Margaret Mead focuses on the idea of changing the food habits in the United States in her article of, "The Problem of Changing Food Habits." An anthropology group, known as the Committee, has the task was to "integrate existing materials and devise new ways of tapping existing knowledge on the problem of cultural change." The findings of many experiments done by the committee provide scientific background toward changing American culture dietary practices.
In order to have change it is important to learn about the habits and dynamics of Americans and food. People need to "accept food, the fears and repugnance, the situations involving food, the state of mind while eating - all which will alter food habits." In addition, it is important to study the food habits of other countries so we can learn from them and help us and them accordingly. For example, knowing what supplies to send to a foreign country. An investigation done by the Committee, suggests that the easiest way t please everyone's different food preferences is to create simple and spiceless dishes, which introduces the phrase "social institution." Furthermore, it is important to recognize meal patterns. There has been a shift in shopping habits and when there is free time to eat, which changes the way we eat from the long-ago excepted breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This may critically damage the nutritional value of eat meal. Mead emphasizes the importance of a balanced meal, bur suggests using caution when using "plate service."
It is imperative and extremely important to ask questions. "Asking questions shifts the deliberations from broad questions to precise problems which can be state in such a way that they can be answered." An analysis showed that by asking questions it is possible to work out what is going wrong, what is going well, and what needs to be changed. For example, eating disorders need to be questioned in order to be helped. "The task of applied science is to set up a program for controlling a social process so that the desired changes will occur, instead of a program aimed at the reform of identified individuals. It is important to recognize these numerous points brought to attention by Mead in order for a better well-being.
In “The Problem of Changing Food Habits,” anthropologist Margaret Mead focuses on “both pure and applied sciences” to better understand how to change food habits. It is important to refer to literature and recorded experiments that deal with the problem. For example, there is an ample amount of data on historically changing diets, animal experiments in individual preference and its nutritional value, as well as records of the cultural integration of food. Mead argues that an anthropologist group, referred to as the Committee, seek to integrate existing knowledge and apply science to develop a solution for cultural food-based change.
ReplyDeleteThere are many different aspects of our lives that affect the way we eat. Each culture has completely different ideas about food and dietary practices. Mead emphasizes the importance of knowing how a community seeks and accepts food, their ideas of sharing food, any emotions that are present in their food, as well as how it is prepared or served. The food practices we know come from what our parents have taught us are socially acceptable ways of eating and using food. Even though a habit may be unhealthy, in one culture it could be considered tradition and would be very difficult to change without disrupting the entire community completely because as children we learn what is right and what is wrong depending on our social surroundings. In order to implement change it is imperative to understand each community’s needs to ensure that any changes to their dietary practices do not cause other problems.
According to Mead, it would not be possible to move forward without understanding every detail of the dietary problem. Through building upon new and old findings, we will better be able to integrate new food practices without hurting an entire culture. Mead argues that it is important to ask precise questions in order to receive answers. For example, instead of “How can we change food habits?” a better question would be, “How should new foods be presented or old, nutritionally undesirable foods be disparaged?” Change will happen through a system of education and communication by using science to develop better dietary practices and give greeter responsibility to those that are preparing meals for us.