Ch 11 cultural and religious influences on food

what is American cuisine?

rich and complex melting pot of foods and cooking methods that have been adapted and adopted from cuisines brought to the US by immigrants

early settlers, native Americans, west African slaves, Mexican immigrants, Chinese and Italian immigrants

what drives American cuisine?

driven by expediency and ease, convince foods, and restaurant sourced meals are a driving force in current food trends

what are convenience foods?

range from convenient ingredients used to make home cooked meals to complete and ready-to-heat meals

more convenient the meal, the greater impact all around on time, budget, and nutritional value

downside is products tend to be high in sodium

describe restaurant sourced meals

food away from home (FAFH) accounts for more than 40% of food spending

nutritional quality of FAFH is lower than that consumed at home

consuming home cooked meals more than 5 times per week is associated w/ better diet quality and likelihood of having normal BMI and percentage body fat

what is the effect of culture on food?

culture has a profound and unconscious effect on food choices

race, ethnicity, and geographic region are often inaccurately assumed to be synonymous with culture

subgroups w/in a culture display a unique range of cultural characteristics that affect food intake and nutritional status

what about food is defined by culture?

what is edible, role of food, how food is prepared, symbolic use of food, when and how food is eaten

what are core foods, secondary foods, and peripheral foods in a culture?

core: provide a significant source of calories and are regularly included in the diet, usually on a daily basis. typically complex carbs

secondary: foods widely consumed but not on a daily basis, vary with availability

peripheral: eaten sporadically, typically based on an individuals preferences, not cultural norms

how is food seasoned and prepared?

traditional methods prep vary between and within cultural groups

traditional seasonings also vary among cultures

what are symbolic uses of food?

each culture has customs and bestows symbolism on certain foods, also determines which foods used in celebration and which provide comfort

used to: express love, reward/punish, display piety, express moral sentiments, demonstrate belongingness to a group, proclaim separateness of a group

what is dietary acculturation?

occurs when eating patterns of people who move change to resemble those of the host country

in the US, acculturation is linked to increased risk of chronic disease and obesity

generally food habits are one of the last behaviors people change through acculturation

what happens in dietary acculturation?

new foods are added to diet, some traditional foods are replaced by new foods, some traditional foods are rejected

what are some questions to ask to understand someone’s level of acculturation?

what native foods do you eat daily, do you no longer eat?

what new foods do you eat?

what foods do you eat to keep healthy or avoid to prevent illness?

do you balance some foods with others?

are there foods you will not eat and why is that?

are there special customs or religious practices they want performed before or after a meal

describe cultural competence in nutrition

facilitates nutrition care consistent w/ individuals attitudes, beliefs, and values

actual food choices vary greatly within a subgroup based on national, regional, ethnic, and individual differences

where can many African Americans trace their roots?

majority can trace to west Africa, some have immigrated from the carribean, Central America, and East African countries

much of native heritage has been assimilated, lost, or modified

describe the typical African American diet

3 meals, largest in afternoon

traditional foods rich in nutrients: collard greens, other leafy green/yellow veggies, legumes, beans, rice, and potatoes

cooking style: frying, barbecuing, and sautéing in sauces

have high rates of chronic diseases including HTN, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity

soul food

what is soul food?

leftover and inferior parts of animals have becomes a part of the traditional soul food menu

not consumed daily, usually special occasions

southern food is typically known as soul food

may consist of African American recipes that have been passed down from one generation to the next

what are patterns in african American culture?

cuisine not always healthy: low in fiber, calcium, potassium, and high in fat

many African Americans tend to be lactose intolerant

HTN is highest in this group in the US

health beliefs: traditional blend of traditional concepts, home remedies and natural therapies

who falls in the hispanic/latino American group?

people of cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, south/Central American, or other Spanish, latino, or hispanic origin

largest ethnic minority in US

describe common hispanic/latino food

common prep: meats usually roasted, grilled, or fried

soups common

customs: when very ill, all foods may be eliminated except tortilla, dry salty cheese, and water

food beliefs: serious illnesses are considered hot or cold and should be treated with opposite temp. various soup and/or beverages can be used when ill to raise energy (Malta, atol, soups)

what are patterns in hispanic/latino food?

high fiber/veggies, low in fat

pork, goat, and poultry most used animal proteins

acculturation causes diet to become high in fat/sugar and unhealthy: high prevalence of overweight/obesity/ T2DM, cavities/gingivitis, high alcohol use

traditional diets high in carbs

latino groups from latin America are deficient in folate, calcium, iron, vitamin a and c

lactose intolerance common

describe asian americans

asia is worlds largest continent w/ 48 countries

use of asian typically refer to ethnic groups from east and southern asia

most common asian ethnic groups: Chinese, filipino, asian Indian, Vietnamese, Korean, japanese

two commonalities: emphasis on rice and veggies w/ little meat and cooking technique requires meticulous attention to preparing ingredients before cooking

what is the usual diet for asian Americans?

many asian Americans adhere to traditional asian diet w/ American foods such as bread and cereal

dairy not typically consumed in high quantities

fish, pork, and poultry main protein sources

fruits and veggies may make up significant portion of diet, as well as rice

nuts and dried beans also typically consumed

sodium content can be high

some cultures use chopsticks and others will use their hands

what are patterns within asian American cultures?

women have highest life expectancy

prevalence of overweight and obesity are low

typical asian diet may be related to lower incidence of heart disease, bowel cancer, and breast cancer, but higher incidence of stomach cancer and lactose intolerance

what are some food beliefs of asian Americans?

many forms of asian American medicine apply hot/cold theory: keep these two energies in harmony through diet and lifestyle

how does christianity affect diet habits?

Roman Catholics: some dont eat meat or drink, may fast on ash Wednesday or good friday

Eastern Orthodox: observe numerous feast and fast days throughout the year

other denominations: mormons, seventh day adventists

what dietary habits do mormons and seventh day adventists do?

mormons: no coffee, tea, alcohol, or tobacco, limit meats, fasting 1st 2 meals on 1st Sunday of every month

7th: many lacto-ovo vegetarians, strict kosher diet, avoid overeating, similar drinks avoided

describe the dietary habits in judaism

foods in accordance of the dietary laws of “Kashrut” are called kosher

practices depend on individual: orthodox, conservatives, and reform

kosher certifications assures that the food was prepared to dietary laws

classifications: fleishik (meat), milchik (dairy), and pareve (neutral)

what are dietary practices for muslims?

fasting common practice

halal: permissible, all foods of plant origin and some animal origin if they conform to method of slaughter

haram: forbidden, pork, blood, and animals, not slaughtered according to halal specifications, also alcohol

what is important to know about the dietary practice within hinduism?

different depending on sect

on special occasions fast with fruits and milks

right hand to eat while left is for hygiene

foods classified as hot or cold

killing a cow is considered sacrilegious

describe dietary practices in the buddhist religion

five moral precepts of buddhism includes no killing or partaking of intoxicants: some strict vegans, but do not view consumption of meat as direct responsibility for death of animal

five contemplations while eating