The Italian Taste

Food is the basic human need. But the food choices over the globe are different in various regions due to various factors. The essay tries to portray the variable factors that affect the food choice and the topic deals with the specific Italian culture. As the famous actress Sophia loren said - "Everything you see I owe to pasta." we will be discussing the beautiful country named Italy and the main factors influencing there food choices and the culture and the effect of food culture in Italy including history, factors creating influence, socio economic and other related factors ( such as – demographic, economic, climate, work pattern and other determinants). The main purpose of the study is to find out the key variables or the main factors affecting food choices in Italy to identify the differences and the factors creating these differences in food choices.

My all time favorite Film 

Italy and food choices:

Italy is a south European country bordering Austria, Switzerland, France and Slovenia. A country blessed with natural beauty and tourists. And as a result, the country is flourished with food choices and differences in food consumption pattern. No one who enters an Italian home should fail to receive an offering of food and drink. Typically, breakfast consists of a hard roll, butter, strong coffee, and fruit or juice. Traditionally, a large lunch made up the noon meal. Pasta was generally part of the meal in all regions, along with soup, bread, and perhaps meat or fish. Dinner consisted of leftovers. In more recent times, the family may use the later meal as a family meal. The traditional food choice is changing, and a heavy lunch may no longer be practical.

 Now take a look at some of the most delicious foods you will find in Italy.

Traditional first course of a formal meal in Italy is called Antipasti which is the first course of a formal Italian meal. That includes-

           

                                                               Antipasti:

·         Braciole- Simply thin slices of beef which are pan-fried in their own juice, or in a small amount of light olive oil.

·         Nervetti - Pressed beef cartilage seasoned with onions

·                                Bruschetta-  Roasted bread rubbed with garlic and  topped with olive oil

·                               Prosciutto -  Ham

These are the most common traditional formal part of the food choice on a meal in Italy.

 

                                                              Breads:

·         Ciabatta – Bread made from wheat flour and yeast

·         Ciriola – Typical bread of Roma

·         Michetta Typical bread of Milano

Now comes one of the most delicious food around the world- Pizza and to be honest Italy is enriched with different types of pizza making and there is no country with such variation.

                                      Pizza:

·          Focaccia al Rosmarino – An appetizer based on rosemary and olive oil,      sometimes served with prosciutto

·         Pizza Margherita - based on tomato and mozzarella

·          Pizza Quattro Stagioni - based on tomato and divided in four sectors, one for each season:

• Spring: olives and artichokes
• Summer: pepper
•  Autumn: tomato and mozzarella (like Pizza Margherita)
• Winter: mushrooms and boiled egg

Now it is time for the wine. The Italian wine is famous around the world and they have a history of making wine to the finest quality and the choice regarding this type of drink varies on the taste of the consumer.

·         Bombino Bianco - a white Italian wine made of grape

·         Verdicchio – Wine with yellow/ green hay

·         Cinque Terre – straw yellow colored dry wine.

The up stated foods are among the most popular food around the country and besides these there are many other food choices available in Italy with a growing number of options. The most notable thing here is that the regional difference of food choices. As there variation in the genre of grapes in different region; there are different types of wines and this is applicable for all food items due to variety and availability along the country. Listed foods and their features are taken from different books and sites for better understanding. 

Defining food choice:

Food choice can be defined as the selection of foods for consumption, which results from the competing, reinforcing and interacting influences of a variety of factors. These range from the sensory, physiological and psychological responses of individual consumers to the interactions between social, environmental and economic influences, and include the variety of foods available and the activities of the food industry to promote them.

Factors affecting the food choices: 

There are factors that affect the choice and they are not constant or fixed. Over the time it has been seen that people have adapted to food choices according to their needs and demands. After a careful analysis the following points are meant to be one of the prime reasons for the change in food choice in Italy.

Familiarity and Habit:

Familiarity and the habit of taking food is one of the main reasons for food choices as different researches have been made on this topic. Subjects stated ‘they were eating the way that they were taught at home in the past and continued eating according to those habits when they left their parents to go and live on their own or started their own family’ (Brug et al. 1995).

Social interactions

Food is a major focus for social interactions. In one German study it was found that pleasure from food was only partly determined by the sensory aspects of the food items. Factors such as atmosphere, the table, mood and people were all important aspects of the pleasure gained from eating occasions (Westenhoefer & Pudel, 1993)

Economic factor

For the consumption of food it has been seen that the cost of the food and the availability of the food is also very important to a culture and a country. Italian people are no different. The costs of the foods in various zones in Italy are responsible for it. It is seen that due to some change in the cost, the food choice varies according to different zones featuring some of the local foods only available at different zones in Italy.

Agricultural factor:

The climate of Italy is important for the study. Climate of Italy The summer temperatures vary between 16°C to 19°C. But temperatures in some parts can also rise up to 30°C. While in winters, it ranges from 12°C to 2°C. The summer temperatures vary between 16°C to 19°C. But temperatures in some parts can also rise up to 30°C. While in winters, it ranges from 12°C to 2°C.  Due to the variation in different seasons in temperature and in climate have made it possible to grow in a diverse manner in Italy and that is creating the difference. From the up stated food list we can clearly see the difference in food pattern in case of bread choice and availability.

Marketing factor:

The food packaging and the marketing of the food is also important for the food choice. As the food choice has some of the psychological impact and the current marketers are more into furnishing their product; it is seen in Italy that people tend to prefer more of the better packaged food and foods with good quality and promotion.

Transportation factor

As enriched with different types of wines, the transportation system is also responsible for the change in food choice as more of the variations in wine are due to the variation of quality in the raw materials and transportation. As transportation is needed for a country’s development the food pattern has simultaneously changed with the advancement in this sector.

Food preparation time

 Although a bit off track reasoning that is affecting the food choice but it can affect to greater extent as in a study it is found that people of the European country is more concerned about the time it takes to prepare the food. The study shows that younger and more highly educated individuals reported food preparation time more frequently as a barrier to a healthy diet (Lappalainen et al. 1997). That indicates that normally food taking less time to prepare or foods with nutritious values at a low time of processing is very much acceptable in Italy.

Personal ideology

For a developed country like Italy it is seen that the affluent people make the difference in the choice of their food. While the affluent add to the food choices due to availability where as the normal or mid income people try to justify their earnings through balanced diets and delicious foods. Personal ideology is also responsible for the progression of regional foods in Italy.

Employment issue and food choice

Italian Restaurant 

Food choice is a relative factor and it has a relationship with the employment factor. We can see that countries with higher employment rate tend to spend more of their money on food. But, the relative amount of money they use for other things are greater in number in comparison with the costing of food consumption. Italy is blessed with natural beauty that attracts the tourists and for that the smoother development of the country has made it possible about the diversity in the food choice and adding value to the economy of the country and as an indirect effect the Italian people are getting more into foods causing a wide spread number of the Italian restaurant.

Conclusion

 Italians are known for their hospitality especially in food and wine. The variety of the foods available here are mainly due to variation in weather and climate. People are the ones who are making choices among the diversified food choice in Italy and the reason they are doing it basically relates to a few things. Food pattern is more complex and diversified in countries with diversity in education, people of different age group, income level and personal ideology and availability and the whole marketing of the food, familiarity, taste, etc. These are the main reasons influencing the changes in food choice within Italian culture .We can see where in the past, people were looking for more delicious food which took time to prepare. But, they are now trying to consume foods that are ready to eat meaning less time for preparation of the food and are concerned about the balanced diet. These factors have shaped up the food choices of the Italian people and now these factors have become the culture of Italy that reflects the ultimate advancement of the country through the factor of food choices.

See you Soon :)

 First, i had one reason to love Italy and that is the film Godfather. now, i guess i have more and hopefully you guys will like it :)

References:

·         http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/quotes-about-italian-food.html

·         Brug J, Debie S, van Assema P & Weijts W (1995) psychosocial determinants of fruit and vegetable consumption among adults: results of focus group interviews. Food Quality and Preference 6, 99–107

·         Institute of European Food Studies (1996a) A Pan-EU Survey of Consumer Attitudes to Food, Nutrition and Health,no. 1. Dublin: Institute of European Food Studies.

·         Institute of European Food Studies (1996b) A Pan–EU Survey of Consumer Attitudes to Food, Nutrition and Health, no. 2. Dublin: Institute of European Food Studies.

·         O’Doherty JK & Holm L (1999) Preferences, quantities and concerns: socio-cultural perspectives on the gendered consumption of foods. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition

·         Consumer Behavior by Lasnuk

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