CULTURAL INFLUENCES ON FOOD CHOICES

Filipino cuisine (Filipino: Lutuing Pilipino/Pagkaing Pilipino) is composed of the cuisines of

more than a hundred distinct ethno-linguistic groups found throughout the Philippine
archipelago. However, a majority of mainstream Filipino dishes that compose Filipino cuisine
are from the cuisines of the Ilocano, Pangasinan, Kapampangan, Tagalog, Bicolano, Visayan
(Cebuano, Hiligaynon and Waray), Chavacano and Maranao ethno-linguistic groups. The style
of food making and the food associated with it have evolved over many centuries from
their Austronesian origins (shared with Malaysian and Indonesian cuisines) to a mixed cuisine
of Indian, Chinese, Spanish and American influences, in line with the major waves of influence
that had enriched the cultures of the archipelago, as well as others adapted to indigenous
ingredients and the local palate.

Dishes range from the very simple, like a meal of fried salted fish and rice, to fish curry, chicken
curry, complex paellasand cozidos of Iberian origin created for fiestas. Popular dishes
include: lechón[2] (whole roasted pig), longganisa(Philippine sausage), tapa (cured
beef), torta (omelette), adobo (chicken or pork braised in garlic, vinegar, oil and soy sauce, or
cooked until dry), dinuguan (pork blood stew), kaldereta (meat stewed in tomato
sauce), mechado (larded beef in soy and tomato sauce), pochero (beef and bananas in tomato
sauce), afritada (chicken or pork and vegetables simmered in tomato sauce), kare-kare (oxtailand
vegetables cooked in peanut sauce), pinakbet (kabocha squash, eggplant, beans, okra, and tomato
stew flavored with shrimp paste), crispy pata (deep-fried pig's leg), hamonado (pork sweetened
in pineapple sauce), sinigang (meat or seafood in sour broth), pancit (noodles), and lumpia (fresh
or fried spring rolls). Various food scholars have noted that Filipino cuisine is multi-faceted and
is the most representative in the culinary world for food where 'East meets West'.

Religion and dietary choices

A healthy varied diet is essential for health, growth and development. Many religions
include guidance on what is appropriate to eat in order to demonstrate faith.
Data from the 2011 census shows that the five most common religious affiliations are Christian
(59.3%), Muslim (4.8%), Hindu (1.5%), Sikh (0.8%) and Jewish (0.5%).1
Due to the diversity in religions, cultures and individual beliefs, it is always good practice to ask
the patient or their representative about dietary requirements.

Christianity
The predominant religion in the UK is Christianity. Generally there are no dietary
restrictions. Individuals may choose to forgo alcohol and may choose whether or not to eat
meat.2 During Lent Christians may stop eating certain foods.

Islam
Muslims eat halal (lawful) foods, which include fruit, vegetables and eggs. Any meat and
meat products they consume must be from a halal slaughtered animal. Milk and dairy foods are
halal, cheese may be halal depending on ingredients. There are concerns that not all meat sold as
halal actually is, so careful sourcing is important.3
Haram (prohibited) foods include pork, crustaceans, blood, non-halal animal-derived additives
such as gelatin or suet, alcohol and any foods containing alcohol as an ingredient.3
Fasting is required during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, when
Muslims must refrain from consuming food, liquids and medication between sunrise and
sunset.4 Some individuals are exempt from fasting, including pregnant, breastfeeding or
menstruating women, children under 12 years, older people and chronically or acutely ill
people.5

HOLIDAYS FOOD

The Christmas and New Year holidays aren’t just a time for Filipino families to come
together. It’s also a time for them to feast. All around the country, tables are heavy with food often
reserved for these special occasions.
While every Filipino Christmas table is unique and varies from province to province, there are
those that are always there on every Noche Buena spread. In this post, we put together a list of
these Noche Buena notables, and even track down where these dishes originated from in the first
place.

Filipino Dishes For Holy Week

Many Filipinos are Christians who abstain from eating meat during Lent, especially during Holy
Week. They turn to fish and vegetable dishes, and the more devout Catholics go on a completely
liquid diet or fast.

Popular fish, egg and vegetable dishes among Filipinos:

 Sour fish stews such as paksiw, pangat and sinigang.

 escabeche: a sweet-and-sour fish dish
 relyenong bangus: stuffed milkfish
 sarsyadong tilapya (sarciadong tilapia): tilapia fried, then sauteed in garlic and onions
with a sauce of fresh tomatoes and eggs
 inihaw na isda: grilled fish; can be tilapia or milkfish
 piniritong isda: fried fish; can be tilapia or milkfish
 guisadong ampalaya: bitter green gourd sauteed in garlic and onions
 munggo: mung beans boiled or sauteed in garlic and onions
 tortang talong: eggplant omelet

Chinese New Year Food in the Philippines

Any special foods eaten in the Philippines during the great Chinese holiday? Of course
there are many! Settlers from China have been living on the Philippine islands for centuries even
before the Spaniards arrived and there wouldn’t be modern Filipino culture without the Chinese
influence, particularly on the food. Tikoy is the most popular treat during Lunar New Year
festivities in the Philippines, as iconic as the Chinese New Year’s cake nian gao is in other
countries. In fact, tikoy is said to be based on the nian gao of southern China from where
Fukienese immigrants to the Philippines came.