High Risk Nutritional Practices
Health care providers understand that food is needed for physical survival, however to provide culturally competent care it is imperative to have a broader comprehension of the meaning of food to a culture. (Purnell, 2013). The types of food eaten, the order they are ingested, and avoidance of certain foods are often interwoven in the religious and spiritual beliefs of specific ethnic groups. Understanding these concepts provides the knowledge needed for comprehensive care as well an identification of factors that may predispose a population to poor health related to nutrition (Sagar, 2014). Health care providers must be cautious about making assumptions, as favorite foods or food preparation choices do not always indicate a cultural tradition but are often driven out of access and affordability. The purpose of this paper is to explore nutrition as it relates to the common foods, rituals and the impact on health and illness in ten diverse cultures within the United States (U.S.).
African American According to Purnell (2013) the African American population is the second largest minority group within the U.S. Known for a diet that nourishes both …show more content…
Food is the universal symbol of welcome, support and togetherness (Purnell, 2013). Meal preparation is a family event with multiple choices of foods to meet the individual tastes of all people. Animal proteins are costly and prepared in minimal quantities, but the diet is rich in the many types of seafood’s abundant to the country. Fruits and vegetables are eaten in large quantities with rice served at every meal. Milk is rarely consumed by anyone other than infants due to lactose intolerance. Dietary calcium is found in dark green leafy vegetables yet may be problematic for post-menopausal women and pregnant women as they typically do not ingest the same quantities of these
Health care providers understand that food is needed for physical survival, however to provide culturally competent care it is imperative to have a broader comprehension of the meaning of food to a culture. (Purnell, 2013). The types of food eaten, the order they are ingested, and avoidance of certain foods are often interwoven in the religious and spiritual beliefs of specific ethnic groups. Understanding these concepts provides the knowledge needed for comprehensive care as well an identification of factors that may predispose a population to poor health related to nutrition (Sagar, 2014). Health care providers must be cautious about making assumptions, as favorite foods or food preparation choices do not always indicate a cultural tradition but are often driven out of access and affordability. The purpose of this paper is to explore nutrition as it relates to the common foods, rituals and the impact on health and illness in ten diverse cultures within the United States (U.S.).
African American According to Purnell (2013) the African American population is the second largest minority group within the U.S. Known for a diet that nourishes both …show more content…
Food is the universal symbol of welcome, support and togetherness (Purnell, 2013). Meal preparation is a family event with multiple choices of foods to meet the individual tastes of all people. Animal proteins are costly and prepared in minimal quantities, but the diet is rich in the many types of seafood’s abundant to the country. Fruits and vegetables are eaten in large quantities with rice served at every meal. Milk is rarely consumed by anyone other than infants due to lactose intolerance. Dietary calcium is found in dark green leafy vegetables yet may be problematic for post-menopausal women and pregnant women as they typically do not ingest the same quantities of these