Self- Evaluation of Food Habits

Meal composition / cycle

How many meals do you eat each day?

Typically, three meals. Sometimes only two and a snack or two during the day.

What elements are needed to make a meal for you?

Usually, if all or a majority of the food groups are involved in a decent quantity. A
meal should meet or almost meet the My Plate standards. Typically meals occur
at the same time of day as well. (Breakfast: ~7am/8am. Lunch: 11:30am/12pm.
Dinner: 5pm/6pm)

What is a typical serving size of a meat, starch, and vegetable for you?

Meat: ~ 4 oz
Starch: ~ cup (when applicable)
Vegetable: ~ 1 cup (greens), cup cook/raw vegetables or juice.

Do you eat dessert? How often? At what meal(s)?

Typically, no, but when I do its either after lunch or dinner and usually something
like gelato/frozen yogurt or chocolate and fruit.

Is the meal served in courses? If yes, what are they? What is the order of service?

Usually the meals are not served as a courses for me or my family. That only
occurs during some holidays, such as Christmas Eve.

How often do you snack each day? What types of foods are considered a snack?

I consider a snack to occur between meals (ex. 10am-11amish, 2pm-4pmish)

and my typical snack is usually a banana or orange and a handful of trail mix or a
protein bar.

What are the major holidays you and your family celebrate each year?

Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, New Years Day, Easter, and
Thanksgiving.

What special foods are served for these holidays?
 During Christmas Eve (Velija) we celebrate our Slovak/ Ukrainian/ Carpatho-
Rusyn heritage by usually preparing 12 dishes that represent the twelve Apostles
of Jesus. Some of the meals are traditional such as starting the meal off by
passing a round an unleavened bread and dipping it into honey to represent the
sweetness of life. The meal usually has a salty or bitter or sour/ fermented dish
involved as well, such as Machanka (Sauerkraut and mushroom soup).

Do you ever fast? If yes, when? What, if any, foods are avoided and/or consumed?
Personally, I do not fast, but many of my Christian family members often do. They
fast during Lent and typically fast from foods such as dairy, red meat, or sweets.
They would not consume either one or all of those foods mentioned during the
entirety of Lent.

Rules

What, if any, utensils do you use when you eat?

Always eat with a fork (left hand) and knife (right hand) and spoon, if applicable.

At a family meal, who should be present?

At a sit down family meal all family member are present and usually remain
seated and talk until all members are finished. Then everyone clears the table. If
someone cooks typically they do not also clean up.

Is someone at the family meal served first? If yes, who and why?
If there are guests then they are served first. If not then usually the parents and
elders get served first and we pass the food around.

List three rules (e.g. dont eat with your mouth open) that you follow when you eat a
meal.
1. Dont eat with your mouth open.

2. Finish your plate then get more if you want seconds.

3. Dont waste any food. Save large bones or carcasses for soup and compost
what is compostable (no animal proteins, fats, or oils).

Do these rules change if you eat informally? If yes, how?

If its a party then plate sizes will be significantly smaller and people typically will
not all sit down at the table to eat a meal unless it is a small holiday gathering or
Velija where the meal is more formal.

Attitudes

Were you aware of your own food habit norms before you completed this evaluation?
 Yes. Im aware that not many people eat as many traditional foods as my family
does. Especially, the sourer, fermented foods like sauerkraut and pickled herring.

List 2 personal biases you discovered through this evaluation.
I tend to be critical of people who arent as adventurous with their eating as I am.
I would try almost anything and I realize that not everyone is like that.

Are there food habits that you find morally or ethically repugnant?
I have a hard time watching people take seconds when they havent finished
eating what is on their plate also throwing out food. Also, chewing food with your
mouth open. I was taught that was rude, but Im aware that in some cultures it is
considered a sign of respect when making loud slurping and chewing noises
while eating. As well as eating domesticated animals, I could not eat a cat, dog,
or horse.
*UPDATE: 4/30/17: I no longer eat red meat and pork, for health reasons as well
as personal ethical reasoning.

What is your opinion about people who do not share your food habit norms?
I like learning about other people because some of my familys food habit norms
differ drastically from others.

Application

How do your food habits differ from your family norms? Those of friends? Those of
people you work with? In what significant ways do they differ?
I have some extended family members that regularly eat their dinner in front of a
tv or in their rooms alone and I think that differs from how my family eats. Also, I
have member of my family that primarily eat large portions of red meat and I
dont eat like that at all. Animal protein is one of the smallest parts of my meal.

How can you personally avoid ethnocentric judgements regarding food habits?
I think by keeping an open mind and listening to other people about their cultures
relationship with food is a good way to prevent becoming judgmental or critical of
another cultures norms.

Are you willing to try new foods?
Yes, I love trying new foods. Im fascinated by bizarre foods. I have yet to try
haggis or fermented shark fin and Id like try them some day.