1. Unit 2 Seminar NS 220
Module 2: Food Habits

2. Module 2: Food Habits Food Selections:
What factors affect one’s food choices?
What has had an influence on your own food choices?

3. 2 Drives Influence Our Desire to Eat
Hunger:
Appetite:
controlled by CNS
psychological drive to eat; affected by external food choices often in absence of hunger

4. Food Symbolism Emotional Biological Sociological
Foods have different meanings to different people.

5. Culture & Ethnicity Types of foods Traditions & celebrations
Rules & rituals
Preparation
How does culture and ethnicity affect your own food choices?

6. Food Choices and Family/Culture
What role does food play in family/social celebrations?
Daily meals?

7. Ethnic/Cultural Food Pyramids
Native Americans:
Deficient in calcium, riboflavin, vitamins A and C, protein
Increased incidence of malnutrition, diabetes, & lactose intolerance.

8. Ethnic/Cultural Food Pyramids
Chinese:
Typically low in protein, calcium, vitamin D
Vegetarian & lactose intolerance common
Meat and milk limited
Yin (cool) and Yang (hot)

9. Other Cultural/Religious Groups
Mexican-Americans:
High in fat and sodium
Low in calcium and folate
Pork avoided by Jewish, Muslim, and Seventh Day Adventist’s
Need to be sensitive to dietary variations of different cultural and religious groups

10. Economics: Effects of money on food choices Lack of money
Buy cheap, less healthy foods
Lack of transportation to get food
Affects kind of food bought and amounts
Usually end up buying more starchy foods

11. Nutrition Education Culture & nutrition recommendations
Relate nutrition education to culture and habits of individual

12. Cultural Nutrition Recommendations
Client #1: High Cholesterol & High LDL
58 y.o. male Mexican-American; works night shift at
hospital; wife cooks & packs him dinner (tacos, rice,
beans, soup); he makes his own breakfast and
lunches (frequent fast food).
Client #2: High Cholesterol & High LDL
78 y.o. Italian female who cooks traditional Italian
meals with large portions; bakes pastries & desserts
frequently; sometimes skips breakfast