Factors Affecting Food ChoicesNutrition through the LifespanMrs. Mashburn

Why You Eat What You Do…Many outside influences affect food choices.

People around you Family - What you ate growing up… Friends - Restaurants and “fad” foods…

Cultural Connection Culture is the shared beliefs, values and

behavior of a group of people Where you live, your ethnicity, food traditions

Ethnic foods – foods that are typical of a given racial, national, or religious culture Soul food – African American Sweet and sour – Pennsylvania Dutch Fresh ingredients, pasta – Italian Tea and cookies – British Black beans on New Year’s Day – Japanese Apples and honey on New Year’s Day - Jewish

Continued Subgroups of culture

Geography, heritage (ethnic groups), and religion Food customs

How food is prepared, served, and eaten Unique foods (BBQ from Texas, Clam Chowder from New

England)

Cultural Etiquette Chopsticks, eating with the hands, etc.

Special Occasions “Thanksgiving Food”, Wedding Cakes, New Year’s Day

(Black Eyed Peas and Collard Greens)

Religious Influences Certain religious groups have rules

regarding what members may or may not eat. Orthodox Jews – kosher foods; no pork

or shellfish Muslims – fast during the ninth month of

the calendar year Seventh-Day Adventists – vegetarians

Continued… Availability of Foods

What is grown where you live

Georgia is famous for: Peaches, peanuts, blueberries, corn, soybeans, watermelon, onions

Technology has made an impact on how food supplies are stored and processed

Schedules, Energy, Budget What you eat and buy are affected by your resources

Time, income level, personal energy, convenience foods (foods that are quick to prepare or eat) Single parent families Dual income families

Continued… You

Your lifestyle and characteristics affect food choices

Examples Age - Teenagers are not likely to eat the same foods

that adults do. Attitudes/Emotions - Feelings towards foods

(memories or experiences) Diet goals and health concerns Knowledge/level of education - New recipes, products

and information can influence what you eat. Income Level - Better quality foods cost more. Exposure - Traveling, making new friends, trying new

cuisine.

Politics (??) Mayor Bloomberg bans soda…

Media Disney bans junk food ads

Advertising Heart Attack Grill

Continued… Food Advertising

Ads make you aware of new foods but may provide deception information, as well.

Can you guess these food ads? Cereal -A tiger mascot Fast food - Creepy clown mascot Fast food -“Have it your way” slogan

Food packaging also plays a major role in why we buy and eat the foods we do. Food stylists create food products for photographs used in

advertising. They also use non food items to give the idea of fresh,

tasty food. For example, hamburger buns are really foam spray painted and milk is really sour cream

or school glue.

Best Food Commercials Doritos Snickers Little Caesar’s KFC McDonalds

PROJECT! Create a food advertisement for a BRAND

NEW FOOD Must list:

Price Slogan Description of product THREE reasons a consumer would enjoy your product Illustration of the product itself

BE CREATIVE! Remember to include what you have just learned

about: The factors that affect food choices!

Special Diets and Health Concerns Only a doctor or a

health professional should recommend a medical diet. Once a medical diet

has been set in place, it is important to follow it as closely as possible.

The most common medical diet is probably a diabetic diet.

Diabetes A condition in which the body can’t

control levels of sugar in the blood properly Insulin “malfunction”

In one type of diabetes, the body doesn’t produce enough insulin.

In another, the body doesn’t use the insulin that is produced normally.

Oral medicine or insulin injections may be necessary.

A special diet low in sugars is required.

Those who are overweight are at high risk for developing diabetes.

Modified Diet A special eating plan

that helps to keep a medical condition under control

It may involve limiting certain foods or choosing foods for nutritional value.

Examples Low fat/low

cholesterol Low sodium High fiber Soft diet

Food Additives These are used to improve flavor or

appearance. Common examples include preservatives,

food colorings, flavorings, sweeteners, etc. Food additives can serve valuable

purposes in the production of food, but if used in excess, they may pose risk to health. A common belief is that food colorings

(specifically red and yellow) can add to the effects of ADHD.

Food Intolerance The body has trouble digesting or handling a

component of food Examples:

Gluten People can’t digest this protein found in wheat

products Lactose Intolerance

The inability to adequately digest lactose, the main sugar found in milk and milk products

Symptoms include diarrhea, stomach pains and nausea People will need to:

drink 1 cup of milk or less with other foods Eat hard aged cheeses (parmesan) and yogurt Choose lactose free products or use the drops that reduce

lactose Ask your doctor for a prescriptive supplement that will help

you digest lactose

Food Allergies A sensitivity to a food that involves

the body’s immune system The immune system mistakenly reacts to

the food as if it were an illness to fight Reactions include rashes, vomiting, stomach

cramps, breathing problems The reactions usually occur right after eating the

food, or just by being around them If you think you have a food allergy, there

are many types of tests your doctor can perform on you. The allergy is treated by preventing the

reaction and eliminating foods from your diet that cause the reaction.

Food and Medications They can affect each

other and your body’s chemistry.

Food can help or hinder your body’s use of medicines.

Also, some medicines affect how your body uses nutrients.

Follow instructions for taking medicines, especially when they say to take with food or drink

If medicine is taken on an empty stomach, it can slow the absorption or cause ulcers.

Some foods will react with medications.

Organic Foods Organic foods have become very popular over

the last decade. Many people chose organic because of the way

that food is grown and harvested. Organic foods do not use chemical fertilizers or

pesticides. Some people feel that these cause cancers and

diseases, as well as harm the environment. These foods must be stamped with the USDA seal of

approval for organic food.

These foods have not been proven more nutritious than conventional farmed foods.

Organic foods are generally more costly.