If you look at
NUTRITION AS A BRIDGE TO THE WORLD
you can see that each meal is a bridge between man and the outer world. In
the picture above you can see a summary of all influences which contribute
to the final quality of this relationship. People who are working in food
production, nutritionists and other people might be aware of a few aspects,
but usually – when there is a talk about healthy eating – all the possible
aspects which have to be taken into account before anybody can claim that a
specific food or diet is healthy are not mentioned.
IIt is of crucial importance to raise into awareness the
great complexity of the question of what is best to eat and drink. Only in
this way can we then gradually improve the quality of what we eat. As is
evident from the picture above we cannot talk in absolute terms about
healthy or unhealthy meal, but we are dealing with more or less healthy
meals. In fact, we are dealing with the cumulative effect of various
influences which all contribute in various degrees to the final outcome.
Without the knowledge of all aspects which influence the
meal we can very easily make wrong decisions. One-sided truths in regard to
the question of what is healthy food are dangerous. But with the help of the
above picture we can avoid any traps and strive to make positive changes
wherever and whenever possible in particular life circumstances.
Here are short descriptions of nine aspects which contribute
to the final quality of a meal: [1]
1. Quality of Ingredients
All activities involved in food production and preparation
have an impact on the final quality of food ingredients: farming, food
processing, transportation, storage, and cooking. Each of these
activities can either improve or retain food quality, or be detrimental to
it. If you are in doubt what are good quality ingredients see
HOLISTIC FOOD ‘PYRAMID’.
2. Quantity of Ingredients
Although it is possible to give general recommendations on
quantity for various types of food (see
QUANTITY GUIDELINES), it is
really for each individual to find out for themselves their right amounts of
any foods. It is crucial to keep in mind that what is the right amount for
one person may be unhealthy for another.
3. Choice of Ingredients
The choice of ingredients is referring to the choice of
different foods available in the place where we live. This will vary in
different parts of the world. It might even be very limited in regard to
what is available. However, with the emergence of a global food market the
choice of available foods has risen in affluent societies dramatically.
Besides, we have many foods which are so adulterated that it is hard to
regard them still as foods. This means that making right choices while
buying food has never been more challenging than nowadays. Luckily we can
still obtain some unadulterated, natural foods (see
CHOICE OF FOODS)
from farmers markets, local growers, and natural food shops. [2]
4. Type of Meal
IIt makes a difference whether one is preparing breakfast,
lunch, supper, snack, etc. Each meal has specific requirements in regard to
its preparation and this may vary according to different food cultures. We
need to be aware that the way we prepare food changes its taste and aroma,
and also changes its shape, texture and temperature. This has differentiated
effects on our organism. For example, the effect of warm clear soup is very
different from that of wholemeal bread: while one is warming and easy to
digest, the other calls for more vigorous digestive activities, including
chewing. We should strive to include food of different shapes and textures
in our menu and thus avoiding one-sidedness also in regard to this aspect of
nutrition. [3]
5. Rhythm of Meals
In the past people had a proper daily rhythm of breakfast,
lunch and supper, in accordance with the course of the day. Today in
affluent societies food is easy available and one can eat whenever one
wants. But this means it is much more challenging to establish a healthy
eating rhythm. This is especially hard if people live alone. Due to modern
life circumstances it is sometimes impossible to keep to set times for our
meals. However, it is more health sustaining if we establish and follow the
daily rhythm of meals as much as we can.
6. Personal Attitude
Here we are referring to personal preferences, our likes and
dislikes in regard to food. Our food preferences are influenced not only by
our wish for pleasurable experiences, but also by deep seated eating habits
we developed in our past, our capacity to digest various foods, and our
overall health condition. Besides these, our choice of food can also be
dependent on our ability to perceive the more hidden qualities of food, and
our understanding of the purpose of nutrition. The main point is that our
personal attitude towards food has a powerful impact on decisions which
contribute to the final quality of a meal. [4]
7. Individual Needs
What we all need is good quality food and drink. But
choosing the right foods depends on individual needs. Whoever tries to find
one type of diet suited to all people is on the wrong track. And whoever is
following any type of diet or eating-style without taking into account their
individual needs (which depend on one's
lifestyle) might cause themselves
trouble. It is the task of each person to find out which diet can best cater
for their individual needs.
8. Social Aspect
If one eats with other people, then the question of
nutrition also becomes a social question. A way has to be found to cater for
all individual food preferences and needs with a common meal. Occasionally
these needs can be very similar, but it often happens that the needs of
people sitting at the common table are very different. This means that we
need to find ways to overcome these differences. If we want to tackle the
social issue successfully, we need in this or that way to include all people
who are eating together in the process of choosing what they eat. In the
long run we are dealing with the question of what kind of food culture
people want to have.
9. Harmonising
Even when taking into account all the previous eight aspects
of a healthy meal, two cooks may create two very different but still
balanced and healthy meals. There is no single possible outcome from a
specific set of circumstances in a particular life situation, for human
beings can be creative. It is at this point that cooking really becomes an
artistic activity. The new art of cooking will arise from awareness of all
aspects –presented here in outlines – which have impact on the quality of
breakfast, lunch, supper, celebratory meal, or any other kind of dish that
appears on our daily menu.
