A snippet demonstrating working with data from a csv

intake.py

#!/usr/bin/env python

###
# This script loads a csv named intake.csv
# For the purposes of the demo that file looked like this:
# 
# name,weight,height,breakfast_foods,lunch_foods,diner_foods
# jacob,155,6'2","beef,chicken",salad,beef
#
###

# this is a module that provides functionality for working with csvs
import csv

# "with" creates a context for working with a file.
# and automatically closes the file when done
with open('intake.csv', mode='r') as csv_file:
    print("")
    # loading the csv into a reader object that we can itererate over
    csv_reader = csv.DictReader(csv_file,delimiter=",")

    #loop through rows in the csv
    for row in csv_reader:
        # print the header for the breakfast
        print("== Breakfast options ==")
        # now loop through the breakfast items
        # the value gets stored in i
        for i in row['breakfast_foods'].split(','):
            # print the item
            print(i)
        # print a empty string to create an empty line for readability
        print("")

        # now do lunch stuff 
        print("== Lunch options== ")
        # loop through the items
        for i in row['lunch_foods'].split(','):
            print(i)
        print("")