The Role and Significance of Food
Foods Around the World
Food has always been and will always be important. It plays an essential part in peoples lives, for without it we would die.
Food also has an important social role. For example:
People have always met together to relax, talk and share common experiences and beliefs. They like to share food at the same time because it makes the occasion even more enjoyable. It shows great hospitality and friendship when one person shares food with another.
Bread all over the world
Bread is broken and shared during special celebration in many countries. Many types of bread have great historical and religious meaning. Bread comes in different forms, is a 2 of many peoples diets, provides good nutrition, is relatively cheap and may be eaten at most meals.
The type or form of bread eaten reflects the customs, culture, religious beliefs, climate and history of people.
Bread may:
Bread has been written about throughout history
8000BC
Unleavened bread was made in Egypt because rising agents, such as yeast, had not been discovered. It became an important part of the Egyptian diet and was similar to the flat breads eaten today, such as Mexican tortillas.
3000BC
Ancient Egyptians discovered how to make leavened bread. This bread was considered to be very special, so was offered to the God Osiris (the God of grain) in ceremonies. Bread became so valuable that it was sometimes used as currencies instead of money.
150BC
Romans discovered how to make good quality bread. The best bread was sold at high price to richer social classes, while the poorer quality bread was given to the poor.
40BC
Roman authorities saw that bread was such an important part of the people's diet that they allowed bread to be given without charge to adult males.
1st Century
Greeks began to make bread from barley and wheat that was flavoured with milk, seeds and honey. They also made flat, baked bread that was similar to the pizza eaten today.
1202
King John in England introduced laws that governed the price of bread. People had to be able to afford it in order to survive.
1600
English people served hot crossed buns at special occasions to display their wealth. The spices needed to make the buns were very expensive, so the buns were considered very special.
TASK 1.
Select one type of bread from the wikipedia site Bread.
Research and report on how this type of bread is made and what is the cultural or religious significance of this bread?
Roti Bread
Roti bread is an unleavened Indian flat bread that is made from atta flour and water. Salt and oil can also be added.
It originated and is consumed in Pakistan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, and is also popular in Trinidad, parts of South Africa, the southern Caribbean, and Fiji.
It differs from Indian Naan Bread because Roti is an unleavened bread, in contrast to Naan.
A thinner variation of Roti Bread is Chapati Bread.
It is popularly served with curries.
The roti bread is also used to make wraps.
Roti bread often has fillings added in the cooking process and is eaten as a meal.
Food has always been and will always be important. It plays an essential part in peoples lives, for without it we would die.
Food also has an important social role. For example:
- at children's birthday parties, you are likely to find sweets, soft drinks, chips, and most importantly, a birthday cake
- at a Christmas celebration you could be served turkey, ham and plum pudding with custard.
People have always met together to relax, talk and share common experiences and beliefs. They like to share food at the same time because it makes the occasion even more enjoyable. It shows great hospitality and friendship when one person shares food with another.
Bread all over the world
Bread is broken and shared during special celebration in many countries. Many types of bread have great historical and religious meaning. Bread comes in different forms, is a 2 of many peoples diets, provides good nutrition, is relatively cheap and may be eaten at most meals.
The type or form of bread eaten reflects the customs, culture, religious beliefs, climate and history of people.
- Australians ate damper in the early days of European settlement because the early settlers did not have yeast to help the bread rise.
- Indian people eat Naan bread because it is soft and absorbent and when eaten with curries helps to soak up the liquid.
Bread may:
- remind people of a religious occasion. For example, Matzo bread helps Jewish people to recall when their ancestors fled from slavery in Egypt- they had to leave quickly and could not wait for the bread to rise
- be eaten to mark a special event or season. For example, Italians like to eat sweet, rich and fruity Panettone during the Christmas period
- be shared among family and friends as a symbol of love and affection. For example Jesus Christ broke bread with his disciples to symbolise the sacrifice of his life
Bread has been written about throughout history
8000BC
Unleavened bread was made in Egypt because rising agents, such as yeast, had not been discovered. It became an important part of the Egyptian diet and was similar to the flat breads eaten today, such as Mexican tortillas.
3000BC
Ancient Egyptians discovered how to make leavened bread. This bread was considered to be very special, so was offered to the God Osiris (the God of grain) in ceremonies. Bread became so valuable that it was sometimes used as currencies instead of money.
150BC
Romans discovered how to make good quality bread. The best bread was sold at high price to richer social classes, while the poorer quality bread was given to the poor.
40BC
Roman authorities saw that bread was such an important part of the people's diet that they allowed bread to be given without charge to adult males.
1st Century
Greeks began to make bread from barley and wheat that was flavoured with milk, seeds and honey. They also made flat, baked bread that was similar to the pizza eaten today.
1202
King John in England introduced laws that governed the price of bread. People had to be able to afford it in order to survive.
1600
English people served hot crossed buns at special occasions to display their wealth. The spices needed to make the buns were very expensive, so the buns were considered very special.
TASK 1.
Select one type of bread from the wikipedia site Bread.
Research and report on how this type of bread is made and what is the cultural or religious significance of this bread?
Roti Bread
Roti bread is an unleavened Indian flat bread that is made from atta flour and water. Salt and oil can also be added.
It originated and is consumed in Pakistan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, and is also popular in Trinidad, parts of South Africa, the southern Caribbean, and Fiji.
It differs from Indian Naan Bread because Roti is an unleavened bread, in contrast to Naan.
A thinner variation of Roti Bread is Chapati Bread.
It is popularly served with curries.
The roti bread is also used to make wraps.
Roti bread often has fillings added in the cooking process and is eaten as a meal.