ethnicity vs culture
Most major cities in the globe encompass diverse societies, consisting of various individuals whose ethnicity and culture varies too. An ethnicity is a social group with standard distinctive features, including values and customs, language, physical appearance, and culture. On the contrary, culture refers to our way of doing things in our group.
For instance, a particular group can be made of people with a shared set of assumptions, religion, culture, physical appearance, conventions, and values. A society can only function effectively and smoothly by learning to integrate and coexist together. This includes, among other factors, the capability to accept and sample various kinds of foods and even adjustment of diets. Food habits and choices refer to the reason and manner behind how people eat, the food kinds the choose to eat, the people they share their food with, how they acquire their food, store, use and dispose of it. Various factors impact food choices and habits among which include geographical location, culture, lifestyle and health of an individual, their social, and economic factors
(Bellisle, 2012, 1). This paper explains the impacts of learning on my food habits.
Culture has affected my choice of food significantly. Since every culture has various traditions, each religion is more inclined to consuming certain foods more than others. It also promotes different types of food preparation. In my case, I always try to eat healthily and keep fit, although it is a bit challenging because of my culture.
I grew up in a culture where people almost endorse the consumption of fast foods. The convenience of fast foods has primarily influenced my choice of food. That being my cultural background, my preferences and tastes, therefore, lean on the side of fast foods. Moreover, the experiences I have learned as I grew up have resulted in my eating habits. Often, in my family, we eat fast foods; hence, the practice in me. Social factors have also affected my eating habits.
The people around someone determine what they eat, thus, impacting their food choices hugely irrespective of their awareness about it. Family and friends much support someone towards eating healthier. However, for my case, the friends I stick around consume fast foods, mostly something which has contributed to me eating just like them. In my case, I strive to ensure that I maintain my fitness by competing in a mountain bike ride to burn calories once I consume fast foods because being healthy is essential.
Eating habits and choices determine the health of an individual. If one has to be healthy, then their food selection should be robust too. As for my case, I eat healthy foods often, although the convenience of fast foods makes it challenging. Despite my slim build body, I choose healthy eating, and when consuming fast foods, I take cane chicken or a burrito. Afterward, I engage in bike riding competition to burn any accumulated calories. The reason for this habit of eating is because a healthy diet is a boost to the appearance of an individual.
Moreover, I take fast food because it is a popular dish in my place. Most people prefer fast foods because they lack time to either prepare meals or don’t know how to cook. Such factors exist in college settings where most of us enjoy fast foods. Therefore, my eating habits result from my environment. It gets challenging to stick on a diet when the people around you are consuming junk food. My age is also another factor that has contributed to me eating what I eat. People at the age of eighteen find fantasy in taking fast foods. For us, it sounds classy and enjoyable, taking such dishes despite the negativities they possess.
Various cultures embrace diverse food choices. Moreover, culture impacts preparation techniques
people use for their foods
including their manner of consumption. My food habits have also been influenced by culture. In my state, people have a perception of consuming fast foods in most cases. As a result, fast food shops cover the most significant percentage of the food market. Since my place of origin has the food culture of fast foods, it is challenging for me to maintain taking healthy diets. Interaction with several people consuming fast foods has also led to the failure of maintaining a healthy eating habit.
In many cases, however vigilant and strict you are on your diet, the food culture around you will always impact your food habits. For instance, the Latinos residing in California are extremely strict with their diet; hence, circumstances force them to adopt new cultures that are similar to their lifestyle. One cannot escape the influence of food culture in the area they are living in, even if it includes eating the foods once in a while. Moreover, my young age contributes to culture affecting my eating habits being compromised by culture since I want to involve myself in what the people in my state have been eating.
Different aspects have contributed to a change in my behavior and views towards food. Initially, eating healthy would never cross my mind because I am physically fit and healthy. This is a case that happens quite often whereby if people consider themselves healthy, they pay less attention to the food they eat or what they prepare.
I experienced the same where I could eat anything I came across until my close relative developed obesity because of the nutritional and lifestyle habits in our family. As a result, I developed a positive view and concern towards what I consume, the mode of preparation, and the place I purchase it. Physicians recommended the relative to avoid individual dishes, among which included consumption of junk and fried foods with a lot of fat, sugary foods, and focus more on vegetables. The meals would help in reducing the severity of the condition. I focused on educating myself on how our food habits affect our health. Though challenging, I strive to learn and experiment each day on the kind of food I ingest regardless of the food culture in my state.
In conclusion, food culture is as diverse as the world ethic and cultural groups. Food habits vary from one culture to another. A person’s eating pattern is usually affected by several factors, among which include personal factors, environmental factors, social factors, geographical factors, and most significant cultural factors.
In my case, culture and environment have significantly impacted my eating habits. People take advantage of the convenience of fast foods, which is the food culture in my state. Often people find it challenging to maintain healthy eating habits in cases where their culture compromises healthy eating habits. When it is challenging to maintain healthy eating habits, then it is essential to come up with an exercise plan that will help burn the calories in your body.
In many cases, people do not pay attention to healthy consumptions as long as they consider themselves healthy. It is until awakening call happens, which may include a person being recognized with the condition that requires nutritional maintenance. Health issues often create awareness of the priorities are in life and also become more conscious and mindful when choosing our meals. People should be aware that eating habits and choices of food determine their health as well as their physical appearance.