San Diego State University

NUTR203: Cultural Aspects of Food and Nutrition

Your Food Culture Assignment
Your Name: Karina Jaime Carbajal (818193279)

Demographics

1. Did your family immigrate to the United States? From where? How many generations ago?
My family did immigrate to the United States from Guanajuato in Mexico. My dad was born in
the US, but grew up there and then immigrated with my mother two years before I was born.

2. What is your ethnic background? Explain the origins of your name and your parents’ names.
I consider myself Mexican-American. I don’t know of any information related to our names.

3. What is your religious affiliation? Explain or clarify.

I am not religious. I believe in a higher being, but I don’t believe they (genderless) want me to
devote my life to worshipping. I think I am on Earth to live my best life and that’s it.

Ingredients and Common Foods

4. List 1-3 specific foods that you eat every day. Compare and contrast this to foods that you eat
less-frequently (i.e., one time per month or year). Explain why or clarify these food patterns.
I eat beans, yogurt, and couscous every day. I don’t often eat meat, casseroles, or kabobs. I
definitely think I eat a lot more of the foods my parents ate at home.

5. How often do you eat foods traditionally consumed by your ethnic group? Explain or clarify.
I eat beans a few times a week. There was always some cooked at home while growing up
and I like them so I make them myself

6. Are there some foods you eat or avoid eating for religious or personal reasons? Are there foods
that people in your family avoid eating for religious or personal reasons? Explain.
I don’t eat meat for personal reasons. My family doesn’t eat red meat on the Fridays before
Easter. They do their thing for religious purposes, and I don’t eat meat because I don’t believe
it is right.

7. Are there certain foods you would like to eat more often if cost were not a factor? Explain.
I would eat more avocado, fresh fruits, more spices, and fancy juices.

8. List food(s) commonly eaten in your region of the United States. Explain or clarify.
People in San Diego typically eat a lot of fresh veggies and fruits because the temperature is
always good. Mexican food is also popular since it is right by Mexico.

Meal Composition & Cycle

9. How many meals and snacks do you eat each day? Explain or clarify.
On good days I eat about five snacks. I like to eat a light breakfast and have a snack two hours
after that. Then I like to eat every three to four hours until I go to sleep.

10. What foods or food groups are generally included in what constitutes a “meal” to you? What
foods do you consider snacks?
I typically have all snacks; when I do have a full meal, I’ll have a filler carbohydrate like
couscous, some veggies like onion and bell pepper, and imitation meat or beans. Snacks
typically include yogurt with granola,
11. Are the meals you eat served in “courses”? If yes, what are they? What is the order of service?
I don’t eat in courses unless I’m at my boyfriend’s house. There, we eat a salad, the entreé e,
and then dessert.

12. What are the major holidays that you and your family celebrate each year, and what special foods
are served for these holidays?
We celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year. For each we rotate between pozole,
tamales, and tostadas. None are specific foods for specific holidays.

13. Do you ever fast? If yes, when? What, if any foods are avoided and/or consumed during a fast?
I don’t fast unless I need to for medical purposes (ex: when I got an MRI).

Rules

14. What, if any, utensils do you use when you eat? Explain or clarify
I use spoons, forks, knives, and my hands. It depends on the food.

15. At a family meal, who is typically present?

My mom, dad, and sister would be present for family meals.

16. Is someone at the family served before someone else? If so, why?
No; everyone eats at the same time. We don’t wait for each other, but we eat when the food is
ready.

17. List three rules that you follow when you eat a meal (these can be formal or informal rules, set by
you or other cultural guidelines). Do these rules change if you eat informally? How?
The only rule I follow when eating is not chewing with my mouth full.

Attitudes and Application

18. List two things you discovered about yourself and your food culture through this brief evaluation.
Explain or clarify.
I discovered my ethnicity doesn’t really have many food related traditions or rules.

19. Are there any foods habits or practices related to food that you find morally or ethically wrong?
Explain or clarify.
I do refuse to eat meat because I think it’s morally wrong.

20. How do your personal food habits at this time differ from other family members’ norms? From
your friends? From your classmates, peers, or co-workers? How do they differ?
My food habits are different than the vast population because I don’t eat meat. I don’t think
they vary much besides that from anyone.

21. In the remainder of this class we will explore the food habits of different cultures, groups and
geographic areas. As a student of food and culture, how can you personally avoid ethnocentric
judgments regarding food habits?
I can avoid ethnocentric judgments by not calling any practice “normal” or “weird”. I could
also have an open mind to seeing other culture’s rules and practices.