Cultural Perspectives



Chapter 1: Cultural Perspectives

Concepts and Discussion of Culture and Food Habits

       

WHAT DO AMERICANS EAT?

America is a changing demographic—and has always been so

 Defining “American food” and resolving "Who is an American?": no simple answer

Each American ethnic, religious, or regional group has its own culturally based food habits

WHAT IS FOOD?

Food: any substance that provides the nutrients necessary to maintain life and growth when ingested

The Omnivores Paradox

Self-Identity and Self-Expression

Symbolic Use of Food

Cultural Identity

Food

We raise crops and livestock leading to consistent supply of similar foods

We use these foods in cooking and other culturally specific ways

Examples: rules on utensils, manners, sharing of food

 Food habits = food culture = food ways: the multiplicity of ways in which humans use food. Range from the biological to the psychological

The Omnivores Paradox

We are a flexible but cautious species. Attraction to new but preference for familiar

The ability to use a wide range of edible foods over all of the climates of the world puts humans at an advantage

Conserve safe food choices within a culture through ritual and repletion

Avoid poisoning ourselves on new, toxic foods through a general caution

Self-Identity and Self-Expression

Consumption of food means a personal incorporation(personal reflection of who we are

We learn food preferences from trusted or valued others (elders, valued social groups)

These meanings are culturally dependant

Symbolic Use of Food

Meanings from relationship, association or convention—not nutrient content

Example: associations with bread: staff of life, breaking bread with friends, white bread as upper class status, whole wheat as valuing health

Cultural Identity

Collective identity with food habits associated with religious beliefs or ethnic behaviors such as ----

Religious affiliation, exclusion from group, affiliation with special worth: comfort foods & culturally specific preferences, Food Etiquette, Commensalism

WHAT IS CULTURE?

It can be defined as the values, beliefs, attitudes, and practices accepted by members of a group or community

Culture:

Is learned not inherited

Changes over time

Is passed from one generation to another (Enculturation)

Is reinforced by isolation

Ethnicity: the term for cultural membership, a social identity

Shared behaviors, food habits, dress, language, family structure, often religious affiliation

Common history or location

Intra-ethnic variations

Acculturation Process

Acculturation is process by which an ethnic group moves into another new majority society and begins to adopt the new society’s cultural values and habits

Biculturation: A new culture seen as a complement to the original culture of origin

Assimilation:

people from one cultural group shed their ethnic identity and fully merge into the majority culture

Ethnocentric

person uses his or her own values to evaluate the behavior of others while regarding own culture as superior to others

Acculturation of Food Habits

Food habits are one of the last traditions to change during the process of acculturation

Adopting new foods or dropping traditional fools affected by available ingredients, cost, convenience, desirability

Foods most closely associated with ethnic identity are the last to change

CULTURAL FOOD HABITS

By looking at how different cultural groups categorize foods, we can perceive what is valued

How to study or determine meaning of foods

Meal Patterns and Meal Cycles Influenced by Culture

Developmental Perspective of Food Culture

How to study or determine meaning of foods

Cultural "superfoods,“

Models: Core and Complementary Foods, Flavor Principles, Meal Patterns & Meal Cycles, Developmental perspective of food culture

Core & Complementary Foods Model

Flavor Principles

Palatability

Pleasurable endorphins

Disguise unpleasant tastes

Preservation

Cultural identity: flavor principles or seasoning combinations (complementary foods)

Meal Patterns and Meal Cycles Influenced by Culture

Analysis of daily, weekly, yearly use of food

All cultures dine on at least one meal a day

Patterns within the culture define "meal" versus "snack"

Cultural practices influence

Feasting or fasting as eating cycle components

Developmental Perspective of Food Culture

Social dynamics

Globalization leads to food consumerization

Modernization and technological advances

Urbanization of the populations

Migration of populations

INDIVIDUAL FOOD HABITS

Personal preferences

Food Availability

Edible or Inedible?

Consumer Food Choice Model

Consumer Food Choice Model

Many interrelated factors

Food selection primarily determined by taste

Also cost, local food environment, convenience, self-expression, advertising, physical and spiritual well-being, life stage, gender, state of health, variety

Consumer Food Choice Model

Study of Cultural Applications of Food

Cultural competence affects all aspects of data collection, interviewing, and expectations.

THE AMERICAN PARADOX

 New cultural metaphor for America: "Melting pot"("Tossed Salad": separate components each still present but in a delicious, complementary blend

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