Exploring the Impact of Socio-Cultural Factors on Syrian Food Habits

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FOOD CULTURE AND SOCIETY

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
BODY..............................................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Food and food choices are central components of the cultural and religious practices in Syria. It
not only influences the health and well-being but also affect the environment, agriculture, culture
and economy at the local, national and global levels (Carolan, 2018). The individual choices on
the food have been associated with the changing temporal, social and historical choices for all
life. Cultural norms, taboos and beliefs are some of the factors which have been categorized by
the UNICEF for causing the malnutrition in the people. In Middle East country like Syria, Israel,
United Arab Emirates, the traditional greetings Marhaba means Hello. This can direct on the
culture of women generally dressing much more conservatively. Further, they offer small gifts
such as plant, a box of chocolate or biscuits to the guest (DeFeo, 2017).
In Syria, the social and cultural values of the food consumed are affected by the affordability and
availability. This can add social values to foods that are considered as important determinants.
The cultural influences lead to the divergence in the habitual consumption of the certain foods
(Garduno, 2015). For Syria, there is no restriction for particular foods such as meat, milk from
the diet and others. The purpose of the study is to critically evaluate the key socio-cultural
influences on the food consumption in the geographical region in Syria.

BODY
Food habits in general are influenced by the socio-cultural background, customs and religious
traits. The teenagers and youth may deter in adding the reasons for adopting the fast food culture
in Syria. People are likely to connect to their cultural or ethnic groups who are having similar
food patterns (Garduno, 2015). The cultural identity directs on the food for retaining the
immigrants. In Syria, Varied cuisines are strongly provided which are related to the social
identity, cultural factors and religion. According to WHO, frequent fast food consumption is also
a health concern because it basically consist of fats, carbohydrates and sodium that is associated
with the nutrients and particular lifestyles that are formed in the human (Dalal, 2017). The most
important thing is staying away from the parents and home means independency and increase in
access of the food choices. This can give rise to the development of the different eating habits.
According to the Food security Bill 2013, the Food security act provides the protection regarding
dietary and food in a very common form. This can help in initiating the good quantity and quality
of the foods (Özgen et al., 2017). The people can live their life with comfort and can meet with
the shortage of the food. Around two-third of the Syrian population directs on the improvement
of centre for the children’s growth. There are many improvement centre for the growth and
development which has set up with the integrated child development services. Syria offers
astounding variety of food in different form. Presently, Syria is facing a situation which is
actively known as triple affliction of malnutrition (Özgen et al., 2017). The National Family
Health survey has directed on the two-third of married women in Syria that holds a BMI less
than normal. It has been indicated by 28% men added to same class. The food security has its
core importance in categorizing the situation in all aspect such as physical, economic and social

to an adequate access. The food security has prime focus on the community and household level
to a certain concern (Metheny and Beaudry, 2015).
The prime focus can infer to the fulfillment of individual capabilities and nutritional security.
The ongoing trend has lead to the foundations of the food security which help in capability to
grow self-sufficient sources. The ability to harvest crops in the nation without any assistance
from the external sources can provide the prime food grains in the regions in Syria (Ahmed et al.,
2017). For example:- Rice is the main single hot dish for the Syria and other than this meal
called mezze composed of small dishes and other food are some of the sections that are provided
on the arrangement of the nutritionally sufficient food supply.
Syria has certain improvement in public health and nutritional status of the population to around
2.5% of the global land mass (Carolan, 2018). The key challenges faced by the Syrian population
through which low productivity and high input costs can be attained are identified under
production policies. The pulse is the major source of Syrian diets and is offered at reasonable
price. In spite of all those factors, the demand and supply of the food products are reduced and
has adverse effect on the nutrients intake. The health professionals are very much concern about
the loss of the nutrients and stress on the importance of safe drinking and water and
environmental sanitation (Delgado, 2018). This can aim at convergence between water,
education, sanitation and health programmes. The common traditional foods are Chickpea fateh,
foole, makdous and other main items such as Kafta, Mujadara and other. The main religion in
Syria are Muslim 87% and are devout in their faith of eating the food such as meat and fish and
other. This can also redirect them to speak the Arabic language for writing, speaking and reading
within the different ethnic groups (Delgado, 2018).

For example: The goal of the restaurant and food service establishment in Syria or across the
world can direct on high quality meals that have excellent services. The food and labor costs can
help in improving the operations that can help in generating profits. The goal that can be
achieved with the cooperation of the staff is directed on the cohesive building (Özgen et al.,
2017). The staff forms a working team in the order to outperform the success of the restaurant.
The group working together can easily solve the problem by providing the creative and flexible
solutions that individual can excel in. In the restaurant, excellent food and services are always
considered under the team efforts.
The effective team working in a group has certain characteristics that aim to accomplish the task
within the set deadline and situation (Delgado, 2018). This can help in changing the demand and
situation of the group to meet the new goals. The group periodical performance can be evaluated
with the balanced leadership and resources that are relevant to immediate the task. The group
focuses on the problem solving rather than expending energy on the competitive struggles or
interpersonal issues. The utilization of the skills such as time management and task management
is carried out individually or automated with the workflow. The meetings that are set can
increase the goals that are projected to move forward with the demand accountability and interim
deadline (Garduno, 2015). The development of the plan to deliver the results by the necessary
date can be set and scheduled data can be supplied as per the task assigned to the individual.
Syrians of all religious background share same dishes and cuisine with the minor differences.
They include the Druze, moutabel, bastirma and salads.
According to the World Food Summit, the food security has brought up a change in the
nutritional level and health and food. This can logically set the indicators through which the
assessment of the food should met with the insecurity and reflect three dimensions (Dalal, 2017).

The food security may present the global data that is brought out with some interesting
paradoxes with respect to Syria. There is a direct relationship between the food availability and
affordability and access to hunger.
Effective communication skills are considered to a fundamental aspect in the success of life. This
can help in building strong communication skills and people with the good communication skills
can help in enjoying the better interpersonal skills through which relationship with friends and
families can be attained (Özgen et al., 2017). There is certain effective communication strategies
through which the customer services relies on providing the first impressions. This can direct on
the business based appearance, grooming and posture and courtesy of the staff. The business can
lead to the attitude of the guest and entire dining experience. The impression that has placed an
effect may direct on the appearance of the business. In case, the dirty windows, tattered menu or
untidy services can create negative image of the business. Therefore, it is necessary that the
entire team at the workplace should keep all the work areas tidy and maintain the balance. They
must meet with the effective communication strategy (Özgen et al., 2017).
The non-verbal, written or oral communication must be very strong. This can help in presenting
the effective personal feelings of the visitors those who are approaching to the certain restaurants
for the food. The workers must communicate effectively in order to handle their job efficiently
and safely (Özgen et al., 2017). It is necessary for the staff to be acquainted with the different
languages. This can help in associating number of the people as their regular customer. The staff
at the workplace is also directed to make an oral report of the other staff such as executive chef
or restaurant manager. This can help in providing the people to work under such conditions that
might lead to the effective development of the communication skills in the staff (Delgado, 2018).

CONCLUSION
In this study, the analysis of the culture, society and food aspects of the Syria has been widely
discussed. The food culture and society is an official reviewed measure of the Food and society
where the complex relationship between the society, culture and food are discussed under
numerous disciplines. The rate of the research has marked in all aspects through which the
vigorous debate on the perspectives of the eating behavior and food systems of the socio-cultural
region is instigated. The dietary transitions, family, meal and psychological and cultural and
social determinants are found to be foodshed analysis. It is worth noting the deep relations that
exist between food and other. There is a desire of the particular food which can help in meeting
the traditional practices to the similar skills such as time management and other practices at the
workplace in Syria.

REFERENCES
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Carolan, M., 2018. The real cost of cheap food. Routledge.
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Delgado, S.V., 2018. Exploring Middle Eastern Immigration: History and Contemporary
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Metheny, K.B. and Beaudry, M.C. eds., 2015. Archaeology of Food: An Encyclopedia (Vol. 2).
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