Traditional World Foods with Great Impact on What we eat

Name:

Course:

Lecturer:

Date:

Traditional World Foods with Great Impact on What we eat

Chinese food

The Chinese regard food as a primary need. This makes food to be a primary need and a main feature in the Chinese culture. Rice is one of the major foods taken by the Chinese people. The Chinese people eat rice with wooden sticks and support them with their bare hands. While this is how other people in the various parts of the world eat rice, they mostly use metallic spoons that are made in shapes almost similar to the wooden spoons (Chen 134).

The most common Chinese traditional food is Jai. It is mainly made out of compressed vegetable roots. Jai is usually served with chicken and fish. Chicken is served with almost all parts intact including the head, tail and feet. This has majorly been copied in many parts of the world including New Zealand, Thailand and most parts of Africa. Cakes are common foodstuffs in the world over (Chen 222). The Chinese people are known for making cakes especially for special occasions. This has been a culture all over the world where cakes are made during special occasions and seasons such as Valentine’s Day and anniversaries (Chen 145). Wheat flour is usually used in making cakes such as the Fa Gao. This cake is a symbol of excellent prosperity.

Spanish food

Spanish food is one of the most complicated yet copied foods in the world over. This is probably because of the varied foodstuffs they have in their daily menus and those taken on special occasions. The fine culinary professionals have boosted the uptake of Spanish cuisine all over the world. Regional sauces such as ‘ali oli’ are taken together with fine sausages and cheeses. The eating of foodstuffs and taking of wines immediately after is mainly attributed to the Spanish culture. Wine is mainly taken three times in a day after the three main meals. This culture is now more pronounced in the United States and many parts of Europe (Medina 78).

Light pastries such as mayonnaise are the most exported in the world according to FAO. These pastries are found all over the world. However, most of these are consumed in European and Asian countries. They are liked because they are relatively cheap and contain less fat.

American Food Culture

The American food culture is probably the most prominent food culture in the whole world. This is attributed to the variety of foods taken by the Americans and the scheduling of meal times. Americans take their meals in varied times but have three major meals that is breakfast, lunch and supper (Medina 98).

Islamic

Islam is one of the major cultures in the world that have changed what we eat today. Being a religious based culture, the impact of Islam on types of food eaten all over the world is very significant. For instance, the eating of pork is quite discouraged by those that profess the faith. This has had a great impact on the foods eaten, making foodstuffs such as pork not to be sold in some parts of the world. It is unthinkable to find pork meat being sold in any many parts of the Middle East as it is considered as unclean (Counihan 269). The same applies to sausages, which have bacon as an ingredient. Islam has also facilitated increased eating of special cookies (kahk) that are mainly taken after breaking the fast during the fasting period. This is mostly taken in Islamic countries such as Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq among others.

American Traditional Foods

McDonaldization has had a great impact in the American food revolution. Americans are used to eating of wheat made foods. Other than wheat-based foods, they are also more inclined to taking of rice. However, many Americans would prefer taking fast foods that are mainly fries. This would include potato chips, pizza and other forms of fresh fries. Cheese is also part of the American foods with most southerners taking the product. Cheese is currently one of the most common foods taken in Europe and Asia (Counihan 435). The American burgers are the most widespread and most spread foodstuffs in the world over. With an increase in McDonaldization, the American burgers have seen many people changing from cooking food at home to taking food in the restaurants. This is mainly attributed to the increased population of working mothers and tight working schedules that require minimal time spent on cooking.

French food

French cuisine is one of the most common foods in the world over. This is probably so because of the mobility nature of the French people. The French are people that are willing to train or teach others, which is why their cuisines are widely spread and famous all over the world. Their foods are also friendly as they mostly use olive oil for cooking. French cuisine has been emulated a lot in West African countries and eastern parts of Europe. The French traditional foods include snails. The northern French people are known for cooking their foods using butter. Ducks and pigs would be fattened and then slaughtered for food. This is a common emerging trend in Asia and most parts of Africa.

The French cuisine is healthier than any other making it preferable is. The cassoulet (“kah-soo-LAY”) is a famous casserole that is made up of white beans. This casserole is commonly found in restaurants in the United States and many parts of Asia. The French people are well known for accompanying their foods with wines. This tendency is being taken up in the world over. Today it is common to find wines dotting tables in restaurants whenever food is served. A third of the wines exported all over the world come from France and mostly contain grapes as ingredients.

Works Cited

Carole, Counihan. Food and culture: a reader. New York: Routledge, 2008. Print.

Xavier, Medina. Food culture in Spain. Food culture around the world. New York: Publisher Greenwood Publishing Group, 2005. Print

Zishan, Chen. Food and Chinese culture: essays on popular cuisine: Cultural China series. Beijing: PublisherLongRiver Press, 2005. Print