Factors Influencing Food Habits and Culture Eating food is essential for all of us, it keep us alive and also gives us enjoyment at the same time. Food can be defined as any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue. (ilearn) In ancient time, when people feel hungry, they eat. However, as human history keep developing and evolving, we have a higher standard on choosing food that we like to eat nowadays. In this paper, we are going to evaluate factors that are influencing our food habits and food culture. Those factors can be divided into two main categories, internal factors (individual preference and values) and external factors (geographical, religion, social, economic and political). Internal …show more content…
Another example would be Chinese like to eat hot pot in winter to keep them warm. In the northern part of China, there are more spicy dishes than the southern part of China. This is because eating spicy food will keep people warm. In costal region, there is more seafood than the inland region. The reason is because it is easier to get fresh seafood in costal region than in the inland region. Japan is an island surrounded by sea, and that is why eating seafood is famous in Japan. Some locations are better for growing specific food, for example China have the climate advantage in growing tea, and France have the advantage in growing wine. Religion is another external factors influencing food habits and food culture. Different culture has different religion, different religion has different custom and food is an important part of a religion. Some religion such as Muslims, consider eating pork as a dirty food, and people should not eat them. Buddhism do not recommend members to eat meat, because they think that is cruel to kill an animal and that we should respect them so we should not eat them. Therefore, a lot of Buddhism followers are vegetarians. Hinduism followers do not eat cow because they think that cows are scarce. People who believe in a religion will follow the rules of the religion, so this will influence their food habit. Some religions do not have rules about food, but they have specific food to eat.
He investigates how human dietary habits are shaped by natural and cultural variables, including the
When it comes to food in today's day and age it correlates with being convenient, fast, and budgeting because people are usually on the go. Generally, people are used to a grab and go routine between work, school, and a family life. Government regulations such as the FDA and other laws given to factories and supermarkets are being trusted to keep the population safe from any food dangerous; therefore, people don’t do their own research on the foods they’re serving. Authors Pollan and Schlosser in Food Matters, allows individuals to analyze and think about the intake of foods used in their daily life. Pollan shares some rules to be considered when shopping for foods in the supermarket. If people read in detail the theories and information given
According to Delaney (2004) suggests that food is not biological, it is cultural. The food that is consumed shapes culture and culture shapes food and intern shapes our identity (Delaney, 2004). Counihan (1999) agrees and suggests that food is a “product and mirror of the organisation of society…it is connected to behaviours and meanings” (p. 6). The way in which food is produced, distributed and consumed illustrates power relations, gender and sex within societies (Counihan, 1999). She explains that each society has a distinct food way which structures the community, personalities and families within the society (Counihan, 1999).
Food is closely related to people's lives and it is considered the most important element in Chinese culture. Chinese food is famous all over the world too. American Chinese cuisine differs significantly from the traditional Chinese cuisine and even though the variation in taste can be so it is still attractive to many people. When it comes to food, Chinese people always care about the color, taste, smell and shape of Chinese dishes. In 1784, a group of passengers on the ship Empress of China became the first Americans to land in China and they were also the first group of people to eat Chinese food; it was the
Moreover, it will discuss the changes of the traditional food over the years. This report consists of four parts. The literature review is the first part, which summarizes the relevant academic sources related to this report. Then, the next section will discuss the methods that were followed to reach the results of this report. The third section will describe and analyse the data, showing how it affected the research. Finally, the report finishes with a conclusion that summarizes the data, and a discussion considering the limitations and recommendations for future research.
Neither life nor culture can be sustained without food. On a very basic level, food is fundamentally essential for life, not simply to exist, but also to thrive. A means by which carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, nutrients, and calories are introduced into the body, food is a mechanism of survival. However, on a more abstract level, food is also fundamentally essential for culture by establishing its perimeters and dimensions and in shaping its authenticity and character. Food becomes the
Food, has a specific meaning to all of us; for some it is a form of nourishment, for others it is a cultural act,
When it comes to food choices sometimes it is not based on if one likes the food or not.It could be a matter of religion or culture.Like an example would be me i am of mexican culture and i grew up eating mexican food.Now that is a part of my life.Also religion plays a big part of ones food choices.I am not so sure of how big religion affects the food we eat in the united states but i know in places like the middle east it plays a really big part of ones food choices.
This quote illustrates national identity and ethnicity through food, “Tell me what you eat, and I'll tell you who you are” Brillat-Savarin in 1825. Food can showcase a lot about a nation and its people because culture and food, creates unity in a nation. In the case of Israel the Zionist organization used food as a tool to create a sense of identity and nationalism for the people of Israel by encouraging consumption of Kosher and Israeli produced foods. Israel like the United States, is an immigrant nation; so naturally many different foods and recipes are brought with the new immigrants from the countries they came from Europe to Africa. It’s great to see, how food is used to unite a nation as one. Whilst, Palestinian cuisine is interrelated to the foods of the Arab regions around it
Love has different meanings, it can be different for people. My definition of love is someone who gives you food. Thats true love because it’s hard to give up food or give food to someone unless they really need it. You really love someone or something if you share your own food with them. I know my mom loves me because when we go to restraraunts she orders something really fancy and my order is like some chicken finger;I always ask for some of her food and she lets me try it. That shows that she loves me. My definition of love might be different from the rest, but you have to admit it, sharing food means you love
The consumption of food is vital for survival en health, and it is a universal activity that involves many different food choice decisions. Deciding on what to eat are often seen as boring, ordinary and arbitrary (Sobal & Bisogni, 2009). An individual’s food choice depends on the personal preference and liking, availability, geographical and economical factors (Shepherd & Raats, 2006).
Well, according to all of us food is one of the most important things for us to survive in the real world. We rely on food for almost everything, and don't have questions on why we consume it because it has always been there for us and has never done us wrong. We eat what we like and grow to love it due to our parents, and maybe we are even influenced by our society and cultural. The food we eat also represents the type of cultural background that we come from. Which also affects how much we eat depending on what we do in our own home and the routine that we have kept over the years. We have always been influenced
As many a reader may know, food is an essential item in our lives. Without proper sustenance, there is no doubt that we would quickly parish. Food is so important to humans that in the ~200,000 years that anatomically modern humans have lived on Earth, food has changed to reflect our cultures. From methods of preparation to the types of food available, our culinary experiences have changed, whether or not for the better. In our fast passed society, where we want good food quick and cheap, food trucks have come to reign over gourmet on the go.
Moreover, food consumption culture is part of significant linkage point of each urban study issues. Especially issue of public health that affected with people who live in urban and urban public health.
Food not only acts as a necessity of life, but it also provides a way for people to bond and display their culture. People’s food habits act as a way for them to identify themselves. Food habits refer to the reasons why people eat, their methods of eating, the form of food they eat, and the way they get, store, and get rid of food (Rodriguez, 2002). Several factors influence people’s food habits and culture. Some of these factors include a person’s budget, health, and religion. Other factors such as age, gender, and social and cultural backgrounds determine people’s food habits. People buy what they can afford. Some people have the desire to eat in a healthier way, but they are not able to do this because they cannot afford healthy food. Junk food tends to be more readily available and consequently cheaper to buy than healthy food. People with low incomes find it hard to eat at restaurants, and they find it more economical to make their own meals. Food availability also determines people’s food habits. People tend to eat what they can find easily. Rare foods tend to be more expensive, and people avoid this. Foods in season are cheaper. This makes a person’s food habit seasonal and flexible, yet homogenous enough to define a person’s identity (Bellisle, 2012).