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Running head: AUSTRALIA

Cultural Scholarly Paper

Kimberly McPike
Ferris State University

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Cultural Scholarly Paper
A healthy diet filled with good nutrition is recommended for all individuals to prevent or
alleviate health problems. Many countries have researched their national food supply, food
consumption pattern, nutrition status, and nutritional standards for the development of their
individual food guides (Painter, Rah, & Lee, 2002). I will be discussing Australias culture and
cuisine from their international food guide pyramid. I will also discuss my own personal culture
and the impact it has on my food habits. I will compare and contrast the similarities and
differences between The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating to the United States Food Guide
Pyramid.
Location and Topography
Lying southeast of Asia, between the Pacific and Indian oceans, Australia, the worlds
smallest continent, is almost completely surrounded by ocean expanses. Covering a total area of
7.69 million square kilometers, mainland Australia is the worlds largest island. Australia has six
states: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia
and two major mainland territories: the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and the Northern
Territory (NT). Australia is the lowest, flattest, and driest of the seven continents. The continent
is divided into four general topographic regions: (1) a low, sandy eastern coastal plain that is flat
with relatively high rainfall; (2) the eastern highlands, a series of hills, valleys and mountains
located to the west of the coastal plains; (3) the central lowlands, is extremely flat, low-lying
plains of sedimentary rock and stretches from Australias largest river basin (the Great Artesian
Basin); and (4) the western plateau, covered with great deserts and bigger plains (regularly
spaced sand ridges and rocky wastes) (University of Canberra, 2013).

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Agriculture
The distribution of agricultural production in Australia is largely determined by the
physical environment and climate. The northern states typically experience warm weather much
of the time, with the southern states experiencing cooler winters. Australias weather is subject
to extreme fluctuations, which has an impact on annual production and ultimately on farm
income. The main agricultural crops grown in Australia are wheat, coarse grains (barley, oats,
sorghum, maize, and triticale), rice, oilseeds (canola, sunflowers, soybeans, and peanuts), grain
legumes (lupins and chick peas), sugarcane, cotton, fruits, grapes, tobacco, and vegetables. The
main livestock production is in sheep (wool and lamb), beef, pork, poultry, and dairy products.
Australia exports a great deal more agriculture produce than it imports and is the worlds leading
exporter of grains, meats, and wool (University of Canberra, 2013).
Staple foods
Australian cuisine has been derived from the tastes of immigrant settlers to Australia and
the produce they introduced to the continent. Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and other Asian foods
are all popular in Australia and have inspired the cuisine. Staple foods include: bread, a common
side dish with meals or a part of the meal; dairy, dairy products including cheeses and milk are
very popular and found with many meals; potatoes, the most common starch, cooked in
numerous ways; meat pie, this quick service food consists of ground beef (minced meat), gravy,
and any number of ingredients enclosed in a pastry; pavlova, this cake is made with meringue
and is considered an iconic food in Australia; roast lamb, this meal, simply roasted lamb, is a
favorite in Australia. The states of Queensland and New South Wales cuisine are heavily
influenced by the United Kingdom. Victoria and South Australia have strong German influence

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from meat preparation to desserts and are also known for their wines, which are commonly
served with meals (Wang, Worsley, & Hogdson, 2013)
Religion(s) and Foods Avoided
Christianity is considered as the main religion in Australian marking up to 70% of the
population. The majority of Australian Christians are Protestant (such as Anglican and
Presbyterian) and Pentecostalism. Those who are non-religious are over 16% of the population
and the remaining population is a diverse group that includes Islamic and Buddhist communities.
Protestantism has few restrictions of food or fasting obligations thus moderation in eating,
drinking, and exercise is promoted. They believe God made all animal and natural products for
humans enjoyment and that gluttony and drunkenness are sins to be controlled. Islamic prohibit
eating pork, birds of prey (haram), alcohol and avoid coffee, tea, and stimulants. They fast from
all food and drink during a specific period and believe that fasting has a cleansing effect of evil
elements. They believe that eating is for good health and failure to eat correctly minimizes
spiritual awareness. Many Buddhists are vegetarians, though some include fish in their diet.
Most do not eat meat and abstain from all beef products. Buddhist monks fast completely on
certain days of the moon, and they routinely avoid eating any solid foods after the noon hour.
Moderation in all foods is promoted and they believe that natural foods of the earth are
considered most pure (Diet. com, 2013).
Meal Patterns and Holidays/Feast
The typical meal pattern of an Australian is very much like the meal pattern of an
American. Australians start their morning with eating breakfast and having morning tea or
smoko snack at mid-morning. Lunch is anytime from about 11:30 2pm and is also called
dinner by some. Some people have a brief snack in the mid-afternoon (called afternoon tea) and

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the evening meal is called tea, or dinner if formal, and is somewhere around 6pm. This is the
main meal of the day for most.
The culture of Australia is rich in both Indigenous and European tradition. Australians
love to celebrate their heritage, and most major cities hold unique arts festivals with dance,
outdoor music, cinema, food, and wine, at various points throughout the year. In Australia
Christmas Day falls in the middle of the summer school holiday and both December 25 and 26
are public holidays. Many people celebrate the event away from home, in holiday parks, on
camp sites or at relatives homes. Traditionally, the main meal was similar to the Christmas
meals served in Europe. They consisted of roast meats, vegetables, heavy fruit cakes, and
steamed puddings. However, now many people choose to hold a barbeque at the beach or a
picnic in a park or prepare a meal of cold meats and seafood followed by Pavlova, a soft
meringue cake topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit. An Easter tradition for Australians is
to celebrate Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day which is the last day before Lent. Pancakes became
associated with Shrove Tuesday because they were a dish that could use up perishable food items
such as eggs, fats, and milk, with just the addition of flour. Many Australians make and share
pancakes on Shrove Tuesday to raise money for charity (Time and date. com,2013).
Health Concerns/Other Information
Australians are fortunate to be able to choose from a great variety of healthy foods. The
freshness, abundance, and safety of their food supply, combined with a good medical service
make Australians one of the longest lived populations. Meals with friends and family, enjoying
traditional foods, sampling the cuisines of other cultures and being regularly active are all parts
of their healthy living.

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The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report for Australias food and
nutrition 2012 include: one in four children have an unhealthy body weight (17% are overweight
and 6% are obese), and six in 10 adults are overweight or obese, with the latest national data
showing 36% are overweight and 25% are obese. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people, rural and remote Australians and socioeconomically disadvantage people are more at risk
of diet-related chronic disease than other Australians. Poor dietary intake increases the risk of
developing chronic diseases (such as heart disease, diabetes and some cancers) which contribute
to the total burden of disease in Australia. The report mentions that one estimate suggests poor
diet costs the nation $5 billion each year (Dietitians Association of, 2012).
Personal Cultural/Food Choices
I grew up in an African American family and going to Baptist church every Sunday was a
ritual. Sundays were also important because the family would all meet after church for a large
soul food meal. The meal would include ham, fried chicken, sweet potatoes, macaroni and
cheese, skillet cornbread, greens, cornbread dressing, pound cake, and peach cobbler.
I try to eat healthy and bake or broil my meat. I prefer ground turkey, chicken, and fish
over steak, ground beef, or pork. On occasion, I will crave fried foods such as chicken, fish, or
fries and order take out. I live in Grandville and the population in Michigan has a huge issue
with obesity and I think this weighs heavily for me to be healthy. Some of my comfort foods are:
homemade macaroni and cheese, white chicken chili with honey cornbread, and pound cake. I
enjoy these foods because they are satisfying and great to eat on a cold fall or winter day.
Christmas and New Years are special holidays that we celebrate with significance in our
foods and customs.

On Christmas, my family gathers to celebrate the birth of Jesus and

everyone brings a soul food dish to pass. On New Years, a tradition is to have black-eyed peas

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with smoke ham hocks, greens, and cornbread. According to Southern folklore, these were the
first food to be eaten on New Years Day for luck and prosperity. The peas represent coins, the
greens represent paper money, and the cornbread represents gold.
Traditionally prepared soul foods tend to be very high in starch, fat, sodium, cholesterol,
and calories. In contemporary times, some traditional-style soul foods have been implicated in
the abnormally high rates of high blood pressure, diabetes, clogged arteries, stroke, and heart
attack suffered by African-Americans (Wikipedia, 2013).
Compare/Contrast Food Guides
The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating recommends people consume a variety of foods
across and within the five food groups and avoid foods that contain too much added fat, salt and
sugar. The bread, cereal, rice, pasta and noodles group was given a surface area based on seven
serves; fruit, based on two serves; vegetables and legumes, based on five serves; milk, yogurt,
and cheese, based on two serves; and meat, fish, eggs, nuts and legumes, based on two serves. It
is important to know that the number of serves differs according to age, gender and whether or
not the person is pregnant or breastfeeding (Healthy eating, 2009).
The Dietary Guidelines for MyPyramid encourage Americans to focus on eating a
healthful diet that focuses on foods and beverages that help achieve and maintain a healthy
weight, promote health, and prevent disease. MyPyramid recommends eating a variety of foods
within the five food groups and to limit the intake of red meat, butter and high glycemic foods.
The grains include at least 3 ounces of whole grain breads, crackers, rice or pasta; vegetables, eat
2 cups and 2 cups of fruits; milk, yogurt and cheese, eat 3 cups per day of fat-free or low-fat
milk products; meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs and nuts, eat 1 to 2 servings (MyPyramid,
2013). The two food pyramids are very similar with each having the same 5 food groups and

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the recommendation of drinking plenty of water. A difference is that Australia has beans and
legumes grouped into the vegetable group and MyPyramid has dry beans and nuts grouped with
meat, poultry, and fish. I prefer MyPyramid because it appears to have a variety of foods listed
that are rich in protein.
Conclusion
Australia is a country that is rich in culture, cuisine, religion, and agriculture. I learned
that my own personal culture has many health risks compared to Australias culture. I was
amazed at the similarities between Australia and the United States food pyramid. They both
were designed to make it easier for everyone to understand how to eat a healthy diet to improve
the quality of life and reduce illness.

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References
Diet.com . (2013). Retrieved from http://www.diet.com/g/religion-and-dietary-practices/
Dietitians association of Australia . (2012). Retrieved from http://daa.asn.au/for-the-media/hottopics-in-nutrition/aihw-report-australias-food-and-nutrition-2012/
Healthy eating. (2009). Retrieved from
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/healthyactive/publishing.nsf/content/eating/
Mypyramid. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.foodpyramid.com/mypyramid/
Painter, J., Rah, J., & Lee, Y. (2002). Comparison of international food guide pictorial
representations.Journal of The American Dietetic Association,102(4), 483-489.
Time and date.com. (2013). Retrieved from
http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/australia/christmas-day/
Wang, W. C., Worsley, A., & Hogdson, V. (2013). Classification of main meal patterns--a latent
approach. The British Journal of Nutrition ,109(12), 2285-96. doi:
10.1017/S000711451200453
Wikipedia. (2013). Soul food. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_food
University of Canberra. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.canberra.edu.au/seasu/is3/living-inact/living-in-aust/australian-culture/public-holidays/

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Appendix