Analysis of Different Eating Habits - Assignment Example

Running Head: Eating Habits Eating Habits Name Institution Date Question A Introduction This assignment is all about food habit. Cultural, environmental, social, economic and political are some of the factors that influence a person eating habit. On my part, there are certain foods that I tend to eat while I am with my friends only. Examples of these types of foods are: English muffin, bagel or crumpet, savory biscuits, crisp bread just to mention a few. The aim of this assignment is to explain what, how, when people shop and basically some of the factors that influences their shopping activities. Question B There are various reasons that tend to explain about my usual living, shopping, cooking habit and diets. I am rest assured that if my answers to question 1 and 2 changed, my diet will also change. If someone does for me my own shopping, this means that the purchaser will purchase items based on his/her own taste and preference, thereby affecting my diet the same applies to cooking. I would have to persevere with the purchased items even though they are not my favorite. For example if my mother did my cooking, her ingredients used while preparing the meal will not be similar to mine. In addition, if my mother did my shopping, there is a high possibility that she will purchase more of what she likes and not what I like. For illustration, if her favorite food is rice while my favorite is beans, there is a possibility that my shopping will have more of rice as compared to beans, thus affect my diet (Boakes, Popplewell, & Burton, 1987). There is direct correlation between incomes, consumer’s purchasing power and a person eating habit. If the amount of money spent per week doubled, it will have both positive and negative impact on my diet. The positive part is that I will be able to purchase more of what I like most (for example; mince dishes such as rissoles, meat loaf). However, there is also a negative impact, I will crave for expensive foods, if minced dishes cost $80 while hamburger 120, there is high possibility that I will purchase humbugger instead of the minced dishes, thereby affecting what I eat (Rebecca 2009). Eating more organically grown food (very important) and Microwaving rather than boiling vegetables (not important) is discussed bellow. Eating more organically grown food is very important since it contains higher vitamins, antioxidants, minerals and other healthy nutrients. Survey shows that vegetables and fruits have a higher level of vitamins c, magnesium, polyphones, carotenes and iron. Organically grown food reduces disease risk. Organic food is usually fresh. Fresh food always tastes better. Organic food contains preservatives that make it longer. It contains fewer pesticides, such as herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. Most of these chemicals in are not found when eating organic food. Microwaving rather than boiling vegetables is not actually important. Even though microwaving is a fast and recommended method of preparing vegetables, since it reduces /avoids nutrients loss, survey show that microwaving lessen the amount of antioxidants in broccoli (Schultz, 2010). Reasons why people should choose a vegetarian diet are stated below. First, eating meat has been associated with kidney stones, hypertension, strokes and other devastating diseases. A vegetarian diet helps to improve one’s stamina, sense of well being and concentration. Another reason why people should choose vegetarian diet is that it has positive impacts on blood pressure as well as coronary artery disease. Vegetarian diet eliminates high fat source, survey shows that fewer vegetarian suffer from coronary artery and blood pressure as compared to meat-eater. Surprisingly, even vegetarian obtain adequate nutrients as well as proteins, provided their diet has proper planning and variety. Vegetarian diets such as legume, nuts, grains, soy beans are said to contain adequate protein in them (Jones-Shoeman, 2009). I have chosen price (not important) and Easy to prepare (not important) which I will critically evaluate based on factors that influence my shopping. On my part, the price of food/commodity does not matter, what matters is the product (food). This means, if the price of food either shoots up or reduces, I will still purchase the same food product in the market. On the other hand, I do not potentially purchase food items based on the variability of preparation. My diet entails all types of food, from those that are easy to prepare to those that are considered hard to prepare. For example, if my diet entails that I should eat superggeti (hard to preparer) but nuts turns out to be easy to prepare, I would not go for nuts simply because it is easy to prepare. Therefore, on my part price and the mode of preparation is not an important factor when it comes to factors that influence my diet. Culture may influence one’s diet. Cultural group presents different guidelines concerning the acceptable food combination, eating behavior and pattern. When a person adheres to this guideline, it creates the sense of belonging for that individual. In a large cultural groups, different subgroups exists which may be practicing different eating habit, even though they are still part and parcel of the larger group. For instance, soda, French fries and hamburgers are said to be American and Australia food or meal. Those people who are vegetarian will ultimately eat veggie-burgers, which are often made from pureed vegetables, soy or mashed beans. In Australia, appropriate cultural values states that a burger made out of horsemeat will automatically be inappropriate (Epstein, 1990). Question C Food frequency questionnaire has captured my dietary intake in the past month in various ways. First and foremost, it has provided variety of foods which I consume and don’t consume. For example, I consume milk in hot beverages at least 2-4 times per week. Through Food frequency questionnaire, it has facilitated, enhanced and critically explained how my diet has been not only in that month but the whole year at large. Considering the facts sated in the Food frequency questionnaire, such as Lamb ‘roast, chop or steak of which I consume at least 5-6 times per week, has clearly shown what type and food I mostly shop and eat, thereby making it my diet. People who are identified with different culture apart from mine will not have similar eating pattern. Different countries all over the world have different cultural standards. Each continent such as Africa, Asia, North America, South America and others have a unique eating pattern. For example, Italians are said to eat a lot of fresh vegetables as well as fruits. Another example is the French meals. In France, all meals are often accompanied by bread, which again has its own eating pattern. It is usually considered bad manners to bite or cut it up using your knife (chunk of bread), the appropriate thing to do, is to break the chunk and put it in the mouth (Epstein1990). The types of food I eat would change if I had to grow and prepare all the foods I eat. It will change since I will have to have adequate land to plant all that I need, which is next to impossible. For instance, for me to be able to take coffee/tea at least 2-4 times per day, I will have to grow coffee. Therefore, if I am to grow and prepare my own food, this means that I must be ready to forgo some of my foods, such as pizza, desserts, Cakes, sweet muffins, scones or pikelets. This in turn will ultimately affect what I eat as a diet. I potentially eat at least 1 serve or less of vegetables and fruits per day. According to the recommended dietary guidelines for Australian, men and women raging between the ages of 19-60 should take at least 5 serves of vegetables and 2 serves of fruit for a healthy living. However, my dietary show a very poor eating habit, thus considered to be unhealthy. I am then more likely to suffer from different sorts of diseases if I do not change my Dietary. It is therefore right to say that my dietary is very poor. People may be advised and educated on the importance of taking serves of vegetable and fruits as recommended. Through communication channels such as radio, newspaper, flyers and so on, most people will be educated through advertisements. Educating the public is actually the way forward to meet the recommended target in Australia. Another way is to reduce the price and make those serves readily available in the market; this is to ensure easy accessibility of fruits and vegetables. As a result, a lot of people will be able to weigh the importance of this serves thus increase their consumption thus meet the Australian recommended dietary guidelines of 5 serves of vegetables and 2 serves of fruit for a healthy living. Conclusion There are various factors which influence what a person will eat in the long run. In addition to cultural factors, there are personal preferences, economic, political, religious, social and even economic factors. I will dwell on social and religious factors that influence a person eating habit. Members of a similar social group largely depend on each other, influence one another, and share a common behaviors as well as values. On the other hand, Religious interdiction ranges from few to many, from relaxed to highly restrictive. This in turn affects food combination, behavior and choices. For instance, some religious forbid its congregation from eating certain types of food, such as pork, among the Muslims as well as Jewish adherents. References Epstein, R. S. (1990). Eating habits . New York: Chelsea House. Boakes, R. A., Popplewell, D. A., & Burton, M. J. (1987). Eating habits: food physiology, and learned behaviour. New York: Wiley. Jones-Shoeman, C. (2009). Reasons to Become Vegetarian. New york: jay & sons press. Schultz, T. (2010). Loss of Nutrients when Vegetables are Cooked. Chikago: Oxford press. Rebecca Witten Grizzle, T. U. (2009). eating habits and body composition. USA: The University of Alabama at Birmingham. Read More