The French Diet
This chapter introduced you to the food preferences and diet choices of several ethnic and cultural traditions. Another foreign cuisine that is quite popular in the United States is the cuisine of France. Explore the characteristics and ingredients of a French diet and the eating habits of the French people. How does this compare with the other cuisines you have read about? If you have not already, would you consider trying this cuisine?
Visit the La cuisine provençale par Louisa Jones web site
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Why Are the Jains Vegetarians?
Vegetarianism is gaining popularity worldwide for many reasons. Jainism, a religion followed by a group of people from India, prescribes a vegetarian diet as one of its essential tenets. There are also cultural reasons for their food preferences and eating habits. What are the specific dietary beliefs of Jainism? Why do they feel the followers should adopt vegetarianism? The following Web site offers some insight into this religion. Do you agree with their reasons for eating a vegetarian diet? If you do not already follow one, would you consider adopting a vegetarian diet?
Visit the Toronto Vegetarian Association web site
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What Do You Eat?
What are your favorite foods? Take note of what you eat and the types of foods you prefer. Pay close attention to your eating patterns. To what influences can you attribute these preferences and habits? To become familiar with the nutrient and energy composition of the foods that you prefer, select a few of the items that you have noted. Go to this site and enter the foods one at a time. What nutrients and energy sources are contained in the foods you eat? Calculate the energy provided by one of the food items you have selected and then determine the percentage of calories it provides.
Visit the Search the USDA Nutrient Database for Standard Reference web site
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Taste and Smell Disorders
Taste and smell are both important characteristics of food when it comes to people's food preferences. Unfortunately, a variety of taste and smell disorders can occur. Check out this Web site to find out more about these disorders and their treatments. How do you think one of these disorders would affect your food preferences? How important are taste and smell in the food choices you usually make?
Visit the Taste and Smell Disorders Clinic web site
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Ethnic Foods
Check out this Web site sponsored through the U.S Department of Agriculture to learn more about ethnic foods and ingredients and to read about cultural customs related to food and holiday times, as well as many ethnic and cultural resources.
Visit the Ethnic and Cultural Resources web site
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