Introduction to Nutrition Ch. 5 Lesson 1

EQ: Describe factors that influence your food choices Objectives: Explain how food choices reflect one’s culture, ethnic background and perhaps religious beliefs Identify ways that family and friends may affect one’s food decisions and preferences Explain how time and money influence food choices Questions that we will address

Why do we eat? 1. Physical Reasons – a basic need Hunger – a natural drive that protects you from starvation

Hunger When your stomach is empty the stomach walls contract. Nerve endings are stimulated and send signals to the brain that the body needs food. You eat. Stomach walls are stretched and nerve endings are no longer stimulated. You feel “full.” A physiological response

Why do we eat? Psychological Reasons – a learned response Appetite – a desire rather than a need for food Social Emotional Recognizing the difference between the physical need and the psychological desire helps you to make more healthful food choices

What factors influence what we eat? Environment Geography – local products Family – traditions Cultural background – ethnic foods, religious beliefs, teenage culture Southwestern United States – Mexican Food East coast – seafood Many of these environmental factors are social – family, cultural background, peer pressure Advertising - The average child sees more than 20,000 commercials each year! 9 out of 10 food commercials on Saturday morning are for sugary cereals, candy, salty snacks, fatty foods and other junk food. Cost – during the depression, had to make food go a long way – stews, meatloaf – still eat some of these today

What factors influence what we eat? Environment (Continued) Convenience Cost Advertising Peer Pressure Personal Preference

What factors influence what we eat? Emotions Sad Happy Boredom Some people turn to food when they are sad or bored. Some people use food to celebrate. Since September 11 there has been an increase in fat consumption. Calories coming from “comfort food.”

Which factor has influenced the food choice? Tuesday 2 for 1 coupon special at Domino’s Ashley just finished eating lunch when the phone rang. Megan wanted to know if Ashley wanted to go have lunch with a group of friends. Ashley responds, “I suppose I could go and have dessert.” Cost, Advertising Peers – Is Ashley responding to hunger or appetite?

Which factor has influenced the food choice? I can’t believe my boyfriend broke up with me Cindy thought as she proceeded to eat the entire pint of Ben and Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie Ice Cream. 3. Emotions

Why is it important to eat well? Food provides the body with the energy it needs to do work Nutrients – substances in foods that your body needs to function, to grow, to repair itself, and to supply energy Nutrition – the process by which the body takes in and uses food Next to the first years of life, adolescence is the fastest period of growth a person experiences Can you think of another time in life when a person might need additional food? - Pregnancy

Why is it important to eat well? Good food choices can reduce the risk of disease Heart Disease Cancer Stroke Diabetes Deficiency disease Heart Disease, Cancer and Stroke are the leading causes of death in the US, Diabetes is number 6. Now questioning links between Alzheimer’s disease and nutrition. Good nutrition may only extend our life span by a few years, but the quality of our life, our overall wellness, will be enhanced. Deficiency diseases – Pellagra (niacin B3) – skin disorders, diarrhea, irritability, depression. Beriberi (thiamin B1) – inflamed nerves, muscle weakness, heart problems. Scurvy (vitamin C) – slow healing wounds, bleeding gums and loose teeth. Goiter (iodine) -

The Health Triangle What we eat affects all sides of the health triangle. Physical Mental/ Emotional Social Health Problems related to Diet Short term – fatigue, bad moods, depression Long term – obesity, high blood pressure, cirrhosis of the liver, tooth decay, low birth weight babies with poor mental and physical development