CULTURAL NUTRITION PROJECTBY

JUSTIN BATCHELDER

Greeks in a Nutshell

Introduction to Culture/Background

Predominantly Homogenous People 1

• Approximately 93% of Greeks also ethnic Greek 1

• Other cultures well assimilated 1

• Proud of cultural heritage (central to the West) 2

Official Language of Greece: Greek 3

• Used widely since Homer (8th to 9th century BC) 3

• Lends terms to modern languages – especially medicine, physics, philosophy, and theology 3

• English and French widely spoken (English required in school) 3

Introduction to Culture/Background

Approximately 10.7 million people 1

• growing at .08% annually 1

• More than half live in urbanized communities 1

• Largest City: Athens (3 million) 1

• 400,000 Albanians, 76,000 Turks, between 120-350,000 Romas/Gypsies (not recognized by gov't) 1

Endemic Values• Older Generation: family, religion, tradition, and education 2

• Newer Generation: similar values + friends and status 2

• Traditionally male-dominated; trend is changing (especially in urban areas) 2

• Eager for growth yet wary of foreign powers 2

Family

Family is a high priority 4, 5

• Parents may do almost anything for children; very concerned about education 5

• Not too uncommon for children to live with parents until their 30s 5

• Married couples often live with parents until they can find a home 5

Family is the central institution 4, 5

• No member shall shame others 5

• Discipline is strict; but is changing 5

• When parents die; eldest sibling takes the reins 5

Elderly highly respected 5

• First served at meals 5

• Given proper, respected titles 5

• Most families take care of elderly or frequently visit at homes 5

Traditional Food Habits

Adhere to the Mediterranean diet and mostly local foods 6

• Foods growing at low elevation: oranges, olives, dates, almonds, pomegranates, figs, grapes, and rice 6, 7

• Native fruits: nectarines, oranges, peaches, and apples 7• Native spices: thyme, basil, oregano, rosemary, and sage 7• staple foods/ingredients: olives, eggplant, lemon, feta, tomatoes, yogurt,

garlic, honey, olive oil, eggs, lamb, goat, grapes, and rice 6, 7, 8

Ancient Culinary Tradition and Commerce• Ancient Times: Persians brought yogurt, rice, candied nuts, honey, and

sesame seeds 7• Romans introduced pasta and sauces 7• Potatoes and tomatoes from New World 7• Archestratus allegedly wrote first cookbook (350 BC) 7• Ubiquitous coffee introduced by the Turks in ancient times 7

Health

Higher life expectancy and lower mortality rate in southern Europe (as opposed to US and northern Europe) 9

• WHO and Seven-Country Study cite Mediterranean diet as a main cause 9

• "Mediterranean diets mitigated coronary heart disease risk factors, such as elevated serum cholesterol and hypertension, and revealed an association between Mediterranean dietary patterns and lowered risk of atherosclerotic disease. 9"

• Greek man less at risk for ischemic heart disease than counterpart in developed countries 9

Health Indicators• Diabetes patients 10 x more likely for CVD in N. Europe and US (likely due to

lifestyle factors) 9

• Lung cancer a concern (smoking and air pollution) 7, 10

• Young Greeks apt to eat more meat and less complex carbs 9

Health

Strong tendency to retain culture; however 11:• (Chian) Greeks in US consume more meat, poultry, pasta, potatoes, rice,

margarine, butter, vegetable oils, potato chips, candy, and ice cream 11

• (Chian) Greeks in Athens consume more eggs, dairy, wheat, olive oil, and fresh veggies

• consumption of fruit, fruit juices, and most beverages relatively similar 11

Chios study compared Chians emigrating to Athens and the US 11 • Chian-American men more likely to obtain CVD (p ˂ 0.06) 11

• likely due to using fats other than olive oil• Chian-Athenian women more likely to obtain diabetes (p˂ 0.09) 11

• likely do to disposition to use less complex carbs

Religion/Beliefs

98% of citizens are Eastern Orthodox 12

•Most do not regularly practice 12

•Freedom of religion; however, 12

•Eastern Orthodox supported by state (via taxes and school)•Conversion practices to other religions illegal

Strict, fundamental followers strive to fast 180-200 days a year 13

•After fasting, 12.5% lower total cholesterol, 15.9% lower LDL-cholesterol, 1.5% lower BMI, lower LDL/HDL ratio (4.6%; nonsignificant) 13

•Omit olive oil, meat, fish, milk, and dairy Wednesdays and Fridays all year 13

•Lent fast: fish allowed two days; no meat, dairy, or eggs 48 days preceding Easter 13

•Assumption: no fish (except August 6th), meat, dairy, or eggs; olive oil on weekends only 13

•Christmas fast: no meat, dairy, or eggs 40 days preceding 13

The Recipe

Easter tradition: break 40 day fast with a meal at midnight 13, 14

• After the resurrection service 13, 14

• Feast on lamb, red eggs, and sweet Easter dessert bread 14

• In Crete, sweet cheese pastries are eaten for Easter 14

Crete is famous for kalitsounia (say: kah-leet-SOON-yah) 15

• Taste like miniature cheesecakes (soft and creamy) 15

• Made with fresh Mizithra cheese in Crete (mine had ricotta) 15

• Normal Mizithra is saltier and firmer 15

•1 ½ cups of ricotta

cheese (whole milk)

•2 cups of all-

purpose flour

(white; enriched;

bleached)•2 tablespoons of

feta cheese

crumbles•1 dash of salt•2 large eggs

(whole)

•1 teaspoon of vanilla extract•½ cup of white granulated sugar•2 tablespoons of butter•4 tablespoons of whole milk•¼ cup of confectioners’ sugar

(16)

Unique Ingredient: Mizithra Cheese

Cheese of the ancient world 17

•Originally prepared in copper cauldrons 17

•Aged on wood shelves, earth platforms, or naturally refrigerated room carved into mountainside 17

•Molded and baskets to render the cheese wheel (refer to picture) 17

•Goatskin sacks held Mizithra (in liquid form) before being shipped to market 17

Traditional Greek cheese 18

•Made with leftover whey (from other cheese) with sheep/goat milk 18

•Several forms from fresh (soft, creamy, and bright white) to aged (hard, aromatic, and crumbly) 18

•Fresh form often made with sweet dishes (ricotta a common replacement w/ similar texture) 18

•Many forms are protected by process and region (especially Cretan Mizithra) 18

•Traditionally not pasteurized; slightly tangy 18

Nutrient Profile

Cretan Cheese-Cinnamon Pastries

Diabetic Modification:•white flour –»

wheat flour•cane sugar –»

sucralose (artificial

sweetener)•whole milk –» skim

milk (vitamin A & D

fortified)

Nutrient Profile

Cretan Cheese-Cinnamon Pastries

Nutrient Profile

Cretan Cheese-Cinnamon Pastries

Counseling Tips

Be wary of their emotions/gestures 19

• Smiling can indicate frustration or lack of patience 19

• Tilting head backwards = no; nod head slightly forward = yes 19

• Concerned about the “evil eye;” may perform ritual or prayer to ward off 19

• It is inappropriate to point, or even gesture towards superiors/elders 19

Be hospitable (Greeks are very strong believers in hospitality) 19

• If preferable, keep dietary recommendations aligned with the Mediterranean diet 9

• Firm handshakes are appropriate; slap on back appropriate for men only 20

• Be aware older generations are highly resistant to cultural change 4, 9

• Offer a cup of coffee and try to not rush 6

References

1. ProQuest LLC and Brigham Young University. Greece (Hellenic Republic): Population. Culture Grams. http://0-online.culturegrams.com.skyline.ucdenver.edu/world/world_country_sections.php?contid=5&wmn=Europe&cid=62&cn=Greece&sname=Population&snid=3. Accessed January 30, 2013.

2. ProQuest LLC and Brigham Young University. Greece (Hellenic Republic): General Attitudes. Culture Grams. http://0-online.culturegrams.com.skyline.ucdenver.edu/world/world_country_sections.php?contid=5&wmn=Europe&cid=62&cn=Greece&sname=General_Attitudes&snid=6. Accessed January 30, 2013.

3. ProQuest LLC and Brigham Young University. Greece (Hellenic Republic): Language. Culture Grams. http://0-online.culturegrams.com.skyline.ucdenver.edu/world/world_country_sections.php?contid=5&wmn=Europe&cid=62&cn=Greece&sname=Language&snid=4. Accessed January 30, 2013

4. G James, JW Berry, A Shaw, S Christakopoulou and K Mylonas. Acculturation of Greek Family Values. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology.1996;27 (3): 329-338. doi: 10.1177/0022022196273005 .

5. ProQuest LLC and Brigham Young University. Greece (Hellenic Republic): Family. Culture Grams. http://0-online.culturegrams.com.skyline.ucdenver.edu/world/world_country_sections.php?contid=5&wmn=Europe&cid=62&cn=Greece&sname=Family&snid=11. Accessed January 30, 2013.

6. ProQuest LLC and Brigham Young University: Greece (Hellenic Republic): Visiting. Culture Grams. http://0-online.culturegrams.com.skyline.ucdenver.edu/world/world_country_sections.php?contid=5&wmn=Europe&cid=62&cn=Greece&sname=Visiting&snid=26. Accessed January 30, 2013.

7. Advameg, Inc.. Greece: Geographic Setting and Environment, History and Food, Food of the Greeks. Food in Every Country. http://www.foodbycountry.com/Germany-to-Japan/Greece.html. Published January 1, 2013. Accessed January 30, 2013.

8. Advameg, Inc.. Countries and Their Cultures: Greece. Every Culture.. http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Greece.html. http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Greece.html. Accessed January 30, 2013.

9. AL Matalas, CE Franti, LE Grivetti . Comparative study of diets and disease prevalence in Greek Chians part II Chian immigrants to Athens and to the United States. Ecology of Food and Nutrition.1999; 38 (4): 381-414. doi:10.1080/03670244.1999.9991586.

10. G Touloumi, E Samoli, K Katsouyanni. Daily mortality and "winter type" air pollution in Athens, Greece--a time series analysis within the APHEA project. J Epidemiol Community Health1996;(50): s47-s51. doi:10.1136/jech.50.Suppl_1.s47 .

References

11. AC Harris, R Verven. The Greek-American acculturation scale: development and validity. Psychological Reports. 1996; 78(2):599-610. doi: 10.2466/pr0.1996.78.2.599.

12. ProQuest LLC and Brigham Young University. Greece (Hellenic Republic): Religion. Culture Grams. http://0-online.culturegrams.com.skyline.ucdenver.edu/world/world_country_sections.php?contid=5&wmn=Europe&cid=62&cn=Greece&sname=Population&snid=3. Accessed January 30, 2013.

13. KO Sarri*, NE Tzanakis, MK Linardakis, GD Mamalakis, G Kafatos. Effects of Greek orthodox christian church fasting on serum lipids and obesity. BMC Public Health. 2003; 3(16). doi:10.1186/1471-2458-3-16

14. N Gaifyllia. Greek Easter Recipes and Menu: The Main Event. About.com. http://greekfood.about.com/od/tipsnutritionmenus/a/eastermenu.htm. Accessed January 30, 2013.

15. N Gaifyllia. Sweet Cheese Pastries - Kalitsounia - Step by Step with Photos. About.com. http://greekfood.about.com/od/illustratedrecipes/ss/kalitsounia_sbs.htm. Accessed January 30, 2013.

16. PHP-Nuke. Cretan Cheese-Cinnamon Pastries - (Kaltsounia Me Kanella). Greek-Recipe.com. http://www.greek-recipe.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article293. Accessed January 30, 2013.

17. H Blitzer. Pastoral life in the mountains of Greece: an ethnoarchaeological perspective. Expedition. 1990; 32 (3). http://www.penn.museum/documents/publications/expedition/PDFs/32-3/Blitzer.pdf. Accessed January 30, 2013.

18. Conjecture Corporation. What is Mizithra Cheese? WiseGEEK. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-mizithra-cheese.htm. Accessed January 30, 2013.

19. ProQuest LLC and Brigham Young University. Greece (Hellenic Republic): Gestures. Culture Grams. http://0-online.culturegrams.com.skyline.ucdenver.edu/world/world_country_sections.php?contid=5&wmn=Europe&cid=62&cn=Greece&sname=Gestures&snid=9. Accessed January 30, 2013.

20. ProQuest LLC and Brigham Young University. Greece (Hellenic Republic): Greetings. Culture Grams. http://0-online.culturegrams.com.skyline.ucdenver.edu/world/world_country_sections.php?contid=5&wmn=Europe&cid=62&cn=Greece&sname=Greetings&snid=8. Accessed January 30, 2013.