SOCIOLOGY PROJECT ON

“TRADITIONAL VD MODERN
FOOD”

INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
LIB1004 / LIB1105

TEAM MEMBERS
VISHNU – 20BBA7029
PRAVEEN – 20MIS7021
SAI KIRAN – 20MIS7050
PIYUSHA – 20MIS7009
SAHITHYA – 20BBA7026

FACULTY
Guided and Instructed by
Dr. MADHULIKA SAHOO
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

In the accomplishment of this project successfully, many people has

blessed with their heart pledged support, this time we are utilizing to
thank all the people who have been concerned with this project.

We express our deep gratitude and appreciation to those who agreed

to participate in this project, for their time expended and courage in
sharing their insights with fledging students. It is to them that we are
most indebted, and we sincerely hope that the product of our
collaboration benefits each one of them as much as we are benefited
from the process.

We have been immeasurably enriched by working under the

supervision of Dr. Madhulika Sahoo. We wholeheartedly express
our sincere gratitude to Professor Dr. Madhulika Sahoo, whose
valuable guidance has helped us patch this project and make it a
full-proof success. Her suggestions and instructions have served as a
major contributor towards the completion of the project.

Then we would like to thank our family and friends who have helped us
with their valuable suggestions and their guidance has been helpful in
various phases of the completion of the project. Last but not least we
would like to sincerely thank our classmates whose help and
cooperation has been resourceful.

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 Table of Contents

S. No Contents Page. No
1. Introduction 4
2. Objectives 5
3. Methods of Data Collection 5
4. Abstract 6
5. Changes in food behavior consumption and 7
cultivation
6. Impact On health due to the Changes in the 8
Food System
7. Changes in food pattern during covid 9
8. Key findings of survey 11
9. Limitations 15
10. References 16

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 Introduction
The significance of food is self-evident and fundamental. Quality food gives us the
supplements and energy to create and develop, be dynamic and solid, to move,
play, work, think and learn.

Food varieties are straightforwardly identified with our body and mental and
social wellbeing in light of the fact that every food or fluid contains specific
sustenance like carbs, protein, nutrients, minerals, fats, and so forth, which are
exceptionally vital for our physical and mental development.

A significant number of the food sources we eat don't have a similar dietary
benefit as in the past. Despite what might be expected, they lead to medical
conditions like diabetes and coronary illness.

They say “The way to man’s heart is through his stomach”. Food and water are
the principle wellsprings of sustenance and fortifying the body. With the
westernization and modernization that took place in India there has been many
changes in food culture staring from cultivation to consumption which impacted
us in many ways. We all have witnessed how are grandparents are stronger and
healthier than our parents who are stronger than us. So, it is clear that as
generations passed, we are becoming more prone to get diseases and health
problems. Both physical and psychological health depends on the type of food we
consume. Hence, we are trying to find out how food culture changed over years
and how it affected us.

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Objectives
A. To Changes in food behavior - consumption
B. Change in Nutritional value of food - cultivation
C. Impact on health due to the changes
D. To know the type of food consumed by different socio-economic
groups(states/religions)
E. Advantages and disadvantages of change is system

Methods of Data Collection

1. Survey: Survey is a list of questions aimed at extracting specific data
from a particular group of people. It is a detailed study or inspection, as
by gathering information through observations, questionnaires, etc. and
analyzing it. Surveys may be conducted by phone, mail, via the internet,
and sometimes face-to-face. We have conducted through internet, using
forms to collect the basic data required, to form an idea about the teens
and their lives.
2. Observation
a) Non-Participant observation: It is a research technique
whereby the researcher watches the subjects of his or her study,
with their knowledge, but without taking an active part in the
situation under scrutiny. Non-Participant observation is used to
level out researcher biases in other methods and to reveal
differences between what people say and what they actually do.

b) Participant observation: Participant observation is a qualitative

research method in which the researcher not only observes the
research participants, but also actively engages in the activities of
the research participants. This requires the researcher to become
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 integrated into the participants' environment while also taking
objective notes about what is going on. Its aim is to gain a close and
intimate familiarity with a given group of individuals and their
practices through an intensive involvement with people in their
natural environment, usually over an extended period of time.

ABSTRACT:
Human sustenance and evolution through the generations were contributed and
influenced by numerous factors, but food habits and food production remain
significant factors of them all. Man evolved from a nomadic hunting and
gathering phase of food to cultivating their own food and settling down in one
place. In a way, it started the civilization by settling down and farming
communities. Through the generations, the food habits and modes of food
production have undergone drastic changes, and these changes also showed
their respective impact on the human body, health, and Immunity. With every
good and bad change considered, we still need food to survive, and it is one of
the basic essentials of life.

In this study, we intend to study those changes which are significantly affecting
human life in general and their consumption habits in particular. The study aims
to bring out the difference between food habits of the days passed and of the
present day. Modern food habits, while standing as a token of embracing other
culture's food habits, on the other hand, are also taking a toll in the form of
health and life expectancy. This study explores the drastic changes in
consumption patterns, preferences, and perception of food as a part of the
human lifestyle.

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CHANGES IN FOOD BEHAVIOR CONSUMPTION
AND CULTIVATION:
Anyone no need to separately mention that the changes in food behaviour have
been observed over a period of time and the ways to cultivate the farm and the
different ways to cultivate and create a crop have also been changed, and due to
these changes, our way of living and our health will also get impact.
When we observe the food that was eaten by our grandparents or parents and
the food that is being consumed by us, we can find a lot of variations. We can see
those variations in the food we eat and the types of ingredients that contain, and
the values of the food that it contains also.

If we look at over 30 years of span the foods that we have during olden days are
like millets, jowar, ragi kinds of foods and all the maximum foods contain those
things as the main ingredient, and if we look at nowadays, we all have fast foods
like sandwiches, burgers, noodles, chat.

And we can also observe the protein values that the food contains the olden
day's foods have all sorts of minerals, vitamins, fats, carbohydrates, calcium, and
the present-day foods don't have all the vitamins that are essential and which are
must for our body immunity and digestion.

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And all people are just looking at the taste of the food they eat, and they only
consider and eat the food only if it is tasty for their taste buds, and they are not
checking the proteins and valuables that the food must contain. So due to the
change in food habits, our health will get affected, and we may even fall sick.
And coming to farming or crop cultivation, there are a lot of differences between
the olden days and present days methods. In the olden days, they followed
organic cultivation suitable for both soil and a plant; it provides nutrition to
plants and prevents nutrition depletion in soil. They use natural pests, cow dung,
manure, and in present days, they use lots amounts of pesticides and
insecticides, which are harmful to crop growth.

But when we consider all the other things, nowadays technology has developed
much. The different ways to cultivate a crop came into existence. We also have
organic farming nowadays, which is more helpful to get a better crop without
harm causing effects on it, and we can have good vegetables and fruits that build
our Immunity and strength.

Impact On health due to the Changes in the Food System:

Today's food has an impact on health due to a lack of good vegetables and fruits
that come from farms, as well as a lack of good. Self-Prepared manures that
people had in the past. Nowadays, farmers are Choosing the by-product method
of modern farming because nutrition in the food decreases.

Due to food Storage, frozen food, adding Preservatives to Store the food for a
long time, these all Cause many health Problems like Cancer, Heart diseases,
diabetes, obesity, fast food, Junk foods etc.

And the main thing that affects health is, People are Cooking food and eating the
food the leftover food they will keep in the fridge and next day they will take that
out and heats that food in the oven and consume the food. Storing food in the
refrigerator Causes a decrease In nutrition in that food and is harmful to health.
In the olden days people used to cook everything at home they won't buy any
cooked food from Outside Starting from morning breakfast tonight dinner,
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Snacks So the home food is very good for health but nowadays almost everything
we are eating from
Outside. The Outside food is not hygienic, but the quality of ingredients is also
poor. So, by eating these types of foods, People or not healthy and have health
problems.

Olden days, the groceries we bought were good quality and nutritious. But
present the groceries which we are buying everything is Contaminated there no
Purity in ingredients for eg, cooking oil, Turmeric, wheat flour etc. If we Cook
these and eat that food, we have very little nutrition in it.

The ingredients we buy and the way we Cook the Process of cooking matter lot.
So, a few years back, there were no electronic appliances, Stove. So, the way of
Cooking is Completely different and very healthy. Nowadays the process of
Cooking is Not at all good using electric Stove, mixer, grinder etc. And in this
process, we will lose a lot of nutrition in food.
By this, we can tell that food plays a significant role in Our life "So if food is
healthy, we are healthy."

Changes in food pattern during covid:

During corona, many people got affected, and many people lost their lives &
many got hospitalized due to sudden outbreak of the virus, so due to this many
people got panic-due to this and suddenly started taking care about their health
and also started and to search about good healthy food which helps them to
increase their Immunity.
Many people also started to do regular exercise also. And mainly all people
started eating "Dry Fruits" also which include cashew nuts, Badam, Akrut, kiss
miss, Angeer, Black and blue Berries, Dates all these contain different types of

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minerals.
Such as vitamins, Proteins, calcium, fats, and these are very, very good sources of
protein and calcium. Due to this, our Immunity gets increased a little rapidly. And
even when we eat meat products, we also get more proteins and by having milk
products we get more calcium, due to all the things we can increase the
durability of our health.

We also took more amounts of leafy vegetables, which indeed built our strength
and increased our health conditions and made us fit enough to fight with the
conditions & situations around us. And by having different types of fruits, which
helps us increase the strength in our body to fight against the corona.

Food is key to personal health as well as to the health of the planet, given that
current patterns of food production and consumption have considerable
environmental impacts. Conversely, disasters such as the COVID-19 pandemic can
disrupt our food system and change our relationship with food.

For instance, in an effort to reduce the spread of infection, border and other
logistic restrictions limiting the flow of goods and people increased the risk of
food shortages due to impaired supply chains, including those related to labour
shortages, as can be seen in the US and Europe.

Furthermore, the partial or complete lockdown measures introduced at regional

and national levels, such as the closure of schools, universities, workplaces, non-
essential shops and restaurants, banned events, and travel and mobility
restrictions, likely changed the way people accessed their food, where they ate,
and how their food was prepared. Some of these measures have served as a
further obstacle to the distribution of food to vulnerable populations.

For example, some programs that provide main meals for school children were
not operational during confinement. Additionally, quarantine due to illness or
coming into contact with infected people may have further restricted people's
access to food. So many people started cooking some good and healthy food in
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their houses only, which helped them a lot to increase their mental health. So,
like this, we changed our food habits due to corona and we should follow them
more time to be healthy & fit and to stay away from diseases.

Key Findings of Survey

Most the people are concerned about what they eat, but the situations demand
them to consume unhealthy food. It is impossible for everyone of us to eat fruits
and vegetables that are cultivated using organic methods. This might be because
of higher prices, low availability, slow growth, etc.

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Food and thought process:
What we eat affects our function in the brain. Eating is linked with better stress
management, improved sleep quality, increased concentration. If we don't take
sufficient vitamins, fibre, minerals, and other nutrients which are required for our
body, then it'll definitely affect our thoughts. When we stick to a diet of healthy
food, we set ourselves up for fewer mood fluctuations, and overall happier
outlook, and an improved ability to focus. What we take inside is reflected back
outside. Eating healthy food reflects a healthy body, healthy energy, indeed a
healthy lifestyle, and healthy thoughts.

To conclude, all of our survey respondents said the food we take impacts our
thought process, and healthy food helps us to think in a better way.

Despite the enhanced nutritional availability in genetically modified plants, only

30% of our respondents said that they would like to eat such food products. In
comparison, 27% of them said they would not eat, 45% of them said they are not
sure if they would prefer such food or not. This might be because of the fear of
side effects that can be caused due to modified DNA in the plant.

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The convenience of finishing a meal in a short amount of time has been
attributed to the popularity of junk food items in this age of urbanization. Great
taste, attractive appearance, and advertising have all played a part in attracting
people, particularly teenagers, to selling joints.

Unfortunately, the current world's adaptation to a fast-food consumption system

has had several negative health consequences. Fast food has been found to have
an energy density of more than twice that of the recommended daily allowance
for children. As a result, experts blame fast food for the current childhood obesity
epidemic. In developing countries, the rise in childhood obesity has resulted in an
increase in life-threatening conditions, particularly non-communicable diseases.
Due to the high sugar content in fast foods, dental cavities are another common
ailment among schoolchildren. Carcinogenic food additives have been discovered
in these foods.

Keeping in mind all the side effects caused due to junk food, almost more than
75% of our respondents said that they think of quitting consuming junk food. But
because of various reasons like the better taste, easy availability and time-saving
people are getting attracted to it.

Because of changes in quality and consumption patterns, people face many

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health issues related to physical and psychological health. Problems related to
physical health include obesity, diabetes, heart stroke, abortions, irregular
menstrual cycle, cancer, and problems related to kidneys.

In 1961, the average Indian consumed 2,010 calories per day. Their daily diet
consisted of 43 percent grains (378g), 23 percent fruits and vegetables (199g), 12
percent dairy and eggs (108g), 12 percent sugar and fat (108g), 2 percent meat
(17g), and 8% other (68g).

In 2011, the average Indian consumed 2,458 calories per day. Their daily diet
included 34% produce (450g), 32% grains (416g), 18% eggs and dairy (235g), 10%
sugar and fat (129g), 2% meat (29g), and 4% other (58g).

In the last 25 years (from 1990 to 2015), the average daily protein consumption
has increased from 55g to 59g, with animal protein consumption increasing from
9g to 12g. The percentage of dietary energy supplied by cereals and
rootsdecreased from 66 to 59 grams per day.

The number of undernourished people has fluctuated, dropping from 210 million
to 177 million between 1990 and 2000 before rapidly increasing between 2004
and 2006. The number of undernourished people rose from 177 million to nearly
240 million in just five years. Since 2006, this figure has been steadily declining,
and it has remained consistent since 2009, totalling around 194 million.

So, what exactly does it all imply?

According to the data above, the average Indian consumes more calories than
they did 50 years ago. In that time, India's consumption of eggs, dairy, and plant
products has increased by more than twofold. While the average Indian diet
remains predominantly vegetarian, meat and animal-based products
consumption have increased. In addition, grain consumption has decreased,
while average daily sugar and fat intake has increased.

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Limitations:
a) As we are doing this in pandemic period, we had to collect data through online
i.e., by sharing google forms, contacting them through what’s app or email etc.
b) We didn’t get chance to meet them in person. It was very time taking to get
reply from people who gave us their mail I’d.
c) We also got some irrelevant data like some were irrelevant answers just for
fun (including bad words, answers in different languages). It was really
challenging to get responses.
Other than this we really enjoyed doing this. We got to know about different
people, their thoughts. We got to interact with new people. We came to know
some new things. We have learnt time management and observation of the
people and happenings around us.

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 REFERENCES:

https://www.elkjournals.com/MasterAdmin/UploadFolder/CHANGING%20TRENDS%20OF
%20INDIAN%20FOOD%20HABITS%20IN%20MODERN%20TIMES/CHANGING%20TRENDS%20OF
%20INDIAN%20FOOD%20HABITS%20IN%20MODERN%20TIMES.pdf

https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-020-08951-8

https://www.foodandnutritionjournal.org/volume9number3/changes-in-snacking-patterns-
during-covid-19-lockdown-in-adults-from-mumbai-city-india/

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