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Food habits and culture
Relationship between food and culture
Relationship between food and culture
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Food is one of the most important aspects of our lives. Food has bigger meaning in our life than nutrition for our survival. Our food preferences are not only an important aspect of our self-image, but they often are the defining characteristics of entire cultures. One of the most recognizable feature of a culture is the food that they are famous for. Italians are known for their Pasta, Japanese are known for their Sushi, Russia is known for Borsch, many Asian cultures are known for their use of rice, and so on. And each culture springs about food preferences that are drastically different from each other. Some cultures may have a narrow view of what is edible and other cultures may have a wider scope. For example, in my culture, consumption of pork is absolutely prohibited. In contrast in USA pork and especially bacon almost has a cult following.
Although globalization has opened doors to all cultures, bringing access for almost everyone to enjoy foods from cultures so remote, we still hold on to
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Outside influences that impact her beliefs of therapeutic uses of food are medical researches and science. She believes that our perception and attitude toward food also influences how well we respond to medicine or food that are used to treat a person. The American culture has impacted her culture by introducing the concept of convenience. Originally, foods in our culture are prepared with natural ingredients, making everything from scratch. American culture introduced packaged foods and prepped ingredients that can be used such as dough. Also, living in the US and working has introduced time constraints so that sometimes eating out is necessary since she doesn’t have time to cook. She believes that her cultural habits influenced American culture by creating places that sell halal food and restaurant that serve halal
When we think of our national health we wonder why Americans end up obese, heart disease filled, and diabetic. Michael Pollan’s “ Escape from the Western Diet” suggest that everything we eat has been processed some food to the point where most of could not tell what went into what we ate. Pollan thinks that if America thought more about our “Western diets” of constantly modified foods and begin to shift away from it to a more home grown of mostly plant based diet it could create a more pleasing eating culture. He calls for us to “Eat food, Not too much, Mostly plants.” However, Mary Maxfield’s “Food as Thought: Resisting the Moralization of Eating”, argues differently she has the point of view that people simply eat in the wrong amounts. She recommends for others to “Trust yourself. Trust your body. Meet your needs.” The skewed perception of eating will cause you all kinds of health issues, while not eating at all and going skinny will mean that you will remain healthy rather than be anorexic. Then, as Maxfield points out, “We hear go out and Cram your face with Twinkies!”(Maxfield 446) when all that was said was eating as much as you need.
Nutrition and health have become more popular in today 's society. Our generation is becoming more and more indebted to the idea of being healthy and eating nutritious meals. However, in “The American Paradox,” by Michael Pollan he argues that our unhealthy population is preoccupied with nutrition and the idea of eating healthy than their actual health. He also mentions the food industry, nutrition science and how culture affects the way we eat and make food choices. While Pollan is right about all these factor that affect our eating habits, there is more to it than that. Convenience, affordability and social influence also affects our food choices making them inadequate.
Folklores are stories that have been through many time periods. Folklore include Legends, Myths, and Fairy Tales. Legends are traditional tales handed down from earlier times and believed to have a historical basis. Myths are ancient stories dealing with supernatural beings, ancestors, or heroes. Fairy Tales are fantasy tales with legendary being and creators.
Introduction The phrase, “We are what we eat” holds some essential validity and truth to it. Food is a constituent feature of our environmental ties to where we subside. It is a part of our daily lives. It can act as a form of communication with other individuals. Food can be an indicator of the nutrition idiosyncratic cultural groups are practicing.
Food plays a very important role in every religion and culture. Good nutrition is a great symbol of healthy food/diet. In order to keep ourselves healthy, it is very important to watch what we are eating. Food habits come from parents, which later on developed according to the environment. Food is one of the ways where humans describe themselves as cultured. Food is the most significant segment of our lives. Different types of food explain verities of the belief that we have in all over the world. Ones’ food discipline and choice, tells about which culture/religion they belong to. Food, Religion,
Most people wouldn’t deny that food is vital to everyday life, but perhaps it has more importance than just simply nourishing our bodies. According to Carole M. Counihan, a doctor of anthropology, food is so important that society has constructed rules regarding its consumption. Counihan emphasizes in her 1992 Anthropology Quarterly article, “Food Rules in the United States: Individualism, Control and Hierarchy,” that these rules serve as the “means through which human beings construct reality” (Counihan, 1992, p. 55). Counihan advocates for the importance of studying food rules by explaining that knowledge about how food is viewed in our culture can do three things: improve understanding of other culture’s food rules, allow nutrition education programs to mesh with these rules, and reveal an aspect of society that helps maintain our current stratification system, which has not been thoroughly examined yet (Counihan, 1992). Through her study of food journals kept by American college students, Counihan argues that their adherence to food rules suggests that students strongly believe in self-control and individualism. Consequently, these beliefs reinforce our current social hierarchies, specifically classism, racism, and sexism. Counihan’s argument that our rules about food allow for the perpetuation of sexism is a compelling one that I very much agree with. I have personally seen my best friend plan her entire diet and exercise regimen based on what her boyfriend thinks. Although this article was written in 1992, I believe the message it conveys will still be applicable in years to come.
The interviewee that was questioned helped to collect and understand information with regards to food culture and food consumption based on changes through time. I interviewed a woman who lives near me who is in her early 60s who has lived in Canada her full life. Examining someone who has lived in Canada her full life was interesting because I was able to compare how food production and consumption has changed so much. Through looking at my interviewees food habits of when she was younger through up until now linking it to the concepts learned in class it helps to understand the ever-changing food culture. Alternative food movements are needed to help provide people with better choices because industrialized food and production
Many immigrant families bring with them the foods of their home country and are ready to share them with their children and future generations. However, some do not get the chance to do so as they are pressured to give up their foods for “healthier” and more American dishes. This stems from the ongoing problem of assimilation that has plagued America since the decimation of Native Americans. Nutritionists will make the claim that a great majority of the foods that immigrants from the Caribbean and Latin America are unhealthy and is the cause for chronic disease in immigrants . Asking them to replace their foods is not saying they should replace ingredients but simply switch to a more Americanized meal instead. Food is a gateway that Americans use to pressure immigrants into assimilation. The pressure to assimilate into American culture may be a source of spikes in immigrant health complications; not because the foods themselves are unhealthy.
I believe that Europeans played a big role on the type of food that we have available today
In the article of Lousise Fresco she asked a group of people if they would prefer the wonder bread from the store or homemade bread. As you assume the majority of the crowd chose homemade bread. She then went on and stated how there is still tradition in our food that we should look for. In the article “Pleasures of Eating”, he says that we need to understand the origin of the food we buy; whether it comes from a local farmer, across the country, or even from our own community. He thinks that the idea of locality should be used as much as possible, keeping traditions near in surrounding cultures. In the last article, Michael Pollan talks about culture first hand. He comments on how the French have some of the worst diets but end up being the healthiest. He believes that it is all in how much the culture consumes. In French they don’t eat as much food as we do here in America therefore French appear to be healthier. Culture and tradition play a role on the food choices we make every
The other aspect of the Americanization of different cultures’ foods is lessening the spiciness of certain foods. For instance, foods from Thailand usually have a significant amount of heat and spice based on the Thai food culture that largely incorporates vegetables. In this case, Americans lessen the spiciness through changing a major ingredient of the ethnic cuisine in order to prepare an Americanized Thai cuisine. Therefore, Americans have primarily Americanized different cultures’ foods through salting, adding sugar, or frying and lessening changing major ingredients of the native cuisine.
I was born in one of the countries in Asia, and our staple food is rice. Rice is always at the center of the table, and the rest of the viand surrounds it. Here in the United States, my household still eat rice every day, accompanied by cooked vegetables and meat. My food choices are influenced by culture and family. Vegetables and fruits of my choice are abundant at the International Market and other Asian grocery stores. Vegetables are also available for a cheaper price at the farmers market. I myself buy these foods to ensure its freshness, prepare and cook them for my entire family. Inspired by Asian and American cuisine, our food is prepared with variety of cooking styles; such as dry like barbecues, baked and fried, with sauce
A defining trait of every country, whether it be Italy or India, is the type of cuisine that they serve. One of the best ways to gain an understanding of a country’s culture is through their food. While some people would deem other aspects of a culture as more important, it is a feature easiest to explain and relate to. A distinguishing fact is that food is both physical and mental in that its creation takes dedication and effort; food is able to create emotions given the proper setting. As cooking traditions evolved throughout the years, to fit people’s ever changing tastes, so does the culture. They are parallel to each other in that as one aspect of culture changes, so does the food and vice versa. Two of the most popular types of foods in society today are American food, and Chinese food. The typical features of how food is prepared and made, the tastes preferred, the utensils, and the beliefs about the food's properties are all reflections of the American and Chinese cultures.
American culture is changing dramatically. In some areas it’s a good thing, but in other areas, like our food culture, it can have negative affects. It is almost as if our eating habits are devolving, from a moral and traditional point of view. The great America, the land of the free and brave. The land of great things and being successful, “living the good life.” These attributes highlight some irony, especially in our food culture. Is the American food culture successful? Does it coincide with “good living”? What about fast and processed foods? These industries are flourishing today, making record sales all over the globe. People keep going back for more, time after time. Why? The answer is interestingly simple. Time, or in other words, efficiency. As people are so caught up in their jobs, schooling, sports, or whatever it may be, the fast/processed food industries are rapidly taking over the American food culture, giving people the choice of hot
It is vital to recognize the value of a certain culture in the country through a common “tool” such as food. Located in Ohio, in Oberlin College’s newspaper, a number of students complained about the cultural appropriation on Asian food. Among many students, a Junior Japanese student, Tomoyo Joshi, criticizing the college’s serving of sushi, stated: “When you’re cooking a country’s dish for other people, including ones who have never tried the original dish before, you’re also representing the meaning of the dish as well as its culture” (Dunham & Friedersdorf). The unique taste and characteristic in a country’s dish reveals a meaning of its culture. Through common accessibilities like Japanese food, for instance, many people are able to understand and learn the Japanese culture. However, many misunderstand the Japanese culture due to the modification of Japanese food in the West. Without the same tasting, Westernization of Asian food corrupt originality in the culinary world. As a matter of fact, “the traditional cuisines of Japan is based on rice with miso soup and other dishes such as soba or udon or meat based products called tonkatsu… Japan has simmered many dishes such as fish products in broth called oden or beef in sukiyaki and nikujaga” (Wikipedia). In comparison to the original Japanese food sold in Japan, Japanese