CALAMBA DOCTORS’ COLLEGE

Virborough Subdivision, Parian, Calamba City, Laguna

Nutrition and Diet Therapy

Food Habits and Cultural Patterns

Objectives
1. Discuss factor that influence food choices
2. Described traditional culture specific food patterns
3. Describe religious dietary law and practices with Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and other
religion

Factors that Influence Food Choice

1. Physiological Factors
o Allergies
o Disability
o Health and disease status
o Heredity
o Nutrient and energy needs
o Therapeutic diets

2. Physical Factors
o Available food supply
o Food technology
o Geography, agriculture, and distribution
o Sanitation and housing
o Season and climate
o Storage and cooking facilities

3. Psychological Factor
 Many psychological factors are rooted in childhood experiences. Adult when hurt (psychological or
emotional) turn to comfort food to cope. Some food stimulate body chemicals in the brain (Example:
Endorphin) to feel good
 Psychological factor that influence food choice
o Habits
o Preferences
o Emotions
o Cravings
o Personal food acceptance
o Positive or negative experiences and associations

4. Social and Economic Factor

o Advertising and marketing
o Culture
o General and nutrition education
o Income
o Political and economic policies
o Religion and social class
o Social problems, poverty, alcoholism, and drug abuse
Cultural Specific Food Pattern
Native American
American Indian groups
 Corn beans, rice as staples foods
 Commonly eaten - edible plants like corn, potatoes, squash, cranberries, pumpkins, beans, wild rice
 Wild fruits and fish are popular, too high a proportion of sweet and salty.
U. S. Southern
 Hot breads - as corn bread and baking powder biscuits, Favorite vegetables – sweet potatoes, squash, green
beans, and lima beans. (cooked green beans serve with pork)
 Popular fruits – watermelon, oranges, and peaches
 Diets – high carbohydrate and fats, limited amounts of protein in some cases
 African American’s have a high prevalence of lactose intolerance
 Unique foods such as spoon bread (a soufflé-like dish of cornmeal with beaten eggs) and “hoppin John” (black-
eyed peas served over rice, traditionally served on New Year’s Day
Mexican, Hispanic
 Combination of Spanish and Native American.
 Favorite – Beans, rice, chili peppers, tomatoes, and corn meal.
 Meat is cooked with vegetables.
 Tortillas (corn or flour) with cheese, corn has been the basic grain used for bread (tortillas)
 Major seasonings are chili peppers, onions, and garlic;
 The basic fat has historically been lard
Puerto Rican
 Heritage with Hispanic and Caribbean countries.
 Two basic foods are rice and beans
 Common vegetables – beans, tomatoes, and peppers.
 Popular fruits – bananas, pineapples, mangoes, and papayas.
 Favorite meats – chicken, beef and pork (milk is not used as much)
Italian
 Sharing of food is an important part of Italian life
 Bread and pasta are the basic ingredients of most meals
 Cheese is a favorite food
 Popular Italian foods - pastas with various tomatoes, fish sauces, and cheese.
 Common food – fish and highly seasoned foods
 Northern Italy – common foods are meat and roots vegetables
Northern and Western European
 Same with U. S. Midwest. Dark breads, potatoes, fish, and green vegetable salads.
 Popular foods – beef and pork, cooked vegetables, bread, cakes, and dairy products
Central European
 Potatoes and grain (rye and buckwheat) major sources of calories
 Pork popular meat, Eggs and dairy are used abundantly. Vegetables – carrots, onions and turnips.

Chinese
 Chinese cooks believe that refrigeration diminishes natural flavors, they select the freshest foods as possible
 Rice is the primary source of energy
 Foods are cut into small pieces, vegetables are lightly cooked
 Cooking water is save for future used
 Soybeans are used in many ways, soy sauce is extensively
 Used, very salty, eggs and pork are commonly serve
 Common beverage is tea (less used of milk)
  Seasonings include soy sauce, ginger, almonds, and sesame seeds.
 Peanut oil is the main cooking fat.

Japanese
 Japanese food patterns are similar to Chinese. (Rice, soy sauce and tea)
 More seafood, especially in the form of sushi
 Food is commonly serves in tempura style (fried)
 Aesthetic appeal is an important part of food preparation and presentation in Japanese culture
 Soup is served as part of both lunch and dinner meals
 Japanese diet is high in sodium content and low in milk products
Indian
 Many Indians are vegetarians who used eggs and dairy products.
 Rice, peas, and beans are frequently served.
 Spices (curry) are popular.

Food Pattern based on Religion

Jewish
 The basic body of dietary laws is called the Rules of Kashrut
1. Meat or poultry must be drained blood.
2. Meat and meat product may not be prepared with milk and milk product.
3. Dairy product or milk and meat may not be eaten together (6 hours after eating meat before dairy product
or 30 minutes to 1 hour after eating dairy product before eating meat)
4. Mouth must be rinsed after eating fish and before eating meat.
5. Fasting days – passover, Yom Kippur, and Feast of Purim
6. No cooking on Sabbath day (sundown Friday to sundown Saturday)
7. Dietary law forbid the eating of the following:
o Flesh animal without cloven hooves or do not chew their cud.
o Hindquarters of animals
o Shellfish or fish without scales or fins
o Birds of prey
o Creeping things
o Leavened bread during pass over
o No egg with a blood spot
Christian
 Roman Catholic - Meat is not allowed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday
 Eastern Orthodox - Meat, poultry, fish and dairy products are restricted on Wednesday and Friday and during
Lent and Advent.
 Seventh Day Adventist - Lacto-ovo-vegetarian in general (no meat, fish and poultry) may use nuts legumes and
meat analogues or tofu. Coffee, tea and alcohol are harmful
 Mormon - Prohibition of coffee, tea, and alcoholic beverages
Islamic
 Pork and birds of prey are strictly prohibited
 Fruits and vegetables are permitted except if fermented
 Halal meat is the equivalent of kosher meat.
 Alcohol: strictly prohibited. Other intoxicating drugs are also banned unless medically necessary.
 Ramadan (30-day period of daylight fasting) exempt with diabetes, who are taking medications, who are
pregnant or breastfeeding
 Foods that are prohibited by the Muslim dietary laws may be eaten when no other sources of food are available
Hindu
 Hindus are vegetarian