Examining Cultural Influences of Behavioral Nutrition: The Traditional and Nutritional Values of the Chinese Cultural Diet
It is a general belief that adequate nutrition equals healthy living. From time immemorial, human beings have understandably placed a premium on diets. Rightly so as lives have been saved or lost through food. However, while nutrients will always be a significant factor which decides what people eat or do not eat, there are other as worthy elements that influence human eating behavior. One of those other several factors that determine people's choice of food is cultural influences. This explains why food is one of the crucial elements that define people's way of life. People’s culture cannot be holistically discussed without good attention to their diets. One of the world's cultural groups that are very popular for their diet culture are the Chinese people. Of several other components of the Chinese, food is a top priority and mark of identity of these Asian people. Looking at the way they choose, prepare and eat their meals, it is worth wondering what influence these eating habits they are culturally known for.
Traditionally, food serves different purposes in China hence the importance attached to it. These commitments fulfilled by Chinese diets in most cases, go beyond nutrition. Most Chinese both in the past and now, eat not primarily to stay healthy but as a way of honor to traditions and customs. In China, among traditional issues attached to food is the interpersonal relationship. For instance, social eating is considered a way of expressing a relationship with one another. "Food consumed by one person alone” according to Ma (2015) “is not a social food.” It is widely believed among the Chinese that food eating communally is a tool for expression and maintenance of a relationship. When this is now taken further to the level of presenting and eating more expensive foods among different people, it is a way of showing the degree of the relationship that exists between them, Ma (2015). Apart from the relationship, Ma (2015) also observed that food in China, among other things, represents social status, and an essential part of the celebration of special moments and festivals. Other traditional influence of diet in China include a representation of symbolic significance, and a means of reward or punishment in the sense that when someone achieves important tasks, good and desired food is provided to appreciate them while bad behavior is punished via denial of one's desired meal.
For instance, in China, it what is taken as breakfast, lunch or dinner is culturally almost the same in every household. According to “Countries and Their Cultures”, in the southern part of the country, it is common to see many Chinese starts their day with "rice porridge, or congee served with shrimp, vegetables and pickles." Their lunch is not too different from the breakfast while the dinner is usually their day's largest meal, and every of their meal includes soup, and this is served as the last course, (“Countries and Their Cultures”) observed. Just like many other cultures, the Chinese diet is, majorly...…spread worldwide. In their usual way of sticking to their cultural diets even with delight, the Chinese have ensured that “tea is the characteristic traditional element, and it is so important that it is included among the seven indispensable products for life" [which others being] fuel, oil, rice, salt, soy sauce and vinegar" (“The cultural dimension of food”)..
The strong attachment to their cultural diets have, however, made many to wonder the health implication that might arise should China choose to completely move away from her traditional food to an entirely different diet culture. The consequence of this is, however, not farfetched as the emerging facts can show that the result would be more negative than positive. Already, China's nutrition transition has posed a national challenge to the country, and as it can be clearly seen, “the changes in diet and lifestyle patterns have large impacts in terms of public health, food safety and the environment” Ramsing (2018). Thich has resulted in obesity, cancer and other life-threatening health problems mentioned above. It will instead be advisable that the country found its root back to her ancient eating habits which were more natural and healthier.
In sum, the Chinese cultural influences behavioral nutrition remains one of the most unique globally which has found its way into other cultures around the world. Their value attached to nutrition and healthy communal relationship as being derived from food will always make their cultural diet a reference points worldwide. However, the massive diet shift has proven to be of negative consequences on the country's health; it is, therefore, a matter of urgent that China traces her step back…
