Physiologic variations
Young children have many more taste buds on the tongue and in the cheek, and therefore they have a keener sense of taste, than older individuals. Babies and young children prefer bland foods, whereas teenagers begin to like foods that are more spicy and highly flavored. The number of taste buds diminishes later in life, and old people often lose a sense of taste for certain foods.
The sense of taste varies widely from one individual to another. Some people notice slight differences in taste, and others do not. Some persons like much salt, others only a little; some like very sweet foods, others do not; some like spicy foods, and others prefer bland foods. From day to day, the senses of taste and smell also vary. Smelling food too long at a time, or having a steady diet of certain foods, reduces the response of the sense organs.
The feel of foods is also important. A baby learns about food by feeling it as well as tasting it. We all react favorably to velvety ice cream, crisp rolls, fluffy mashed potatoes, but we are likely to object to sugary fudge, greasy meat, lumpy mashed potatoes, and stringy string beans. Young children don’t like very hot or cold foods, but adults usually demand that their foods be piping hot or well chilled.
Family customs and social patterns
The family environment has much influence on food habits. Food is more likely to be well accepted when the entire family is together for meals in a happy, relaxed atmosphere. If the homemaker prepares only a few well-liked dishes over and over again, the family members will encounter some difficulty in adapting to other situations. Within the family some allowances may be made for individual likes and dislikes without preparing many separate dishes. If the homemaker selects a variety of foods and prepares them in different ways from time to time, the individual’s food experiences are enriched.
Negative attitudes to food may be developed in the home. Children are quick to imitate their parents, who do not eat certain foods. They rapidly note signs of worry, dislike, or anger on the part of the parents and develop antagonisms toward particular foods. They dawdle when they learn it is a way to gain attention. Parents sometimes punish by refusing to give dessert to a child who hasn’t finished his meal or bribe and reward with a favorite food like candy if a meal is finished.
Foods are often classed as being for babies, young children, or adults. Milk, cut-up food, peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches are looked upon as children’s foods; hamburgers, pizza, and large sandwiches are teenage fare; tea and coffee are for adults.
Meat, potatoes, and pie are typical of masculine meals, whereas souffles, salads, and light desserts are more characteristic of feminine foods.
Some foods have more prestige value than others, and we use them as company foods to honor or impress our friends. They cost more, are hard to get, take a lot of time to prepare, or are unusual. Examples of such status foods are filet mignon, wild rice, baked Alaska, and a fine imported wine. Other foods are sometimes considered to be only for those with low incomes; ground meat, margarine, dry skim milk, dry beans, and fish, for example. Yet any of the latter foods are just as nutritious and can be prepared in as many delicious ways as more expensive foods.
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GENERAL HEALTH