In recent years, our diets have become increasingly varied and complex, with a wide range of ingredients and cooking styles being combined. Despite this, traditional dietary practices are still largely maintained. However, there are certain challenges in obtaining them. Studies have revealed some clear trends in dietary practices in Australia over the past two decades, with some aspects evolving between the 1990s and the 2000s, while others remained relatively stable.
It is important to note that these aspects are mutually constitutive, and changes in one can affect the others. The influences on food consumption can be divided into those that relate to the content of food and those that have to do with the consumption environment. The latter reflects the social and physical aspects of consumption, such as social norms and people's ability to control what they eat (reference: Waskink 5). All analyses used the weightings provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics to ensure that the derived estimates were representative of the Australian population at the time of each survey.
This project was funded, in part, by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation of the Australian Government (RIRDC), Barton, Australian Capital Territory, Australia; project no. So how have these changing dietary trends impacted traditional South Australian cooking methods and techniques? To answer this question, we must first look at how these trends have affected food consumption.
The Impact on Food Consumption
The food environment has a significant influence on food consumption. This includes factors such as availability, cost, convenience, healthiness, taste and cultural acceptability.For example, if a certain type of food is not available or is too expensive, people may opt for a different option. Similarly, if a food is perceived as unhealthy or not culturally acceptable, it may be avoided. In addition to availability and cost, convenience is also an important factor when it comes to food consumption. With busy lifestyles becoming increasingly common, people are more likely to opt for convenient options such as pre-prepared meals or take-away food. This has had an impact on traditional cooking methods and techniques as people are less likely to spend time preparing meals from scratch.
The Impact on Traditional Cooking Methods
The changing dietary trends have had a significant impact on traditional South Australian cooking methods and techniques.As mentioned above, convenience has become increasingly important when it comes to food consumption. This has led to a decrease in the use of traditional cooking methods such as slow-cooking or baking from scratch. Instead, people are more likely to opt for pre-prepared meals or take-away food. In addition to this, health concerns have also had an impact on traditional cooking methods. People are now more aware of the nutritional value of their food and are more likely to opt for healthier options such as fresh fruit and vegetables or lean proteins.
This has led to a decrease in the use of high-fat ingredients such as butter or cream.
