FOODS
Food has been a basic part
of our existence. Through the centuries we have acquired a wealth of
information about the use of food to ensure growth of children and youth, to
maintain good health through life, and to meet special needs of pregnancy and
lactation and to use it to recover from illness.
When you study food
composition you will know the nutritional contribution of foods. You may have
been told that certain foods are very important for maintaining good health,
while others are harmful. As you study the science of Foods and Nutrition, you
will need to examine the ideas you have about foods very carefully and accept
or reject these in the light of the knowledge you will acquire. Whatever you
learn in this area should be used and applied in your personal life.
A large part of your
food heritage is scientifically beneficial and needs to be retained; some
aspects may need to be modified in the view of the changes in our lifestyle.
Food is an important
topic of conversations, articles in newspapers and magazines, as also of
advertisements. Some of this information may be correct but a large part of it
may not be. As you learn this subject, you will be able to spread the knowledge
gained to those around you, so that they discard false ideas about food, which
interfere with their food selection and affect their health.
Food, nutrition and
health are intimately connected aspects of our life. Let us start our study by
defining these and related terms.
Food is
that which nourishes the body. Food may also be defined as anything eaten or
drunk, which meets the needs for energy, building, regulation and protection of
the body. In short, food is the raw material from which our bodies are made.
Intake of the right kinds and amounts of food can ensure good nutrition and
health, which may be evident in our appearance, efficiency and emotional well-being.
FUNCTIONS OF FOOD
There are three types
of foods are as follows:
1.
Physiological
functions of food
2.
The Social
functions of food.
3.
The psychological functions of food
Physiological
functions of food: The first function of the body is to
provide energy. The body needs energy to sustain the involuntary processes
essential for continuance of life to carry out professional, household and
recreational activities, to convert food ingested into usable nutrients in the
body, to grow and to keep warm. The
energy needed is supplied by the oxidation of the foods consumed.
The foods we eat become a part of us. Thus one of
the most important functions of food is building a body. A newborn baby weighing 2.7-3.2 kg can grow to
its potential adult size of 55-60
kg if the right kinds
and amounts of foods are eaten from the birth to adulthood. The food
eaten each day helps to maintain the structure of the adult body, and to replace
worm out cells of the body.
The third function of food is to regulate activities
of the body. It includes regulation of
such varied activities as:
·
Bearing of the heart
·
Maintenance of the body temperature
·
Muscle contraction
·
Control of Water balance
·
Clotting of blood
·
Removal of Waste products from the body
The fourth function of food is to
improve our body’s resistance to disease.
The
Social Functions of Food: Food has always been a central part
of our social existence. It has been a part of our community, social, cultural
and religious life. Special foods are distributed as a benediction or Prasad in
the religious functions home, temples and churches. Feasts are given at
specific stages of life such as birth, naming ceremony, birthdays, marriages,
etc. Most of the religious festivals also call for feasts and feeding of
specific segments of the population. Certain menus are associated with most of
these feasts in each region.
Food has been used as an expression of love,
friendship and social acceptance. It is also used as a symbol of happiness at
certain events in life, for example, pedhas are distributed to announce success
in examinations, or the birth of a baby; laddus are associated with the
celebration of EID Festival, Deepavali and marriages, cakes are associated with
Christmas and birthdays and tilgul with sankranti the festival of friendship.
At EID day the Muslims are prepared very delicious and rich dishes and share
their foods with relatives and poor peoples in the society.
As food is an integral part of our social existence,
this function is important in daily life. Refreshments served at get-togethers
or meetings create a relaxed atmosphere. The menu for such get-together, should
bring the people together, rather than divide them. This basic aspect should be
considered in planning menus for such occasions.
The
Psychological Functions of Food: In addition to
satisfying physical and social needs, food must satisfy certain emotional
needs. These includes a sense of security, love and attention. Thus familiar foods make us feel secure. Thus
familiar foods make us feel secure. Anticipating needs and fulfilling these are
expressions of love and attention. These sentiments are the basis of the normal
attachment to the mother’s cook. Sharing of food is a token of friendship and
acceptance. Sharing of foods is a token of friendship and acceptance. It must
be noted that even a nutritionally balanced meal may not be satisfying to the
individual, if the foods included are unfamiliar or distasteful to him /her.
With time and repeated experience, strange foods become familiar and new tastes
are formed.
These aspects are important in food acceptance and
must be considered in planning meals, which are not only nutritionally
adequate, but also enjoyable for the group for whom they are intended.
