IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i3p2815-d1057186.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Much More Than Food: The Malaysian Breakfast, a Socio-Cultural Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Jean-Pierre Poulain

    (Chair “Food Studies: Food, Cultures & Health”, Taylor’s University Malaysia, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia
    Centre d’Études et de Recherche: Travail, Organisation, Pouvoir (CERTOP) UMR CNRS 5044, Université de Toulouse, 31000 Toulouse, France
    Center for Asian Modernisation Studies (CAMS), Taylor’s University, 47500 Subang Jaya, Malaysia
    Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia)

  • Elise Mognard

    (Chair “Food Studies: Food, Cultures & Health”, Taylor’s University Malaysia, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia
    Centre d’Études et de Recherche: Travail, Organisation, Pouvoir (CERTOP) UMR CNRS 5044, Université de Toulouse, 31000 Toulouse, France
    Center for Asian Modernisation Studies (CAMS), Taylor’s University, 47500 Subang Jaya, Malaysia
    Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia)

  • Jacqui Kong

    (Chair “Food Studies: Food, Cultures & Health”, Taylor’s University Malaysia, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia
    Center for Asian Modernisation Studies (CAMS), Taylor’s University, 47500 Subang Jaya, Malaysia
    Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia)

  • Jan Li Yuen

    (Chair “Food Studies: Food, Cultures & Health”, Taylor’s University Malaysia, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia
    Centre d’Études et de Recherche: Travail, Organisation, Pouvoir (CERTOP) UMR CNRS 5044, Université de Toulouse, 31000 Toulouse, France
    Center for Asian Modernisation Studies (CAMS), Taylor’s University, 47500 Subang Jaya, Malaysia
    Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia)

  • Laurence Tibère

    (Chair “Food Studies: Food, Cultures & Health”, Taylor’s University Malaysia, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia
    Centre d’Études et de Recherche: Travail, Organisation, Pouvoir (CERTOP) UMR CNRS 5044, Université de Toulouse, 31000 Toulouse, France
    Center for Asian Modernisation Studies (CAMS), Taylor’s University, 47500 Subang Jaya, Malaysia)

  • Cyrille Laporte

    (Chair “Food Studies: Food, Cultures & Health”, Taylor’s University Malaysia, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia
    Centre d’Études et de Recherche: Travail, Organisation, Pouvoir (CERTOP) UMR CNRS 5044, Université de Toulouse, 31000 Toulouse, France
    Center for Asian Modernisation Studies (CAMS), Taylor’s University, 47500 Subang Jaya, Malaysia)

  • Fong-Ming Yang

    (Chair “Food Studies: Food, Cultures & Health”, Taylor’s University Malaysia, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia
    Center for Asian Modernisation Studies (CAMS), Taylor’s University, 47500 Subang Jaya, Malaysia
    Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia)

  • Anindita Dasgupta

    (Center for Asian Modernisation Studies (CAMS), Taylor’s University, 47500 Subang Jaya, Malaysia
    Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia)

  • Pradeep Kumar Nair

    (Center for Asian Modernisation Studies (CAMS), Taylor’s University, 47500 Subang Jaya, Malaysia)

  • Neethiahnanthan Ari Ragavan

    (Center for Asian Modernisation Studies (CAMS), Taylor’s University, 47500 Subang Jaya, Malaysia
    Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia)

  • Ismail Mohd Noor

    (Center for Asian Modernisation Studies (CAMS), Taylor’s University, 47500 Subang Jaya, Malaysia
    Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia
    Centre for Community Health Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia)

Abstract

Using secondary analysis of data from the Malaysian Food Barometer (MFB), this article highlights ethnocultural dimensions and social functions of breakfasts in the Malaysian population. MFB uses a 24-h dietary recall that lets the interviewee give the name of the food intake. It shows that breakfasts from the Asian food register dominate with 50.7% (Malays, 50.4%; Indians, 51.9%; Chinese, 47.6%; non-Malay Bumiputra 50.1%), whereas 26.1% eat a westernised breakfast and 17.6% eat no breakfast. If we add those who just have a beverage, 20% do not eat a “proper” breakfast. The Asian breakfasts are characterised by including cooked dishes. These sometimes require real craftmanship to prepare. Therefore, they are mostly purchased outside and consumed either at home, at the workplace, or outside, in restaurants or food courts, such as “mamaks” or “nasi kandar “. Breakfast dishes can be attached to the food culture of the three main ethnic groups of Malaysia, but the boundaries between breakfast cultural styles are fluid and there is a sort of pooling of the breakfast dishes. This porosity of the boundaries between culinary styles is one of the main characteristics of Malaysian breakfast culture. It is so important that when asked, “What could represent Malaysia the best for submission to UNESCO’s intangible heritage list?”, the sample of a national representative population places two breakfast dishes first (nasi lemak and roti canai). This knowledge of the ethno-cultural dimensions of breakfast will help public health nutritionists and policymakers consider cultural characteristics and avoid the risk of a (non-conscious) neo-colonial attitude in promoting western style breakfasts. However, bearing in mind the influence of the British colonisation, the so-called westernised breakfast could also be considered as part of a cosmopolitanised breakfast culture. Finally, the understanding of breakfast culture will feed the debate around, and the progress towards, sociocultural sustainable healthy diets.

Suggested Citation

  • Jean-Pierre Poulain & Elise Mognard & Jacqui Kong & Jan Li Yuen & Laurence Tibère & Cyrille Laporte & Fong-Ming Yang & Anindita Dasgupta & Pradeep Kumar Nair & Neethiahnanthan Ari Ragavan & Ismail Moh, 2023. "Much More Than Food: The Malaysian Breakfast, a Socio-Cultural Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-23, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:3:p:2815-:d:1057186
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/3/2815/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/3/2815/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sobal, Jeffery & Kettel Khan, Laura & Bisogni, Carole, 1998. "A conceptual model of the food and nutrition system," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 47(7), pages 853-863, October.
    2. Jill Nicholls & Adam Drewnowski, 2021. "Toward Sociocultural Indicators of Sustainable Healthy Diets," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-9, June.
    3. Efrat Eizenberg & Yosef Jabareen, 2017. "Social Sustainability: A New Conceptual Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-16, January.
    4. Jean Pierre Corbeau, 2021. "Reflections for a Sociological Representation of the Eater," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-16, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jolita Vveinhardt & Vilija Bite Fominiene & Regina Andriukaitiene, 2019. "“Omerta” in Organized Sport: Bullying and Harassment as Determinants of Threats of Social Sustainability at the Individual Level," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-31, April.
    2. Akram Hatami & Jan Hermes & Anne Keränen & Pauliina Ulkuniemi, 2023. "Creating Social Sustainability Through Distributing Leadership and Co-Responsibility in Corporate Volunteering," South Asian Journal of Business and Management Cases, , vol. 12(1), pages 81-96, April.
    3. Agnieszka Wojewódzka-Wiewiórska & Anna Kłoczko-Gajewska & Piotr Sulewski, 2019. "Between the Social and Economic Dimensions of Sustainability in Rural Areas—In Search of Farmers’ Quality of Life," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-26, December.
    4. Huilian Han & Hui Li, 2020. "Coupling Coordination Evaluation between Population and Land Urbanization in Ha-Chang Urban Agglomeration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-23, January.
    5. Jubril Olakitan Atanda & Ayşe Öztürk, 2020. "Social criteria of sustainable development in relation to green building assessment tools," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 61-87, January.
    6. Maciej Piekarski & Łukasz Bajda & Ewelina Gotkowska, 2021. "Transformation of Socialist Realistic Residential Architecture into a Contemporary Sustainable Housing Habitat—General Approach and the Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-29, December.
    7. Lea Primožič & Andreja Kutnar, 2022. "Sustainability Communication in Global Consumer Brands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-16, October.
    8. Iyappan, Karunya & Babu, Suresh Chandra, 2018. "Building resilient food systems: An analytical review," IFPRI discussion papers 1758, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    9. Tasneem Alsaati & Samir El-Nakla & Darin El-Nakla, 2020. "Level of Sustainability Awareness among University Students in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-15, April.
    10. Juliana Langgat Author_Email: & Mohd Salehuddin Mohd Zahari & Mohd Syaquif Yasin & Nur Aliah Mansur, 2011. "The Alteration Of Sarawak Ethnic Natives’ Food: It’S Impact To Sarawak State Tourism," 2nd International Conference on Business and Economic Research (2nd ICBER 2011) Proceeding 2011-171, Conference Master Resources.
    11. Pietro Previtali & Eugenio Salvati, 2021. "Area Social Plans and Local Governance of Interorganizational Collaborations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-16, January.
    12. Robin Hogrefe & Sabine Bohnet-Joschko, 2023. "The Social Dimension of Corporate Sustainability: Review of an Evolving Research Field," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-22, February.
    13. Zehua Wang & Fachao Liang & Sheng-Hau Lin, 2023. "Can socially sustainable development be achieved through homestead withdrawal? A hybrid multiple-attributes decision analysis," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-18, December.
    14. Gonzalo Gamboa & Zora Kovacic & Marina Di Masso & Sara Mingorría & Tiziano Gomiero & Marta Rivera-Ferré & Mario Giampietro, 2016. "The Complexity of Food Systems: Defining Relevant Attributes and Indicators for the Evaluation of Food Supply Chains in Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(6), pages 1-23, May.
    15. Çağla Beyaz & Çilen Erçin, 2023. "Evaluation of Modern Architecture Criteria in the Context of Sustainability and Architectural Approach; Modern Period in North Nicosia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-48, June.
    16. Fernando Caixeta & André M. Carvalho & Pedro Saraiva & Fausto Freire, 2022. "Sustainability-Focused Excellence: A Novel Model Integrating the Water–Energy–Food Nexus for Agro-Industrial Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-20, August.
    17. Dorn, Franziska & Maxand, Simone & Kneib, Thomas, 2024. "The nonlinear dependence of income inequality and carbon emissions: Potentials for a sustainable future," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    18. Zia Ullah & Mohammed Ali Bait Ali Sulaiman & Syed Babar Ali & Naveed Ahmad & Miklas Scholz & Heesup Han, 2021. "The Effect of Work Safety on Organizational Social Sustainability Improvement in the Healthcare Sector: The Case of a Public Sector Hospital in Pakistan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-18, June.
    19. Pablo Bris & Félix Bendito, 2017. "Lessons Learned from the Failed Spanish Refugee System: For the Recovery of Sustainable Public Policies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-27, August.
    20. Krystyna Kurowska & Renata Marks-Bielska & Stanisław Bielski & Audrius Aleknavičius & Cezary Kowalczyk, 2020. "Geographic Information Systems and the Sustainable Development of Rural Areas," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-18, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:3:p:2815-:d:1057186. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.