Introduction, Purpose and Factors Affecting Meal Planning

Meal Planning

• Meal planning is the process of deciding in advance how much food will be consumed at a specific time, usually one that has been set.
• A strategy of grouping appealing foods together based on similar nutritional composition forms the basis of a pattern of food selection.
• Dinner preparation involves a variety of foods that allow for a balanced diet and also produce a more enticing meal with an appealing array of texture, color, flavor, and appearance.

Purpose

• To provide a person with enticing and delicious food.
• To offer a variety of foods and to ensure their nutritional content.
• Respect the financial limit.

Factors Affecting Meal Planning

• Family Structure
  • Age, the number of family members, and any particular dietary requirements are all included. Food quality is influenced by body weight, activity level, growth, and development. There are differences in the type, quantity, and frequency of food served to family members. In general, boys and males come first, followed by women.
    • Grandfather or grandma in the family that are older or adults.
    • Women who are malnourished before becoming pregnant do not have the vitamin and mineral stores built up in their bodies to guarantee a safe pregnancy. The pregnant mother may be at the family or childbearing women age. As a result, a mother's malnutrition throughout pregnancy worsens.
    • A large family requires an enormous amount of food.
• Income, Customs and Eating Habits
  • Individual income, customers, the ability to purchase various types of food, and eating habits all have an impact on meal planning.
    • Income
      • The ability to arrange meals depends on income. Low income cannot provide for a person's dietary needs. Many people live in poverty and are unable to afford a wide variety of foods. They must eat food that is provided to them by others or food that they raise on their own property. Food intake and economic position are closely related.
    • Customs
      • Our community has a variety of beliefs and practices that may have an impact on a family member's health, for example.
        • In Newari culture, Kwaati.
        • In a Buddhist community, purchasing animals is prohibited.
        • Practice of weaning; delay in providing supplemental nutrition.
        • Most people believe that first milk, or colostruw, should not be fed.
    • Eating Habit
      • Meal planning is also influenced by one's attitude toward food. Some food, such as Gundruk, which is frequently quite healthy, is not consumed by people since it is thought to be the food of the poor. eating patterns such as:
        • Field laborer who puts in a lot of effort: eating earlier and going without for a long time prevents them from getting the same quantity of nutrition.
        • Green vegetables are only allowed for nursing women and their children, which could cause an iron shortage.
        • Along with two meals a day, fasting limits salt consumption.
        • Women typically eat the smallest and final meals.
        • Sexism, for instance. Sons receive nutrient-rich food, whereas daughters receive less nutrient-rich food.

Availability of Food

The availability of food has an impact on the meal schedule as well. Not every season offers the same selection of foods. At specific periods of the year, particular foods may be found. Food that is grown nearby and in our own fields can be stored for later use using methods like sun drying and cold storage. Utilize nearby resources in accordance with their nutritional value.

• Nutritive Value of Food
  • It has an impact on meal preparation since family members might be unable to select the proper food in accordance with their daily needs.
    • Fresh meals are more nutrient-dense, particularly those that come from our own kitchen garden.
    • Rice that has been washed more than once loses vitamin B.
    • Meat should be prepared properly and at the proper temperature because undercooked meat can cause a variety of illnesses.
    • Polished by rice milling.
    • Removing the potato's outer skin in pieces.

Education Status of People

• A person's level of education has a direct impact on how they plan their meals. particularly for women's education If the family members are well-educated and aware of the value of a balanced diet and nutritious food, they will make an effort to purchase and consume healthy food.

Likes and Dislikes of Individual

• The family members may enjoy or despise the cuisine you offer. Therefore, it's crucial to understand a family member's preferences before serving them. However, if a person dislikes a particular food but it is healthy, it is preferable to serve the dish so that it is both aesthetically pleasing and appetizing.

REFERENCE

Ambika Rai, Kabita Dahal. Community Health Nursing II. Kathmandu: Makalu Publication House, 2012 (reprint).

Basavan Thappa Bt, 2005, Community Health Nursing, JAYPEE BROTHERS medical Publisher (P) Ltd, New Delhi

Dr.Suwal S.N. & Tuitui R. (2063) A Textbook of Community Health Nursing, 1st edition, Vidyarthi Prakashan (P). Ltd. Kamalpokhari, Kathmandu

Endres J.B & Rockwell R.E. (1985), 2nd edition, Food, Nutrition & the Young Child, Times Mirror/ Mosby College Publishing, Toronto, USA

J.F MC Kenzie, RR Pinger & J.E. Kotecki, 2004, An introduction to community health, 5th edition, Jones & Bartlett