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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