Why Do We Eat

the Way We Do?

Reasons We Eat:

• To sustain life• Enjoyment• Meet Social Norms• Experience calming effect (cope with stress)• Reward

Influences on Food Choices

• Sensory Preferences-Taste (sweet, sour, bitter, salty)

-Texture

-Aroma (smell)

-Appearance

Influences on Food Choices

• Cognitive (Psychological) Influences1. Habits

a. Learned from parents/caregivers

b. Routines that make life convenient

2. Comfort/Discomfort Foods

a. favorite foods - feel better/ relieve stress

b. Gives psychological satisfaction (pleasant taste, relive memories)

Influences on Food Choices• Cognitive (Psychological) Influences

3. Cravings

a. Intense desire for particular food

b. Refined foods – addiction

c. Whole foods – nutrient deficiency

4. Advertising/ Promotion/Media

a. Mostly for refined food products

b. Very few for whole foods

c. Nutritional claims attract buyers

d. Driven by study results reported by media

Influences on Food Choices• Cognitive (Psychological) Influences

5. Social Factors

a. Children observe/model parents

b. Peers affect older children

c. Whole foods – nutrient deficiency

6. Knowledge of food/health relationships

a. Nutrition Advice

-sources (reliable?)

-choose to follow/ignore

b. Health beliefs

c. Recognition of disease susceptibility

d. Ability to take action/ make changes

Environmental Influences• Economics

a. Income

b. Food availability

-climate

-living location (urban, rural

• Lifestylea. Face-paced society

b. More time away from home

c. Development of convenience foods

Environmental Influences• Culture

a. Sharing food is a way to maintain relationships

b. Unique foods (ex. PA Dutch –pig stomach)

c. Traditional diets (before the Western influence)

d. Genetic characteristics

-”One man’s food is another man’s poison”

(wheat- gluten intolerance; diary- lactose/casein intolerance; food allergies/sensitivities)

Environmental Influences• Culture

e. Differences blur as groups intermingle

-improved transportation

-communication

f. Religion/dietary laws

- Jewish – Kosher

- Islam – no pork

- Church of Latter Day Saints – no coffee

- Catholics – no meat on Fridays (Lent)

The American Diet• Influences by Native Americans and immigrants• A fondness for fast food/ eating on-the-go• Most common grain – wheat• Most common meat – beef• Most common vegetable – potato (fries)• Light on vegetables/ fruits/ whole grains• Abundant cereals, snack foods, soft drinks, juice• Know food choices are important factors but few follow

nutrition advice