MHR FFL Sample Ch01
MHR FFL Sample Ch01
MHR FFL Sample Ch01
Unit 1
Influences on Food
Choices and Food
Patterns
Unifying Concept
Chapter 1
Overview
Most Canadians are able to obtain enough food to keep themselves healthy. In fact, most of our food habits and food patterns (our usual patterns of eating) are influenced by many
factors other than hunger. In this unit you will look at a number of different factors that influence
Why we eat what we eat
When we eat
How we eat it
Assessment
The following rubric will be used to assess the work you do on the
Connecting to the Community for Unit 1.
Criteria
Shows knowledge of
the different factors
that affect why
people eat
Shows limited
knowledge of the
different factors that
affect why people eat
Shows some
knowledge of the
different factors that
affect why people eat
Shows considerable
knowledge of the
different factors that
affect why people eat
Conducted research
into the different
factors related to why
and what people eat
Conducted research
into the different
factors related to
why and what people
eat with limited
effectiveness
Conducted research
into the different
factors related
to why and what
people eat with some
effectiveness
Conducted research
into the different
factors related to why
and what people eat
with considerable
effectiveness
Conducted research
into the different
factors related to why
and what people eat
with a high degree of
effectiveness
Considerable use of
critical and creative
thinking process
Communicates for
different audiences
and purposes
Communicates for
different audiences
and purposes
with limited or no
effectiveness
Communicates for
different audiences
and purposes with
some effectiveness
Communicates for
different audiences
and purposes
with considerable
effectiveness
Communicates for
different audiences
and purposes with
a high degree of
effectiveness
one
chapter 1
Understanding Personal
Food Choices
Key Concepts
Influences on personal
food choices
n To
meet physical
needs
n To
satisfy hunger
n To
n To meet psychological
needs
n To
n this chapter you will explore some of the factors that influence
your food choices. Which factors affect the food choices of Jemma
and Jamal during a typical morning?
Key Terms
Jamal sleeps in until the last second, rushes through his shower,
comfort foods
food insecurity
food secure
food stylist
hunger
nutrients
nutrition
psychological needs
H istorical Perspectives
The Early Canadian Diet
The English word diet originated in 1566 and meant to take ones meals or to feed
on. Dietitians use the word diet to mean all of the food a person eats on a regular basis. Sometimes people alter their eating habits for various reasons, including weight loss, disease prevention, food allergies, or improvement of mental and
physical health. Others adopt special diets because of their religious or personal
beliefs regarding some foods, as in the case of vegetarians, who do not eat meat.
The first pioneers and early homesteaders diet consisted of what they could
gather. They ate fruit, nuts, plants, and wild berries. Meat consisted of whatever
they could catch, including squirrels, moose, deer, and even bears. They ate fresh
fish from the rivers. First Nations people taught them many things, such as how
to tap trees and make maple syrup. Pioneers diet became more varied after they
established farms and grew crops, made preserves, and raised animals. In time,
general stores provided canned foods, fruits, and imported spices that enhanced
their diet.
Access to a greater variety of food does not mean a diet is necessarily healthy
and nutritious. To ensure Canadians did not suffer from nutritional deficiencies, and
to improve their health, Canadas first food guide, called Canadas Official Food Rules,
was introduced to the public in 1942. The earliest food guides were developed by
the Canadian Council on Nutrition, 1938-1969. Appointed by the federal government,
this group consisted of medical experts, scientists, and welfare workers. In 1938
the Council developed the first Dietary
Standard for Canada. The Dietary Standard described the amounts of essential nutrients considered adequate
to meet the needs of practically all
healthy persons. A daily eating plan
helped people of all ages choose
their food and maintain a nutritious
diet that contributed to maintaining
good health.
These are only a few of the many reasons why people eat. In Canada,
most people have enough food. According to Health Reports by Statistics Canada, about 15 percent of Canadians reported food insecurity
not having access to enough food to eatin the 2000-2001 Canadian
Community Health Survey. This survey found that most of the reasons
people eat have little to do with their physical need for food.
Lets explore in more detail some of these reasons.
Physical Needs
Human bodies need a particular type of fuel to do the work that keeps
them alive and maintain their bodily systems. To achieve optimum
health, your body requires nutrients. Your body uses nutrients,
which are the chemicals found in foods, to carry out its functions.
Nutrition is the study of nutrients and how the body uses them.
If you do not provide your body with the nutrients it needs, you
are at risk for health problems now and in the future. What aspects of
good nutrition and health maintenance do you expect this course
to teach you?
Good nutrition also allows the body to function at its best.
With good nutrition you look better and have the energy to be
alert and active. Athletes know whenever they havent
taken in enough nutrients because they run out of
energy. Most of us recognize when weve run out
of energy. Have you ever felt really low on energy
just before a meal? Our bodies act like cars running out of gasthey cannot perform.
Lack of nutrients can also cause you to be
tired. Many students who skip breakfast find
themselves nodding off during morning classes.
Being tired and irritable from lack of nutrition
also affects your attitude toward life.
Good nutrition keeps your body healthy and
is an important reason why people eat.
Figure 1-2 A basketball player knows how important it is to
keep the body well fueled. Why is being aware of what you eat
so important to an athlete?
i>
Figure 1-3 Why do you
think it would be more
difficult for low-income
families to obtain
nutritious food in rural
areas?
It is difficult to believe that many people living in the foodproducing areas of our country do not get enough to eat.
Rural Canada, containing most of the countrys prime agricultural land, is the
last place where we would expect to find hungry people.
Hunger in rural Canada has a number of causes. People in rural areas have
fewer options for employment because fewer jobs are available, and most jobs
in rural areas are lower paying than an equivalent job in a big city. The rural
economy is often affected by uncontrollable factors, such as drought or flooding.
When such things occur, farming communities do not produce as much food, and
the farms do not prosper.
People in rural areas do not have access to many social services since these
are often located in cities, and rural areas do not usually have public transportation to help people get to nearby cities. Consequently, grocery shopping is often
done at smaller, more expensive
shops. These shops have to pay
the higher costs of shipping food
greater distances and therefore
must charge their customers more
for their food. Typically, prices for
meat, fruit, and fresh vegetable
increase the most, while snack
foods such as chips and candy
cost the same as they do in more
urban centres. This makes it even
more difficult for low-income families to purchase nutritious food.
Many rural Canadians must rely
on other support systems to provide their dietary needs.
The Canadian Association of Food Banks (CAFB) conducts a national
research program called HungerCount and distributes food to food banks all
across the country. They rely on help from transportation companies, which
often transport food to remote areas at cost. CAFB also relies on donations
from large corporations, small businesses, and community groups to help fund
the purchase and transportation of food to rural food banks.
As of March 2006, there were 638 food banks in Canada and they supplied
approximately 800 000 people with emergency food supplies. The number of
food banks located in rural communities has increased from 270 per 64000
people a month in 2004 to 325 per 65000 people a month in 2006. This shows a
significant increase in need.
Hunger
When was the last time you felt truly hungry? Teens and young children experience hunger more than adults do because their growing
bodies need food more than adults do.
Hunger is the physical sensation that tells your brain it is time to
eat. People who really listen to their bodies recognize the sensation of
hunger. When they feel hungry, they eat until they feel full. Being able
to recognize the feelings of both hunger and fullness helps people to
eat in a healthy way.
If people do not recognize the feeling of fullness, then they will
overeat, and there is growing concern in Canada about obesity, especially in children. There is also concern for those who do not recognize
hunger and do not provide their bodies with enough fuel to maintain
their health. Children, especially, need proper nutrition to develop to
their full potential.
As a nation, Canada is food secure. This means that Canada has
enough food to feed all Canadians. However, some people in Canada
do not have access to enough food and so experience food insecurity.
This means they do not have a stable source of food. There are many
reasons for food insecurity. Some people do not have enough income
to pay for basic living expenses. Once they have paid for their housing, they have very little money left for food. Others, who are ill, permanently disabled, or temporarily disabled due to an accident, are not
able to provide food for themselves and their families.
As mentioned earlier, food insecurity is not just an urban issue;
it affects people all across Canada. Often, in rural Canada, access is
the biggest barrier to food security. Many programs attempt to address food insecurity.
Read the following Thinking Critically feature to learn more.
Thinking Critically
In September 2006 Operation Sharing in Woodstock, Ontario, closed its food banknot because
there were no longer any people who needed support, but because the community found a better
way to support them. Food for Friends is a program that provides access to food with dignity for
the individuals and families who need assistance.
Traditionally, a food bank is used by individuals
or families who need emergency food for only a
few days until they are able to achieve a consistent
food supply themselves. When food is required,
the individual goes to the food bank and asks for
food. The person is assessed and
information is recorded regarding his or her situation. The individual is then given a food supply
based on what is available on the
shelves at that time. This depends
on the non-perishable foods that
the general public has donated.
For some people who need food,
these items may not fit their dietary
or religious restrictions.
Food for Friends is a program
that allows individuals and families
to obtain food from grocery stores.
The person applies to the food card program in
the same way that he or she would apply to a food
bank. Once the application is completed, the person may receive the card(s) to shop for the food
they need at that specific time.
The food cards are issued in amounts of $10 or
$25. They look like debit cards so they will not attract
attention from other shoppers. The cards cannot be
cashed in. If the grocery bill is under the amount on
the card, no money is refunded to the patron. If the
grocery bill is higher than the cards, the patron is
responsible for the outstanding balance.
Anything purchased with the food cards must
be a non-taxable food item. This ensures that no
unhealthy items will be purchased. Perishable
Questions
1. Compare the advantages and disadvantages
of food banks and Food for Friends as emergency food suppliers.
2. If Food for Friends were operating in your community, how much money, based on the population, could they potentially collect a year if each
family donated 25 cents when they shopped
once a week? If the donations in Woodstock represent one-quarter of its population, how much
do you think your community could collect?
The Senses
Have you ever walked by a food stand or a bakery and seen something that looked so good that you had to stop and buy it? Has the
smell of dinner cooking ever made you hungry and drawn you to the
kitchen before it is time to eat? Both of these reactions are caused by
your senses. Your senses play a major role in what you eat. If your
senses are attracted to a food, you find the food appealing. Sometimes
your senses can trick you, and you may actually like something your
senses do not, such as when something that doesnt look appealing is
actually very tasty.
Your Sensory Organs
You see the food and then decide if it looks appetizing or not. Food that is
displayed attractively looks more appetizing.
You judge a food by its smell. Many people are drawn to food by its aroma.
Many people are especially alert to the smell of their favourite foods, such as
bread baking. Sometimes your sense of smell can warn you away from foods.
For example, many people recognize the smell of milk that has gone sour.
Your taste buds are small sensors that tell you about the flavour of foods.
People crave certain flavours. A sweet tooth is actually a sweet tongue.
Peoples tongues can also pick up bad flavours and warn you not to
swallow food that is tainted or rotting.
Some foods have a sound that is familiar and enticing, such as popcorn
popping.
Some foods feel right to the touch. People know by touch or texture the
difference between a fresh, crisp apple and a soft, stale one.
been fed by their families and caregivers. Often their favourite foods are
those from their familys culture. As you grow older, you are exposed
to foods from outside your family and your tastes become more varied.
Adults often eat foods that they would never have tried as children.
What food have you been introduced to by a friend recently that you
do not eat at home?
Taste is a learned sense. Sometimes, when you try a new food for
the first time, you do not really like it; but the more you try it, the
more you grow to like it. If you have ever watched a babys reaction to
a new food, you have witnessed his or her sense of taste developing
first hand.
Figure 1-7Imagine what
you look like when you try
something new. Is your
expression similar to this
babys?
Psychological Needs
Have you ever experienced food in the following ways?
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Chocolate is a very
popular comfort food.
Despite being high in
calories, it has health
benefits, too. An ounce
(30 g) of dark chocolate
contains 10 times more
antioxidants than a
strawberry. An ounce
a day increases good
cholesterol and prevents
bad cholesterol from
oxidizing.
As a reward
As a punishment
To comfort you
To show affection for you
To make you feel secure
To exert power over you
To provide pleasure
Ingredients
c
eb
o n n e cti o n
Preparation
n In
Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat; brown chicken in two batches,
about 8 minutes per batch. Transfer chicken to plate; drain off fat from pan.
Add garlic, leek, and onion; cook over medium heat until golden, about
8 minutes. Return chicken to pan along with green pepper, tomatoes, salt,
thyme, pepper, and 4 cups (1 L) water; bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover and
simmer for 15 minutes.
Add potatoes; cook for 15 minutes. Add cabbage; cook until tender, about
10 minutes. Skim off fat. (Make-ahead then let cool for 30 minutes. Refrigerate
until cold. Transfer to airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days.)
Servings: 6 to 8
to be comforting. Still others will reach for ice cream or chocolate in difficult times. These foods are called comfort foods.
What are your comfort foods? Are they foods that were given
to comfort you as a child?
Food can also be used as a source of power. Young children
will often refuse to eat in order to get their way. Other times they
will clean their plates to get their dessert. Teens will express
their independence by refusing to eat the food that has been prepared for them and eating something else.
Much research has been done on the psychology of food.
Researchers spend a great deal of time trying to figure out the
psychological reasons behind peoples food choices. Marketers
use this information to sell people food. Health professionals
use this information to help people make better food choices.
Chapter 1 Understanding Personal Food Choices MHR 15
Language
Extension
Psychological,
psychologically, and
psychologist come from the
word psychology, which
means the science of the
human mind. It comes
from the Greek word
psyche, which means
spirit, soul, mind.
1. In the chart, read the bold headings in the column Personality Types.
Think about what each of their eating habits might be like.
2. What words do you think describe the kind of person you are?
Do you think the foods you eat reflect the kind of person you are?
During Reading
1. Do you identify with an eating personality or recognize the types of eating
personalities in others?
2. Do you agree that everyone fits into these personality types? Why or why not?
The Earth Child
Has four distinct
personalities:
n Gentle soul
n Fresh, wholesome foods
n
n Passionate and emotional
Garlic and fresh herbs in
everything
artistic type, strong-minded
in opinions and politics,
which are often green
n Rigid herbivore. Views
types of foods as good
or bad
n Eats food to stay alive, not
for pleasure
Psychological Reasons
for Eating
Advice
n
n Eats
within a scientific,
medical, and
nutritional framework
n Eats within a moralistic
framework
The Wolf
aggressive, volatile,
macho
n Possibly a workaholic
n In touch with undeveloped
physical desires
Red meat
The Muncher
anything, all the time
n Bored, distracted, eats
without thinking
n Rushed, overwhelmed
by life, addicted to
convenience
n Needs
n Male,
n Eats
Personality Types
Psychological Reasons
for Eating
Advice
n Craves
familiarity and
security that comfort
foods evoke
n Thinks eating will make
him/her feel better if
busy or overtired
n If
The Socializer
unifying force among
family and friends
n Brings people together
with food and hospitality
n Dislikes aggressiveness or
upsets
n Busy
n Easy
one-dish meals
while cooking
n Finishes food on childrens
plates rather than eating a
meal
n Eats comfort foods when
she/he has time
Sharing is sometimes
more important than
the actual food
n Keeps food memories/
traditions alive
Food is a sensual
experience
n Always open to new
taste sensations,
eager to explore and
experiment
n A rebelmay resist
modern foods
n Eat
The Referee
and obsessive
n Lives life in an orderly,
organized manner
n A technical genius
n Has no tolerance for lifes
curveballs
n Eats
n Eats
within a scientific,
medical, and nutritional
framework that is good
for his/her health but
involves no pleasure
n Might have difficulty
dealing with emotions,
letting go, and
experiencing the
moment
n Try
n Tends
n Early
n The
n Outgoing,
n Uptight
n Old-fashioned
n Nibbles
Canadian fare
pancakes, oatmeal, back
bacon, poached salmon,
fiddle heads
n Seasonal, local ingredients
to be slightly
more anxious in other
areas of life as well
n May be a risk-taker in
other areas of life and
strives for safety when
eating
n Choices
After Reading
1. What are some examples of your favourite foods? Why are they your favourite
foods?
2. Do you think it is possible to change from one food personality type to another,
or to change the foods you eat and how you eat? Why or why not?
Chapter 1 Understanding Personal Food Choices MHR 17
Social Needs
When you go out with your friends, do you have something to eat?
When family gets together, are there specific foods involved? Do you
associate certain foods with your cultural celebrations? Most people
enjoy special foods and beverages at particular social events. These
help meet some of the individuals social needs.
Often when you get together to enjoy food and beverages with your
friends, the actual food is not as important as the social aspect and the
friendship. Usually when friends come to visit, they are offered food
or beverages by the host. What types of food and beverages do you
offer your friends when they come over?
Most family gatherings centre around food. When was the last time
that you met with your extended family that food was not involved?
Many families have special foods that have been served for generations and are considered family favourites or specialties. Does your
family have a specialty?
Celebrating special occasions often involves food. Birthdays have
cakes, weddings have special meals, and every religious celebration
has its own food. You will learn more about the role
food plays in special occasions in Chapters 2 and 3.
Other social events include specific foods. What
foods and/or beverages do you associate with the following events?
Going to a movie
Attending a concert
Playing a baseball game
Watching a hockey game
Going to a horseback-riding competition
Going on a picnic
Going camping
Talking with friends
Attending a place of worship
Career Profile
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do if vehicles were not equipped with cup holders so that people can
eat on the run? What if there were no drive-through restaurants?
A persons lifestyle has a major impact on her or his food habits.
How has your lifestyle influenced your parents eating habits and how
have your parents lifestyle affected yours?
Learn about the foods that will help you maintain your health.
Think about why you make the food choices you do.
Find healthy food choices by learning to read and understand
nutrition labels.
This course is a good first step in making healthy food choices for your
current and future health.
Remember
Understand
Apply
A display
case?
A PowerPoint
presentation?
A poster?
A script?
A bulletin
board display?
A game?
A brochure?
Chapter 1 Choices
1. Contact local agencies to find out how food insecurity is addressed in your
community. Answer the following questions in the form of a one-page article
for your Connecting to the Community product.
Who provides the service?
What types of services are available? (For example, food bank, soup
kitchen, community garden)
Where do people have to go to get access to food?
Is transportation provided?
How many people in your community are affected by food insecurity?
What are the causes?
How can teenagers become involved and make a difference in their
community when it comes to food insecurity?
OR
2. The 100 Mile Dietencourages buying locally-produced food because
buying foods produced within 100 miles (160 km) reduces the impact of
transportation on the environment. Purchasing food this way also helps
increase the freshness of foods, since they do not have to be harvested so
early. Using the food groups from Eating Well with Canadas Food Guide as an
organizer, list foods that are produced within 160 km of your community.
A n a l y z e
E v a l u a t e
C r e a t e
Chapter 1 Summary
In this chapter, you looked at some of the factors that influence peoples
food choices. These included:
Physiological reasons, such as nutrients to help you maintain a healthy
body, prevent fatigue and disease, and keep a positive attitude
n Reasons for food security and insecurity in Canada
n How parents and guardians use food to influence childrens behaviour
and the psychological impact this has on children as adults
n Reasons why some foods comfort people
n The role food plays in social events
n Factors that affect peoples lifestyle today and how this influences
their eating habits
n
Activities
1. Your friend, an athlete, does not believe that the food she eats has
an impact on her health and performance. Explain the concept of
nutrition and nutrients to your friend.
2. What is food insecurity? Give three reasons why people might
experience food insecurity.
3. What are the dangers of using food as a reward or punishment?
4. Think of three social occasions that you have attended that
involved food, and use your memory of them to complete a chart
similar to the one below.
Occasion
Special Significance