CULTURAL

SENSITIVE DIET
Culture - shared history defined as the
thoughts, communication, actions,
customs, beliefs, values, and institutions
of racial, ethnic, religious or societal
groups.
Cultural values - principles or standards
that members of a cultural group share in
common.
What is a cultural sensitive diet?
Cultural sensitivity - being aware that cultural
differences and similarities between people
exist without assigning them a value positive
or negative, better or worse, right or wrong
Cultural sensitivity diet being aware in the
differences and similarities between the
practices regarding diet of all people
Why consider culture in food?
The concept of culture is broader than race or ethnicity
It also encompasses language, communication styles, social values, and
religious behaviors. Culture shapes how people view the world, their attitudes
about health, and their food preferences
Cultural cuisines reflect the geography, climate, and history of the location
where the culture developed.
Within each culture (and within different regions where the culture is
dispersed), people may prefer certain foods, food preparation methods, and
food combinations for meals and snacks.
General knowledge of cultural differences can provide a starting point for
discussions about foods and people from diverse cultures.
People connect to their cultural or ethnic group through similar food patterns.
Immigrants often use food as a means of retaining their cultural identity
 Food and culture
Nations or countries are frequently associated
with certain foods
Many people associate Italy with pizza and
pasta
Some families in the United States prefer to
eat "meat and potatoes," but "meat and
potatoes" are not eaten on a regular basis
Chineseand other East Asian countries are
associated with noodles and the use of
chopsticks when eating
 Food and religion
Some food beliefs and practices are due to religious beliefs.
Muslims fast during Ramadan, believed to be the month during
which the Qur'an, the Islamic holy book, was given from God to
the Prophet Muhammad. During this month, Muslims fast during
daylight hours, eating and drinking before dawn and after
sunset.
Orthodox Jews and some conservative Jews follow dietary laws,
popularly referred to as a kosher diet, discussed in Jewish
scripture.
Many followers of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism are
vegetarians, in part, because of a doctrine of no injury or
nonviolence. Abstinence from eating meat in these traditions
stems from the desire to avoid harming other living creatures.
 Christians;Some Catholic and Orthodox Christians observe
several feast and fast days during the year. For example, they
may fast or avoid meat on Fridays, during Lent or on Good
Friday. Some eat fish instead.
Most Protestants observe only Easter and Christmas as feast
days and dont follow ritualized fasting. -The ritual of
communion is regularly celebrated by many Christians. This
involves eating bread and drinking wine (or substitutes) to
represent the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
SomeChristians dont drink alcohol. These include many
members of the Salvation Army and other Protestant churches.
Mormons and Seventh Day Adventists also avoid caffeinated and
alcoholic beverages. Many Seventh Day Adventists dont eat
meat or dairy products. Those that do eat meat dont eat pork.
Mediterranean and Middle Eastern:
Plant based foods as the foundation of the meal. Whole grains, fruits, vegetables,
beans, nuts and seeds, and legumes provide are healthy choices.
Vegetables are normally cooked and drizzled with olive oil. Herbs and spices are
included in this section to improve taste. Olive oil replaces other fats and oils,
including butter and margarine, as the principal fat.
Fish and shellfish several times a week provide the healthy fat omega-3. Tuna,
herring, salmon, or shrimp would typically be grilled, broiled, or poached instead of
battered or fried. Cheeses and yogurts are regular selections and low-fat options
can be included daily.
Eggs and poultry are recommended a couple times a week and other meat options
and sweets less often.
Drinking water is important and 1-2 glasses of wine a day can be included if
appropriate.
Fresh fruit is the typical daily dessert, with sweets with a significant amount of
sugar and saturated fat consumed only a few times per week.
Asian
Each Asian region has its own distinct cooking styles and flavors but share
some common foods.
Rice provides a basis for most Asian diets as do other grains such as noodles,
millet, and corn. These along with fruits, vegetables, legumes, seeds, nuts, and
vegetable oils make up most daily meal and snack selections.
Diets overall are largely plant-based; animal sources of protein like fish and
shellfish are common in areas with extensive coastlines, as is dairy in countries
like India.
Poultry, eggs, and sweets are more popular in some areas compared to others
but are recommended for weekly consumption. Other meat sources, such as
beef, are only consumed on an infrequent basis and are often combined with
vegetables in dishes.
Six to eight glasses of water or tea is recommended. Sake, wine, or beers are
also included in Asian eating but moderation is recommended.
 Latino
Latinos, those who trace their ancestry to Cuba, Mexico, Puerto
Rico, or Central and South America, are the fastest growing group
in the United States.
Plantbased foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grain corn, rice,
beans, and nuts are recognized as the base of the diet.
The Latin American diet includes fish, shellfish, plant oils, dairy,
and poultry choices on a daily basis with other meats, eggs, and
sweets only selected on a weekly basis.
Water is also recommended and alcohol intake is recognized but
encouraged only in moderation.
Cross-Cultural Nutrition Counseling
1. The Involving Phase
Begin interactions in a formal manner
Small talk can aid in the development of
a comfortable atmosphere
Ask an open-ended question, such as
What brings you here today?
Explain something about your program
and/or the counseling process
Set a short agenda for the session
2. The ExplorationEducation Phase
Counselor provides educational
interventions
Uses respondent-driven interview
questions to understand nutritional
concerns
Identifies skills and resources that can
be used to find solutions
2. ExplorationEducation Phase (cont.)
First 4 components of the LEARN guidelines
Listen
Explain your perceptions of workable strategies
and your clients beliefs about treatment
Acknowledge and discuss differences and
similarities
Recommend options and strategies
Counselor needs to assess the clients
motivational level for implementing any of
the strategies
3. The Resolving Phase
Client not ready to make changes - your
major goal will be to raise doubt about his
or her present dietary behavior
Client is unsure of their readiness to take
action - your goal will be to build
confidence by exploring their ambivalence
Clients ready to make dietary changes - set
goals and develop action plans for
implementing the goals
4. The Closing Phase
Review what occurred during the
session
Summarize issues
Identify strengths
Support self-efficacy
Restate goals
Plan for the next counseling
encounter