Chapter 1 Physical Needs Met And Cultural and Social Influences

Physical Needs  Your body needs to provide the energy required to maintain vital functions  Need energy to move your muscles  Need substances from food to build and repair tissues

Relieves Hunger  Hunger is the physical need for food  Hunger signal stimulates your stomach to produce hunger pangs  Hunger may also stimulate your appetite –Appetite has a greater influence on food choices than your hunger –Only certain foods will satisfy your appetite

Improves Wellness  Wellness is the state of being in overall good health –Physical health-health of your body  Food helps you grow and develop normally  Help you avoid developing certain diseases

–Mental health- health of your mind  Sign of good mental health is ability to handle stress  When you eat the foods your body needs, you are less likely to develop certain illnesses-which can be a source of stress  Eating well can also give you the strength to face stressful situations

–Social health- health of relationships  Help you feel strong and energetic  Give you confidence to be more outgoing as you interact with others  Food is a part of many social gatherings

Cultural Influences  What is culture? –The customs and beliefs of a racial, religious, or social group  The U.S. is a multicultural society –Native Americans –Immigrants from Europe and Asia –Slaves from Africa –Etc.

National Origin  Settlers brought with them foods from their native cultures  French introduced chowders  Chinese introduced stir-fried dishes  Germans-sausages  Dutch-cookies, coleslaw, and waffles  Italians-pastas and rich tomato sauces  Hungarians-goulash spiced with paprika

Religion  Hindus will not use cattle for food because they consider cattle to be sacred  Food used as symbols –Bread and wine used in Christian churches during communion symbolize the sacrifice of Christ’s body –Unleavened bread is an important symbol for Jewish people during Passover– flight from Egypt did not allow time for the bread to rise

Religion Continued  Fasting-denying oneself of food –Some Christians fast during lent –Catholics do not eat meat on Friday  Burial ceremonies –Egyptians buried food with their dead –The deceased needed food for their journey into the next world.

Holidays  Celebrations abound with food traditions  Valentine’s Day –Heart shaped chocolates as a symbol of love  Some food has become a custom associated with the celebration –Hot dogs or corn on the cob during Independence Day

Social Influences  For some preparing and eating food are social activities  Food can actually bring people together –Family at dinner –Friends at parties –Business transactions over lunch  Eating habits can be influenced by the people we eat with.

Family  Some people favorite food is the food that they grew up eating at home  Food often plays an important part in family traditions or special occasions –Special menu for Birthdays  Lifestyle-the way you usually live –Years ago many families lived on farms –Large families-children were needed to work on the farm  3 meals together each day  Ate the food that was produced on the farm

Family continued  Today’s family –Dual-income families ~ both parents earn a paycheck –On average, fewer family members eat fewer meals together  Sociologist are concerned that families are missing an important chance to communicate with each other –Many meal managers rely on convenience foods and carry out meals –Few families produce their own food

Friends  Peer pressure to try new food or eat a food because they are eating it  Example: You may feel like going to get Chinese, but everyone else wants to go get pizza –Someone may convince you to try something you wouldn’t usually try

Mass Media  The media acquaints you with, reminds you of, and informs you about food products and nutrition issues.  Advertising –Encourages you to try new food products –Appeal to your curiosity –Appeal to your desire to belong –Appeal to your pride~the most worthwhile people are those who eat this food –Coupons, rebates, and special offers may als prompt you

Assignment  Find 4-5 food advertisements  Cut out and paste on construction paper  Label the advertising technique  Look for and highlight words used such as: delicious, fun, wholesome, etc.