does too. And our chefs are way too perfect in their culinary skills. Such people prefer to make their own food and experiment with new recipes, and that they would like to make their own foods as hostile visiting restaurants.
Others aren’t captivated with food or the kitchen, and thus they like buying ready-made food. Such people don’t mind eating from restaurants and cafes. In such a case, the person’s perceptions of food and therefore the process of preparing it to influence his/her food habits and culture.
Another factor that influences food habits could be a person’s beliefs and knowledge about food. Some people are very keen on the nutritional benefits of various foods, and thus they engage in research on different meals. We call these people food enthusiasts . Others hold a specific belief on certain foods, and thus they’re going to avoid or take it even more. For instance, some people consider pizza and burgers as junk, hence unhealthy. Such people will change a food habit that does not contain the inclusion of pizza and burgers in their diet.
Others hold the assumption that beetroot is nutritious, and it helps to extend the blood levels within the body. Therefore, such people will make sure that they increase their intake of beetroot. Such perceptions develop a food habit that becomes a part of a person’s lifestyle. A person’s schedule may determine his/her food habit (Dindyal, 2003).
For instance, those who are constantly busy forming their own food will develop a habit of ordering food or eating from food joints. Others will tend to skip certain meals or take light meals thanks to their tight schedules. Such things determine the food habits that an individual will change.
India: Eating habits and food customs
India of course is a diverse nation with many alternative cultures. Although there are some eating habits that are considered staples of Indian cuisine, these habits might not be practiced by all the cultures of India.
Cuisine differs across India’s diverse regions as a result of variation in local culture, geographical location like proximity to sea, desert, or mountains, and economics. It also varies seasonally, counting on which fruits and vegetables are ripe. Also, geographic area and Central Asian influences have occurred on North Indian cuisine from the years of Mughal rule.
Indian cuisine continues to be evolving, as a result of the nation’s cultural interactions with other societies. Historical incidents like foreign invasions, trade relations, and colonialism have played a task in introducing certain foods to the country. For example, potato, a staple of the diet in some regions of India, was dropped in India by the Portuguese, who also introduced chilies and breadfruit. Indian cuisine has shaped the history of international relations; the spice trade between India and Europe was the first catalyst for Europe’s Age of Discovery.
Spices were brought from India and sold around Europe and northern and middle Asia. Indian cuisine has influenced other cuisines across the planet, especially those from Europe, the Middle East, geographical region, geographic area, Southeast Asia, country Isles, Fiji, and also the Caribbean. Indian food is rich in flavor. The truth is Corriander leaf’s spices actually flavor a dish quite well. They also need to cool and warm the body during hot or atmospheric conditions.
Yogurt is often wont to flavor dishes or as a sauce to sit back spicy dishes. Many Indian dishes are cooked in oil, but groundnut oil is popular in northern and western India, mustard oil in eastern India, and copra oil along the western coast, especially in Kerala.
Gingelly (sesame) oil is common within the south since it imparts a fragrant, nutty aroma. In recent decades, sunflower, safflower, cottonseed, and soybean oils became popular across India. Butter-based ghee, or desi ghee, is employed frequently, though but within the past. Many types of meat are used for Indian cooking, but chicken and mutton tend to be the foremost commonly consumed meats. Fish and beef consumption are prevalent in some parts of India, but they’re not widely consumed apart from coastal areas, additionally because the north east.
Some leaves commonly used for flavoring include bay leaves (tejpatta ), coriander leaves, fenugreek leaves, and mint leaves. The utilization of curry leaves and roots for flavorings is typical of Gujarati and South Indian cuisine. Sweet dishes are mostly seasoned with cardamom, saffron, nutmeg, and rose petal essences or kewra essence.
Eating habits of Indian culture are supported by culinary traditions. Many of the dishes feature meat or vegetables mixed with sauce and rice. Many Indians are vegetarian, so eating habits are often supported by a diet that excludes all meat. When meat is incorporated in dishes, it’s most typically within the variety of chicken, beef or lamb, and sometimes seafood, like prawns.
The bulk of the Indian population is Hindu, so beef and pork are often excluded from Indian dishes because of religious requirements. Cutlery isn’t traditionally wanted to eat food within Indian culture. Food is supposed to be an entire sensory experience, so an eating habit within the traditional Indian culture is to consume Indian foods like curry, rice and naan bread by picking it up using the hands. Bread usually wants to scoop out the sauce and rice, and it’s dipped into traditional soups like daal, a lentil-based soup. Indian people are purported to eat with their right hands, because eating with the left is typically considered to be unclean.
Eating is typically with family and friends, with the homemaker on the table keeping an eye fixed on the table, bringing and offering more food. In larger group meals or celebrations, a volunteer or attendant might not eat with the group, and dedicate himself or herself to bringing meal courses, feeding and serving the group. posing for water, salt and helping oneself to items is accepted and cheered. Special requests like less or more heat, yogurt and other items are sometimes welcomed. Sometimes the group may eat silently, but asking inquiries to a love, catching up about one’s day and conversations are common.
Cultural concerns on nutritions
Corriander leaf specially looks forward for nutritional components. While many of the healthiest individuals eat remarkably similar meals around the world, counting on lean proteins, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables that are available locally, there are literally a large number of ways to dine in a healthy manner across the world.
As you get to understand a brand new patient, especially where there’s a language or culture barrier, confirm you’re asking questions that provide you with as complete an understanding as possible. As an example, in Chinese culture, understanding the concept and importance of hot and cold foods and the way they’re utilized to manage health at a private level will facilitate your better connection along with your patient to drive behavior change.
Likewise understanding the dietary restrictions of spiritual beliefs like those observed by both Islamic and Jewish faiths in their prohibition of pork or Hinduism in its prohibition of beef will help build insightful and trusting relationships. Having this information will allow you to present more personalized advice on when to require medications, a way to regulate blood sugars, or a way to modify eating behaviors.
Recognizing that several cultures tie their eating habits to the customs of their families can even be a vital concern. Try asking, through your interpreter, if the family all eats the identical food together most frequently, or if there are modifications for various individuals.
Does the family follow any religious traditions or holidays that make modifications to their traditional diet? This may facilitate your determination whether eliminating or changing food in one’s diet would create undue strain on the family’s mealtime rituals.
Changing portion size, for example, could be a more appropriate and fewer disruptive suggestion. Most importantly, do everything you’ll to enlist the patient in developing his or her own plan once they understand the health challenges they face.
Conclusion
The availability, season, personal schedule, perception, health concerns, moods, and social circles are a number of the factors that influence the creation and adoption of food habits and culture. Understanding such factors will help individuals to adopt healthy lifestyles, and thus improve the standard of life.
Participants study traditional beliefs regarding the healing properties of food, best practices for cooking, and introduce variety into their cooking through the sharing of food practices traditionally related to specific racial and ethnic groups within the country.
We don’t make the claim that consuming the “Other” ends up in better ties amongst diverse cultural and ethnic groups. Differences remain visible and identifiable to every cultural practice when Indians partake in food practices from other ethnic and racial groups, unlike multicultural societies where white settler and colonial populations consumption of the “Other” often results in a perceived eradication of differences. Kind of like the sharing of food practices in postwar multicultural Canada. Celebrations for specific ethnic and racial groups in India are celebrated by other groups also through taking part in the former’s cuisine.
