IMPORTANCE OF DESSERTS IN A MEAL

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEETS

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Importance of Desserts in a Meal

On a restaurant menu plated desserts are listed last,
of course, because they come after all the other
courses. But, in dining rooms throughout the world,
desserts are not considered less important because
of it.

Originally, desserts were prepared by patissiers in

hotels and restaurants. Today, they tend to be
referred to as cooks and pastry cooks. The question
we have to ask ourselves is why do we eat desserts?
What is the purpose of having a dessert at the end of
a meal?

Everyone has a different outlook on what desserts should consist of and many
restaurants forget the main purpose of offering them on their menu. Their purpose is to
help digest the meal, especially a rather heavy one; if you want to offer desserts which
do, they should be comprised of fruit, which contain high levels of enzymes. Enzymes
are proteins made from amino acids. An enzyme is formed by stringing together up to
1000 amino acids in a very specific order, which forms a unique shape. That shape
allows the enzyme to conduct specific chemical reactions, acting as a catalyst. Which
means if you had a heavy meal and are feeling overly full, a dessert with fruit is the
perfect answer to help speed up the chemical reaction of digestion.

Opinions vary throughout the world on what a proper dessert really is. In the United
States, for example, dessert is likely to consist of pastry, cake, ice cream, pudding, or
fresh or cooked fruit. The British traditionally end their meals with nuts, fruit, and port or
another dessert wine, while the French tradition is to have fruit, cheese, and wine. If the
French and British were to have a more elaborate meal, it would include a sweet course
preceding the dessert offerings. In Canada, we experience a combination of American,
French and British cuisine. Quite the experience! Over the years, we’ve seen dessert
trends come and go, but there are favorites such as cheesecake and chocolate mousse
that never go out of style.

In a restaurant, when a nice meal is put before you (sometimes one that is quite heavy),
it’s hard to resist overeating. The result of this, more often than not, is a feeling of being
uncomfortable or even stomach pains. Offering your customers light and fresh
desserts with fruit can help to relieve that uncomfortable feeling. Most fruit functions as
a natural laxative, which helps to regulate your body’s digestive process.
A look at a few flavourful and well-loved fruit reveals how each can assist the body as it
digests food.

Pineapples contain bromelin, which is a potent digestive enzyme, very similar to the
acids found in our stomachs. A good, juicy ripe pineapple can satisfy a sweet craving as
well as any chocolate bar. In addition to being a delicious food, pineapple provides
many health benefits. Kiwi fruit is another great source of digestive enzymes. Papayas
are excellent for aiding digestion; they also soothe intestinal inflammation and gas. The
flesh of the mature green papaya is very high in papain (an enzyme that is used in a
dried form to tenderize meat). Papaya may be used to assist digestion, thereby relieving
pressure from the pancreas. It is reported that the enzymes in papaya are able to digest
undigested debris in the intestinal tract. Mangoes fight acidity and poor digestion. They
also offer help in fighting germs or infections. Bananas work as a mild laxative and
contain pectin, which brings such benefits as lowering cholesterol and removing toxic
metals from the body. They also coat the stomach, neutralizing the acidity of gastric
juices. Add fruity desserts to your menu and remind your customers why fruit in any
form is the perfect way to end their meal. Tell them their stomachs (and taste buds) will
thank them.

Learning Task:
A. Multiple Choice. Read and understand the following test items. Encircle the
letter of the correct answer from the given choices.
1. What country traditionally ends their meals with nuts, fruit, and port or another
dessert wine?
a. British
b. French
c. Canada
2. What fruit are excellent for aiding digestion and they also soothe intestinal
inflammation and gas?
a. Mango
b. Papaya
c. Banana
3. Offering your customers ____________ with fruit can help to relieve
uncomfortable feeling.
a. light and fresh desserts
b. heavy meal
c. cheese cake and chocolate
4. A dessert with ___________ is the perfect answer to help speed up the
chemical reaction of digestion.
a. pastry
b. chocolate
c. fruit
 5. What fruit work as a mild laxative and contain pectin, which brings such
benefits as lowering cholesterol and removing toxic metals from the body?
a. Banana
b. Kiwi fruit
c. Pineapples

B. Short – Answer Questions

Discuss clearly and briefly the following questions in 3 to 5 sentences only.
(5pts.)
1. What is the importance of dessert in a meal?
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2. What is the role of fruit dessert in digestion?

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