Food and Culture: The Interconnection
As commonly stated that we are what we eat, this statement is very true to the fact that food and our culture are interconnected. People of different cultures consume a diverse variety of foodstuffs, and this is because most of the foods are indigenous and were introduced to us by our families who acquired them from the immediate family. For this matter, food goes with culture, for instance, those in Asia like the Chinese and Japanese consume some reptiles and even dogs that are weird delicacies in some continents. The act of food consumption goes with identity and conformity to cultural customs. In my case, I think culture plays an influential role in what we consume on a daily basis. The essay supports the argument that food has many effects on our culture and shapes our future. The outcomes of culture on food can be seen in the eating habits of Africans, Europeans, Asians, and the Americans with diverse cultures and so are the foods that they eat.
Personal Connections to Food and Identity
On a personal level, we grow up feeding on meals belonging to our cultures. That act becomes part of our identity and defines who we are. I sometimes connect food that I used to consume when young to pleasant memories and warm feelings tying me to my family, holding personal and special value for me. The family food has become the meal that acts as comfort food that I try to find during my low times due to stress and frustrations. For instance, when I was young and fell sick, I could not eat foods such as rice, and so my mother would prepare soups that were easy to consume on my bed. With time, I became familiar with the taste and smell of the soup. So today whenever I feel sick or exhausted due to daily stressors I find myself in dire need of the soup my mother used to give and from the back of my mind, I feel convinced that it is the only thing that can bring comfort at that particular time.
The Role of Food in Cultural Identity
On a larger level, food has got different meanings and plays a critical role in our culture. Traditional food is passed down from one offspring to another. The generation-to-generation passing of food is a means of expressing cultural identity. In African tradition, different cultures determined what was to be eaten on the many occasions. Like during circumcision and dowry, a few selected dishes were to be eaten (Anderson, 28). Today, these practices still take place on occasions. Also in most western states, foods such as chocolate act as valuable gifts to a person and the individual offered the gift would portray a different reaction from a gift of rice or cabbage (Anderson, 31).
Food and Culture on a National Level
Continents and nations are mostly associated with various diverse foods. For instance, a country like Italy is known for pasta and pizza (Paul, 82). However, this does not say that Italians do not eat other dishes, but food plays a significant role in Italian culture. Also in nations, food varies depending on the method of preparation and the food types. For example, in the United States, some citizens prefer to consume potatoes and beef, which are not eaten regularly in the country. In the southern part of The US, boiled corn is a delicacy for most families (Paul, 84). Such meals are not national delicacies and would not be preferred by many but just a few individuals that identify with the taste.
The Influence of Food on Cultural Change
Food has its role deeply embedded in the culture with the existence of local food eating habits. These habits may sometimes change with time as immigrants come with various eating cultures and somehow influence the inhabitants to alter their feeding patterns. The similarity in the food pattern fosters the connection of individuals with a similar ethnic origin. For instance, most immigrants use food as their identity. Thus, this enables them to blend easily with people of the same origin in the foreign country and helps in retaining their cultural identity and pride. With this kind of migration, food practices and eating patterns also migrate as food is always exported and at the same time imported. The imported food may have a positive influence on the inhabitants of the new country, and they may consider adopting the pattern if it is a good one, and as such food plays a role in culture change. Food has greatly influenced the eating culture of most citizens in the developing world to the extent that they have now shifted to consumption of what was earlier considered to be Western meals and culture. Since people and food are mobile, I find it difficult to characterize a nation by the food it consumes.
Cultural Beliefs and Symbols Associated with Food
Notwithstanding, products that are edible in one country or continent might be inedible in another state or continent. Even though the food is always selected based on its nutritional or the physical need, what most families eat have cultural beliefs that the given society attaches to it. A good example is whereby both the animal and plant sources contain sufficient nutritional requirements for proteins, beef, beans, dog meat, lizard, and caterpillars are all protein sources for the body. Due to the societal beliefs and symbols attached to these sources, they are not available for consumption in many families and societies. It is another proof that food plays a vital role in our culture.
Food and Religious Beliefs
Food effects on the culture of Muslims and Jews are widespread and can be based on their religious beliefs. Worldwide Muslims desist from eating during Ramadhan, a period that Muslims believe that the Qur'an was brought to Mohamed, the founder of the religion. Muslims, at this moment, fast during the day and eat before and after sunset (Anderson, 44). On the other hand, the Jews also have some Jewish traditional rules called the "Kosher" diet where they follow some procedures in the preparation of animal products according to spiritual health purposes (Anderson, 44). Many other religions also have their food effects on the religious culture like the Hindus, Buddhists, and the Jainists who are mainly vegetarians (Anderson, 44). Desisting from taking meat serves the purpose of honoring the law, which requires one not to harm other living beings.
Food, Culture, and Mealtime Habits
Food plays a crucial role in the world as far as culture is concerned. Even amidst the society with the similar origin and similar food habits, the feeding pattern is not the same. Conversations at the time of meals have variations depending on the place. While some families consider mealtime the best time to converse and have a pleasant time chatting together, some families outlaw the act of engaging in conversation, arguing that table manners need to be observed during meal times, which involves no talking.
The Significance of Food in Cultural Celebrations
Food effects on culture have different degrees of importance. For instance, in Samoa, various family cultural celebrations center on eating. When performing celebrations, the wealth and prosperity of the host family depend on the amount of food offered during the ceremony. This act is also evident in many African cultures where the riches of a given family are measured by the many cows slaughtered during ceremonies such burial, weddings, and even during the rite of passage (Paul, 92). Food goes hand in hand with traditions, which vary from one place to another. It is different even in a society sharing same cultural origins; feeding patterns are not similar. Families have variations in the daily routines on traveling, holidays, and the presence of guests. Women eat differently from men. Meals are taken according to age groups (Paul, 93). However, in many places, food is associated mostly with friendship gratitude and hospitality.
In Conclusion
We must embrace origin through our cultural cousins and also be aware and stay informed of other traditions by further tasting what they offer regarding food. It is very basic to put in mind that every dish possesses distinctive attention from its culture of origin and is very important to those preparing the cuisine. Food and culture are deeply connected, and we should treat them as such.
Works Cited
Anderson, Eugene Newton. Everyone eats: understanding food and culture. NYU Press, 2014.
Fieldhouse, Paul. Food and nutrition: customs and culture. Springer, 2013.
