Why Why People EatPeople Eat

Do you eat to live Do you eat to live or live to eat?or live to eat?

Most people do both!

HungerHunger is… is…The body’s physical need for food

The extreme form of hunger is starvationstarvation

When you get When you get hungry…hungry…

Your stomach growls, makes noises & cramps

You may get a headacheYou may feel tired & fatiguedYou may be unable to

concentrate

Your body needs Your body needs energy!energy!

Without energy, you

would be unable to play sports, grow

and keep your body working

Your body needs Your body needs food!food!

One of the most important reason for eating is a physical onephysical one

For survivalsurvival

The human body can’t go three days three days without water & foodwithout water & food (depending on stored fat reserves)

For example, who do you think could survive the longest without food and water? An eight-year old who weighs 50 pounds or a 40-year old who weighs 220 pounds?

Your stomach lets you know that it’s time to eat!

Eating Eating right is right is part of part of being being

healthy!healthy!

People also eat for People also eat for psychological psychological

reasonsreasons Emotional reasons

•Tired & bored•Happy or sad•Emotional crutch

Emotional eating can lead to being over or under-weight

Food plays a major Food plays a major role in our livesrole in our lives

It’s the center of our celebrations

»Holidays & birthdays»Weddings & funerals»When a baby is born

Sometimes people Sometimes people eat because of eat because of conditioningconditioning

ConditioningConditioning is the way in which people’s behavior is shaped

Similar to a habit

HabitsHabits have much to do with when you eat

You may be used to eating every day at a certain time (even if your body does not send you a signal that you are hungry)

People may be conditioned to eat on certain occasions

(like holidays or when (like holidays or when you go to your you go to your grandmother’sgrandmother’s

house)house)

Others learn to eat certain food at certain times

(like when (like when you go to a you go to a ball game and ball game and eat a hotdog)eat a hotdog)

Sometimes people Sometimes people eat because of eat because of

cultural reasonscultural reasonsCultural reasonsCultural reasons

include:–Religion–Race or ethnic background

–Region you live in–Special dietary needs

Our 5 Senses5 Senses play a part in when and what we eat

The sizzle of fajitas in a The sizzle of fajitas in a hot skillethot skillet

The smell of a baking The smell of a baking apple pieapple pie

A decadent-looking A decadent-looking dessertdessert

Sometimes food is used as a reward

“You don’t get any dessert until you eat all the food on your plate.” (Ever hear that?)(Ever hear that?)

What Influences What Influences Our Food Choices?Our Food Choices?

GeographyGeography – where you live

Religious TraditionsReligious Traditions often influence our food choices

Ethnic HeritageEthnic Heritage – ancestral background (commonly served food (commonly served food in your home)in your home)

What Affects Food What Affects Food Availability?Availability?

WeatherWeather Seasonal availabilitySeasonal availabilityWorld-wide competitionWorld-wide competitionLand availabilityLand availability

Often, the food Often, the food people eat is people eat is

determined by determined by technologytechnologyPreparation & packaging

FreshFreshFrozen Frozen Canned Canned DriedDriedIrradiated foodIrradiated food

Our technology can Our technology can help help

underdeveloped underdeveloped countries increase countries increase

their food their food productionproductionMalnutrition - not getting

enough of the essential ingredients necessary for adequate growth & development

Technology has led Technology has led to new foodto new food

Combining food: Broccoli + Cauliflower = Brociflower

And. . .And. . .We are ruled by our taste buds - thousands of them!

1. BitterBitter 2. SourSour

3. SaltySalty 4. SweetSweet

Interesting Fact . . .Interesting Fact . . .The more taste buds

you have, the more likely you are to be able to detect bitterness in the food you eat!

AssignmentAssignment1.1. Make a list of all the food you ate Make a list of all the food you ate

in the last 24 hours and then in the last 24 hours and then identify the reasons you had for identify the reasons you had for eating it.eating it.

2.2. Discuss why you think it is Discuss why you think it is important for people to eat healthy important for people to eat healthy food.food.

AlternateAlternateAssignmentAssignment

Research taste buds.Research taste buds.Develop a visual Develop a visual

presentation, mapping presentation, mapping the location of the taste the location of the taste

buds in the mouth.buds in the mouth.