Social Media and Food
Maybe you just saw Marshall on 'How I Met Your Mother' eat a sandwich; Marshall also happens to be your favorite character. Even if you aren't really consciously eating a sandwich the next day because of a TV show, you can bet that it stays in your 'subconscious' memory. Similarly, when you see a poster of the newest pizzeria everywhere you go, you are more likely to buy from that pizzeria, isn't that so? This is one the points illustrated in Nobel-laureate David Kahnemen's new novel, Thinking Fast and Slow. In this stunning novel, Kahnemen speaks of the availability heuristic. In plain English, this means that the more you see something, the more likely you are to overestimate its frequency and give into it. So, in the example of our pizzeria, you would eat pizza there sooner or later because your memory of the poster would somehow stay in the back of your mind. Contrary to popular economics, consumers are not entirely rational in their choices.
Culture and Choices
Religion involves certain restrictions in terms of food; Hindus, Muslims, and Jews are not supposed to eat pork. Hindus are advised against beef (I would know), as cows are considered sacred in India. The Jain religion does not allow the consumption of meat and any other vegetable that grows underneath the ground. At the risk of entering the realm of stereotypes, the food and drink choices in certain nations are quite revealing; Frenchmen enjoy cheese and wine as well as traditional bread as Russians enjoy soup and meat. History might also dictate food choices: the Irish continue to eat potatoes as a main dish more than any other nation because it saved them from a famine. Some religions such as Islam and Hinduism go through a process called 'fasting' - this means that certain foods are avoided altogether during a specific time period. This is another example of culture affecting food.
People who have been culturally exposed to different foods are more likely to eat a diverse array of foods rather than specific and repetitive foods. For example, a Cuban who grew up in Russia and went to the international school is probably more open to eating all sorts of food, whereas a Russian citizen growing up in Russia in a state-sponsored school would be unlikely to radically change his preferences because he/she is less exposed. There is also the example of calorie-counting; cultures that have a new-age obesity problem such as China and Germany are less likely to have people that eat oil-rich foods, whereas Italian culture continues to encourage hearty eating despite all odds - they do not have high rates of obesity.
Some cultures have a preference towards vegan-ism or organic foods; some cultures value their meat above all. The trends in some parts of the world make for some surprising food choices; Koreans invest a great deal into sea food since they are surrounded by the ocean, while landlocked parts of Pakistan prefer agricultural produce. 'Meatless Mondays' and the drive towards organic foods are two examples of such choices.
Due to increasing globalization, we know a great deal about meals all over the world. Each culture and region has its own idea of culturally accepted food, and the above stated are merely examples of this phenomenon. However, as cultures experience more syncretism and ideas spread, change is always afoot. After all, culture is a dynamic concept.
Culture isn't just a social studies concept. In countries with a relatively high working population, people might choose to buy food that is easily prepared because cooking is a time-consuming process (the 'work' culture). On the other hand, in some cultures, meals are an extremely important gesture in families, in which case the focus would be on elaborate cooking.
People who have been culturally exposed to different foods are more likely to eat a diverse array of foods rather than specific and repetitive foods. For example, a Cuban who grew up in Russia and went to the international school is probably more open to eating all sorts of food, whereas a Russian citizen growing up in Russia in a state-sponsored school would be unlikely to radically change his preferences because he/she is less exposed. There is also the example of calorie-counting; cultures that have a new-age obesity problem such as China and Germany are less likely to have people that eat oil-rich foods, whereas Italian culture continues to encourage hearty eating despite all odds - they do not have high rates of obesity.
Some cultures have a preference towards vegan-ism or organic foods; some cultures value their meat above all. The trends in some parts of the world make for some surprising food choices; Koreans invest a great deal into sea food since they are surrounded by the ocean, while landlocked parts of Pakistan prefer agricultural produce. 'Meatless Mondays' and the drive towards organic foods are two examples of such choices.
Due to increasing globalization, we know a great deal about meals all over the world. Each culture and region has its own idea of culturally accepted food, and the above stated are merely examples of this phenomenon. However, as cultures experience more syncretism and ideas spread, change is always afoot. After all, culture is a dynamic concept.
Culture isn't just a social studies concept. In countries with a relatively high working population, people might choose to buy food that is easily prepared because cooking is a time-consuming process (the 'work' culture). On the other hand, in some cultures, meals are an extremely important gesture in families, in which case the focus would be on elaborate cooking.
Income and Food
The percentage of income that some countries in the world spend on food.
Poverty and wealth obviously indicate the quality and quantity of food consumed all over the world. In India, strong coalition governments have fallen because of the rise in the price of onions. Sure enough, a study reported that both adults and adolescents claim that the cost of food as an influence is only second to the taste of the food. The cost of food plays a significant role in eating patterns and consumption. Yet another study reported that price cuts in school cafeterias result in more people buying low-fat foods. Low-income families in the United States tend to buy frozen food or cold cuts because they are relatively cheaper than fresh produce. In this vein, high income families might not be limited by money or financial concerns, and therefore might be more open to choice. Cost is complicated because it is affected by demand and geographical availability.
Geography and Food
It used to be completely true that we only ate as much as we could grow. This is not entirely the case anymore, but the geography and the environment does dictate what foods are available to us as common people. Culture often integrates commonly-available foods into the menu for convenience. In terms of geography, there are many deciding factors that influence food choices:
1. Climate decides the growing season of the crop and how often it is available per year.
2. Precipitation, again, decides the growth of certain crops. It can also favor certain crops over others. For example, paddy fields require a veritable inundation in order to grow.
3. Topography decides the kinds of crops that can be grown; mountainous regions rarely support a great deal of agricultural produce compared to the gifts of the plains.
4. Soil quality decides the nature of the crop and the number of times it can be sowed for the season. It also favors certain crops over others.
1. Climate decides the growing season of the crop and how often it is available per year.
2. Precipitation, again, decides the growth of certain crops. It can also favor certain crops over others. For example, paddy fields require a veritable inundation in order to grow.
3. Topography decides the kinds of crops that can be grown; mountainous regions rarely support a great deal of agricultural produce compared to the gifts of the plains.
4. Soil quality decides the nature of the crop and the number of times it can be sowed for the season. It also favors certain crops over others.
Education and Food
The more health-conscious and aware of diseases and disorders you are, the more likely you are to concentrate on a more nutritious diet. Someone with less awareness about eating patterns, the food pyramid, or nutritional values is likely to be less informed than a consumer who is also a PhD in Food Science. This is an unfortunate problem that requires immediate attention.
Preferences and Food
Everyone has different likes, dislikes, and opinions about food. Some are 'texture-eaters' while some eat for the flavor or the experience. These can be attributed to a combination of nature or nurture - upbringing plays an important role in the consumption of food because it sets the stage for nutrition and food choices in adult lives. Someone who has eaten home-cooked food might be predisposed to cook at home for his/her children. Also, people enjoy eating food that they have liked in the past because there are familiar experiences and expectations. On the other hand, preferences change as well, as people are exposed to new foods. The best historical example of this is the Columbian Exchange, in which the preferences of entire continents seemed to change.
Government Policy and Food
Trade, exports, and imports affect the availability of food in daily life; laws and trade agreements increase exposure to different foods and encourage a wider culture. Food prices are also affected by fiscal policy in terms of government. Advertising laws made by governments determine, to some extent, the power of media slogans.
Food that is subsidized and therefore encouraged by the government is more likely to disappear from store shelves than slightly more expensive or less subsidized foods. Government policy makes certain kinds of foods look more appealing because of the commercial benefit.
Food that is subsidized and therefore encouraged by the government is more likely to disappear from store shelves than slightly more expensive or less subsidized foods. Government policy makes certain kinds of foods look more appealing because of the commercial benefit.