Factors Influencing Food and Culture

Author

Institution

Introduction

Food habit and culture come as some of the most defining aspects of any society. This is especially considering that they encompass the fundamental values, norms and traditions pertaining to the particular society. It goes without saying that different societies have varying traditions, norms and values, as well as habits pertaining to foods that would be considered indigenous to those societies. Indeed, these aspects have defied all efforts for their extinction resulting from economic, social and cultural globalization. Indeed, some aspects pertaining to culture including foods have only had their status elevated and their popularity in the globalised world increased (MacClancy & Macbeth, 2004). For instance, it is not difficult to obtain Chinese or Indian food in the United States, irrespective of the increased globalization of the contemporary human society. Nevertheless, questions have been raised as to the aspects that influence food habits and culture in the contemporary human society. While there may be differing opinions, it is evident that an individual’s food habits and culture is a product of a myriad of influences spanning the social, cultural, health and economic aspects of his or her life.

Economic factors

First, an individual’s food habits and culture may be influenced by economic aspects of the individual, as well as the area in which he or she lives. Cost has been identified as one of the most crucial factors determining an individual’s selection of food. This is especially in the case of low income families, the elderly and students. Research shows that these groups usually spend about 33% of their income on food. There are variations in the cost of food in line with the amount that is purchased at once, the levels of processing or even the places where an individual purchases the foods. On the same note, the economic factor comes into play with regard to the available resources. In most cases, time and money limit the foodstuffs that individuals buy and the amount of preparation to which they subject their foods. In some cases, resources may be interchangeable, where an individual who has the money may opt to go to a hotel or even do his or her own cooking (MacClancy & Macbeth, 2004). Testament to the influence of resources is the fact that rich individuals may afford freezers in which they can store foods and consume them even when they are not in season.

Economics also come into play with regard to the marketplace or the places in which an individual purchases his or her foodstuffs. Marketplaces may be corner stores, suburban shopping centers, small local supermarkets, or even purchasing and selling foodstuffs in the world market (Haden, 2009). Scholars have noted that there is an inverse relationship between the size of the selling venue and the cost of foodstuffs, in which case smaller selling venues would have higher selling prices of food items as they buy their items in small quantities from wholesalers and larger stores and mark up their selling price to cover their costs (Haden, 2009). This means that low-income individuals would be forced to buy only particular food items, or do without some foods thanks to the price at the selling venues.

On the same note, an individual’s food habits and culture may be determined by his or her finances and occupation. Scholars have underlined the fact that an individual’s food choices are a reflection of his occupation’s physical demands, as well as its social expectations (Houston, 2005). Indeed, the income that an individual receives from his employment would determine the quantity and quality of the food that he chooses (Kittler & Sucher, 2004). Scholars have underlined the fact that a large number of individuals all over the globe primarily consider economic factors when making any food selection.

Social factors

The society or cultures within which an individual lives, alongside the contact that individuals have play an immense role in determining an individual’s food habits and cultures (Katz & Weaver, 2003). This is especially with regard to the taboos, traditions and beliefs that pertain to a particular group of people, as well as the life, education, job and family, as well as importance of hospitality in the social group. Researchers note that different traditions are repeated at certain times, with certain foods being served (Kittler & Sucher, 2004). Indeed, social and festive occasions involve food to some extent, with the meals being the key focus of the occasions. For instance, the Chinese New Year is a celebration that involves displays of special foodstuffs like rice cakes.

Social interactions may determine the food cultures and habits especially considering that food has, since time immemorial, been considered as a symbol of hospitality and friendship. Indeed, individuals usually offer visitors food or drink, as these help in creating a relaxed atmosphere. On the same note, the media has played an immense role in determining the food habits and culture (Katz & Weaver, 2003). This is especially with regard to advertisements, which expose individuals to numerous types of foods. As much as the foods advertised in the media may have extremely low nutritional value, they are presented as if they make the foundation of happy and healthy lifestyles.

Peer groups exert the most pressure as far as the formation of any habit is concerned. The peers of an individual are individuals that are roughly in the same social status, as well as age group. As much as peer pressure is felt the most during adolescence, almost every person can have his or her habits influenced by his or her peers (Montanari & Sonnenfeld, 2006). This is especially considering the need for acceptance, which would make individuals eat when and what one’s friends are eating irrespective of the nutritional value of the foods (Kittler et al, 2012). Indeed, individuals often feel safer when trying new stuff with their peers, especially considering that sharing foodstuff is an incredible technique for knowing people, as well as cementing friendships (Medina, 2005).

Psychological factors

These factors revolve around an individual’s emotion and mind. There are variations in beliefs and attitudes among individuals subject to an individual’s upbringing and lifestyle. Nevertheless, scholars have underlined the fact that psychological factors such as habits, past experiences, values and beliefs constantly influence one’s selection of food while selections made from self-concept, attitudes and emotions may be different from day to day (Kittler et al, 2012)

Values are sufficiently strong as to motivate action and influence an individual’s behavior. It is noted that the values of an individual are a reflection of the cultural and family values to which an individual subscribes, or may revolve around personal response to experiences through which an individual has gone in his or her life (Montanari & Sonnenfeld, 2006). In selections of food, the values that have the highest likelihood for influencing one’s choices revolve around the food origins and health concerns. For instance, vegetarianism may be reflecting value-based food habits or cultures, where an individual respects the rights of animals to live peaceful and without being subjected to pain (Counihan & Van, 2008). Indeed, a vegetarian may find the idea of killing and eating an animal extremely revolting or even contest the conditions in which some of these animals are raised as a source of food. Of particular note is the fact that some people place such a high value on the rights of animals to freedom to the extent that they disagree with consumption of all animal products including milk and eggs (Civitello, 2008).

This is also the same case with beliefs pertaining to the things that are acceptable. In most cases, these beliefs emanate from religious teachings. Beliefs are convictions and opinions that do not necessarily have to have a basis in positive scientific proof. Buddhists, for instance, are vegetarians in part as they can only consume fish and not any other animal. Christians, on the other hand, are prohibited from eating animals whose hooves are divided such as donkeys or animals that have claws (Counihan & Van, 2008). Cultural conventions may also create taboos, as is the case for parts of mid-Africa where individuals believe that animal milk is composed of repulsive body secretion that is similar to urine, while some individuals in South East Asia believe that chickens or their eggs destroy an individual’s fertility, in which case they do not consume them (Civitello, 2008).

On the same note, food habits and cultures may be influenced by individual’s self-concept or their view of themselves (Medina, 2005). For instance, individuals may limit their consumption of fast-foods if they view themselves as obese or badly shaped, or even consume fish in an effort to increase their IQ.

References

Haden, R. (2009). Food culture in the Pacific Islands. Santa Barbara, Calif: Greenwood Press.

Katz, S. H., & Weaver, W. W. (2003). Encyclopedia of food and culture. New York., NY: Thomson/Gale.

Medina, F. X. (2005). Food culture in Spain. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press.

Houston, L. M. (2005). Food culture in the Caribbean. Westport, Conn. [u.a.: Greenwood Press.

Montanari, M., & Sonnenfeld, A. (2006). Food is culture. New York: Columbia University Press.

Civitello, L. (2008). Cuisine and culture: A history of food and people. Hoboken, N.J: John Wiley.

Kittler, P. G., Sucher, K., & Nahikian-Nelms, M. (2012). Food and culture. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning.

Counihan, C., & Van, E. P. (2008). Food and culture: A reader. New York: Routledge.

Kittler, P. G., & Sucher, K. (2004). Food and culture. Australia: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.

MacClancy, J., & Macbeth, H. (2004). Researching food habits: Methods and problems. New York [u.a.: Berghahn Books.