Food Choices (AQA GCSE Food Preparation & Nutrition)

Revision Note

Ruth Brindle

Written by: Ruth Brindle

Reviewed by: Lára Marie McIvor

Understanding food choices

  • People make food choices for a variety of reasons, including:

    • religious

    • cultural

    • ethical

    • medical

Religious reasons for making food choices

Buddhism

  • For Buddhists:

    • most are vegetarian or vegan

    • most avoid alcohol

    • monks and nuns may fast in the afternoon

  • Buddhists celebrate the festival of Wesak

    • During this festival vegetarian food is eaten and no alcohol is consumed

Christianity

  • Christian dietary traditions include:

    • many Christians observe Lent, during which they may give up certain foods for 40 days and 40 nights

    • some Catholics fast on Fridays and during the run-up to Lent

  • Christian festivals include:

    • Christmas, which is the celebration of the birth of Jesus

      • During Christmas traditional foods are eaten, such as roast turkey and mince pies

    • Easter, a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ

      • Traditional foods include hot cross buns and simnel cake

Hinduism

  • For Hindus:

    • cows are considered sacred so beef and beef products are prohibited

      • This does not include milk as no animals are killed to produce the milk

    • there is an emphasis on ahimsa (non-violence) and so many Hindus are vegetarian

    • many don't drink alcohol

  • Hindu festivals include:

    • Diwali, the festival of lights, which is celebrated by the exchange of sweets

    • Navrati, during which Hindus observe 24 hours of fasting

A range of Diwali sweets are arranged in a bowl.
Sweets are exchanged at Diwali

Amila Tennakoon, via Wikimedia Commons

Islam

  • For Muslims:

    • pork and pork products are prohibited

    • meat must be halal

      • Halal food is slaughtered in a particular way

    • alcohol is forbidden

    • seafood cannot be eaten, though fish with fins can

  • Muslims celebrate the festival of Eid which marks the end of Ramadan

    • Ramadan is a month-long fast during which Muslims do not eat in daylight hours

Judaism

  • Jewish dietary laws state that:

    • shellfish and pork are prohibited

    • dairy and meat must not be eaten in the same meal

    • food must be kosher (fit for consumption)

      • Kosher meat comes from animals that have been slaughtered in a particular way

      • Kosher animals have split hooves and chew the cud, e.g. cows and deer

      • Fish must have fins to be considered kosher

  • Jewish festivals which involve specific foods include:

    • Passover, celebrated with a special meal and the eating unleavened bread

    • Rosh Hashanah, or Jewish New Year, celebrated by eating a special meal and apples dipped in honey

    • Yom Kippur, a 24-hour fasting day where families eat a meal before sunset and then observe a day of fasting and prayers until the following sunset

    • Hanukkah, the festival of lights; during the celebration lots of special foods are eaten

A tray of doughnuts sits on a table alongside a menorah.
Hannukah food includes fried foods, such as doughnuts.

RDNA Stock project, via Pexels

Rastafarianism

  • For Rastafarians:

    • an I-tal diet is eaten, which emphasises natural and clean eating

      • This includes avoidance of food that has been chemically modified or contains artificial additives

      • The diet often focuses on fruit and vegetables

    • salt is not used in cooking

    • pork is avoided

    • fish that are longer than 12 inches long are avoided

    • many Rastafarians are vegetarian or vegan

    • alcohol is not consumed

    • no milk or coffee is consumed, but instead, there is a preference for herbal teas

  • Rastafarians celebrate the birthday of Haile Selassie, a divine figure in Rastafarianism, with community gatherings and feasts

Sikhism

  • For Sikhs:

    • cows are considered sacred so beef and beef products are prohibited

      • This does not include milk as no animals are killed to produce the milk

    • kosher or halal meats are prohibited as this method of slaughter is considered inhumane

    • alcohol, tobacco and intoxicants are avoided

    • many Sikhs are vegetarian

  • Sikhs celebrate the birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism

    • During this festival, Sikhs eat their sacred pudding Karah Parshad

Cultural reasons for making food choices

  • Culture is a concept that encompasses:

    • beliefs

    • customs

    • practices

    • behaviours

    • artifacts that represent groups or society

  • The many different aspects of culture have direct influences on food choices

Ethical and moral reasons for making food choices

  • Perceptions of what is morally or ethically acceptable in the production and preparation of food varies between individuals

  • Ethical and moral considerations may affect food choices, e.g. with the avoidance of:

    • foods produced by inhumane methods that compromise the welfare of animals

    • products for which producers have not been fairly compensated

      • Buying products labelled as fairtrade ensures that workers have been ethically treated

    • products which have been imported over a long distance and consequently have a large carbon footprint

      • Shoppers may avoid this by choosing to buy local produce

    • products that have been produced using potentially harmful chemicals, such as fertilisers or pesticides

      • Buying organic produce avoids this issue

    • genetically modified (GM) products which may have uncertain long term health or environmental impacts

A cut avocado sits in front of two whole avocados
Some people choose to avoid avocados due to ethical concerns around labour conditions for workers, deforestation and import distance

JonnyVid, via Pixabay

Medical reasons for making food choices

Intolerances

  • Gluten: a protein found in wheat, rye and barley

    • Gluten intolerance, sometimes referred to as non-coeliac gluten sensitivity, is a condition in which gluten ingestion results in symptoms such as:

      • bloating

      • diarrhoea

      • abdominal pain

      • headaches

      • fatigue

      • joint pain

    • There are gluten-free alternatives to many food products which can be used to modify many recipes for gluten intolerant individuals

  • Lactose: a type of sugar found in milk and dairy products

    • People who are lactose intolerant may be unable to digest lactose, and so experience symptoms such as:

      • bloating

      • gas

      • diarrhoea

    • Lactose-intolerant individuals should avoid dairy products or choose lactose-free alternatives

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Gluten intolerance and lactose intolerance should not be confused with other, more serious conditions:

  • Wheat and dairy allergies (see below) can cause serious allergic reactions

  • Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disease where the ingestion of gluten triggers immune cells to attack the lining of the small intestine, causing serious damage

    • Those with coeliac disease must avoid even the smallest trace of gluten-containing foods

Allergies

  • Individuals with food allergies must avoid foods that trigger allergic reactions

  • Examples of such allergens include

    1. nuts, e.g. peanuts and tree nuts

    2. egg

    3. milk

    4. wheat

    5. fish

    6. shellfish, e.g. prawns and crab

Illustration of allergenic foods: two eggs, a coconut, a milk carton with a cow face, a shrimp, a fish, and two peanuts.
Allergens are substances that can trigger an allergic reaction
  • An allergic reaction may occur if an individual ingests one of their allergens; reactions can include:

    • skin rashes or hives

    • itchiness of the mouth, eyes and skin

    • swollen lips, face or eyes

    • breathing difficulties

  • In serious cases, an individual may experience anaphylactic shock

    • swelling in the mouth or throat

    • blocking of the airways (partially or completely)

    • difficulty speaking

  • When anaphylactic shock occurs an EpiPen should be used immediately to reduce the risk of death

Examiner Tips and Tricks

There are 14 common allergens which must be indicated in bold on the packaging of food products, but only 6 of these are included in your specification.

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Ruth Brindle

Author: Ruth Brindle

Expertise: Biology

Ruth graduated from Sheffield University with a degree in Biology and went on to teach Science in London whilst also completing an MA in innovation in Education. With 10 years of teaching experience across the 3 key science disciplines, Ruth decided to set up a tutoring business to support students in her local area. Ruth has worked with several exam boards and loves to use her experience to produce educational materials which make the mark schemes accessible to all students.

Lára Marie McIvor

Author: Lára Marie McIvor

Expertise: Biology Lead

Lára graduated from Oxford University in Biological Sciences and has now been a science tutor working in the UK for several years. Lára has a particular interest in the area of infectious disease and epidemiology, and enjoys creating original educational materials that develop confidence and facilitate learning.