Food taboos and recommended foods for pregnant women: The study of phenomenology in pendhalungan society

Abstract

The citizens called Pendhalungan community live in the east area of East Java. It is an acculturation between the culture of Javanese tribe and Madurese tribe which lived in Jember District. This affects the consumption pattern for pregnant women. The purpose of this study is to identify the habits of pregnant women in Pendhalungan community in terms of food taboos and recommended foods. Taboo is a myth that is still believed by the inhabitants. They continue to apply the taboo without knowing a clear reason. This study used phenomenology approach to describe unique consumption patterns. Informants in this study were pregnant women. Collected data from January until August 2017 in Patrang, Arjasa and Sumbersari, Sub district of Jember District with Snowball Technique. The data collected is a type of food that is considered taboo and is recommended for pregnant women in the Pendhalungan community. Data analysis method in this research uses content analysis. In conclusion, food taboos in this community are types of foods that contain high protein such as shrimp, chicken liver, eggs and fish. They forbid food based only on myths, without knowing the benefits of that foods taboo. While the recommended foods in pregnancy are fruits and vegetables that are consumed in large portions.