Food is more than a collection of nutrients. Human beings all over the world share a common need to meet certain fundamental conditions for survival. One of these needs is securing an adequate diet, which will provide energy and the various nutrients necessary for metabolic functioning. The range of human nutritional requirements is fairly narrow, but the ways in which these similar requirements are met are hugely diverse. Vastly differing dietary patterns, utilizing thousands of different foodstuffs and combinations of foodstuffs are capable of achieving the same end-that of survival.
The variety of substance, which are consumed as food by various people of the world is truly remarkable; though for any given culture group, the list of accepted foodstuff is usually severely curtailed. For example, North American Indian tribes traditionally ate over hundred kinds of seeds, roots and nuts, while the South American Indian tribes ate monkey, iguanas, grubs, bees and head lice, while the Aborigines of Australia relished insects. Sometimes humans learn to consume and prefer substances, which are intrinsically unpalatable. Coffee and chilli are flavors, which have become widely desired despite the bitter and burning sensation they evoke. Food has always been much more than a source of body nourishment, it has played a major part in the social life, both religious and secular of human groups.
A rough glance through scientific and humanities literature or even a reflective thought is enough to produce ready agreement with the idea that culture is a major determinant of what we eat. Food intakes fulfill both biological and cultural stimuli, i.e. fulfills both biological and social needs. Food chosen, methods of eating, preparation, number of meals per day, time of eating and the size of portion eaten make up human food ways and are an integrated part of the cultural pattern in which each custom and practice has a part to play. Food habits come into being and are maintained because they are practical or symbolically meaningful behaviors in a culture. Food habits are a product of historical conditions and old belief systems.
The Business plan on Human Resource Management part 1
Human Resource Management Introduction The aim of this paper is to examine the concepts of Human Resource Management and Personnel Management. Both effective Personnel Management and Human Resource Management techniques are very important for success of any business organization. Since HRM and PM are the threads by which Human Resource and strategic goals of the company are interrelated, the aim ...
Culture is something that makes one similar to some other people and yet different from the vast majority of people in the world, it is kind of a social heritage. A definition to culture has been given by, Tylor; as a complex whole, which involves knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, customs, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by a man as a member of the society (Feildhouse Paul; Food ad Nutrition; 1996; Chapman and Hall).
The term culture and society are sometimes used interchangeably, whereas it is true that there can be no culture apart from society, they are nevertheless not the same thing. Culture describes patterns of behavior; society refers to people who participate in this culture. Culture is a learned experience, it is acquired by people as they live their everyday lives, therefore it can be modified or unlearned. It is a group phenomenon, not an individual one; therefore it is transmitted from one generation to the next. It may be transmitted formally or informally by verbal instructions or by non-verbal cues and through personal examples.
Culture changes each generation and is never exactly the same as it predecessors. It preserves traditions but also builds in mechanism for change. These changes occur over time because of ecological and economic changes leading to altered availability, discovery and innovation of food. Cultural traditions are internalized so that they become an inseparable part of ones self-identity. It has value system which influences the way specific foods are viewed at. Foods are generally labeled as good and bad. The bad foods are the highly desirables ones like, “junk-food”.
The Essay on Culture and Change in The House on Mango Street
The House on Mango Street presents a strong cultural background. Cisnero allows Esperanza to reveal her Mexican background in My Name. Esperanza introduces herself, explaining the meaning of her name and how she inherited it from her grandmother. She shows her love for her culture when she points out how her name sounds better when said in Spanish. She also complains about her disdain for how it ...
Culture is learned, food habits are acquired early in life and once established are likely to be long lasting and resistant to any change. Hence it is important to develop a sound nutritional practice in childhood, as a basis for life long healthy eating. Dietary changes are not externally induced. Shifting in cultural patterns and values within a society affect the dietary practices. In industrialized and fast developing countries the family structure and working arrangements are being affected majorly. The traditional extended family system is rapidly disappearing and with it the concept of set meal times to be eaten in the company of family members is also gone. This culture of eating separately and alone is affecting diet of an individual. This has increased the demand for readily available, processed, packaged food.
Along with culture, media is also one of the factors influencing food habits. Though the role of media influencing the food habits is a controversial one, as an impersonal communication channel is more effective in conveying information than in active persuasion.
