Eating Habits Essay

770 Words4 Pages
Eating Habits Eating habits is why and how people eat, which foods they eat, and with whom they eat with, as well as the ways people obtain, store, use and discard food. Individual, social, cultural, religious, economic, environmental, and political factors all influence people’s eating habits. All humans eat to survive. They also eat to express a sense of belonging. People eat according to learned behaviors regarding etiquette. Etiquette and eating rituals also vary depending on whether the meal is formal, informal, or special. A meal is defined as the consumption of two or more foods in a structured setting at a set time. Snacks consist of small amounts of food eaten between meals. A common eating patter is three meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner. The components of a meal vary according to cultures. Everybody usually has grain, vegetables or fruits, meat, dairy and of course a dessert to top it off. Various food pyramids suggest on food to eat, portion sizes, and daily intake. However, personal preferences, habits, family customs, and social setting largely determine what a person consumes. What and how people eat is determined by factors including economic circumstances, cultural norms, and religious structures. In each culture there are both acceptable and unacceptable foods, though this is not determined by whether or not something is edible. Humans acquire, store and discard food using a variety of methods. People may store small amounts of foods and get most of what they eat on a day-to-day basis, or they may purchase most of it from supermarkets or specialty stores. There are innumerable flavors and food combinations. A liking for some flavors or food combinations is easily acceptable, but others must develop over time. Sweetness is an universal acceptable flavor, but a taste for salty, savory, spicy, tart, bitter and hot flavors must be
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