Factors affecting choosing nutrition 1. Individual characteristics Age Gender State of health Mood education

2. Socioeconomic Factors Advertising Environment Income Transport Storage/cooking facilities Social status Peer group pressure

3. Geographical and Cultural factors  Geographical location  Culture  Religion

1.Individual Characteristics Age Infants have no choice over what they eat, but as they become older they exert more and more control over the food that thy consume. This normal process of development, as toddler start expressing their individual food preferences, starts the establishment of food preferences of lifetime. Although it may not seem like it to the careers, they still exert overwhelming control over their children’s consumption. Once children start school, peer group pressure starts to influence food choice. Old age also influences food choice, as the frailty of an individual increases so do the limitations that the frailty imposes on the ability to purchase, prepare and consume food.

Gender Males have higher energy requirements than females and, in those societies where they are seen as the breadwinners, they are likely to be given the largest portion of a meal and the choicest parts of the food.

State of Health An individual’s health affects choice in a number of ways: A food that causes discomfort will be avoided. Anorexia and nausea usually mean that people choose small portions of familiar foods. Physical difficulty in obtaining, preparing and eating food all restrict choice. Foods that are believed to be health-giving or beneficial for a specific condition will be chosen. The hot and cold belief’s present in many cultures are very complicated. Foods that are associated with comfort will be chosen.

Mood Mood affects an individual’s choice of food; for example, some one may choose confectionery because he feels that he should be indulged.

Education Individual’s acquire knowledge from a host of sources and people. Not only do they obtain nutritional knowledge from people. Who influence them, such as family and teachers, but they also acquire attitudes as to whether or not this information is important and should be acted upon.

2.Socioeconomic Factors Advertising Huge amounts of money are spent on food advertising, the main aims of which are to persuade people to: Buy new product Buy more of a particular product change brand of a particular product Maintain loyalty to a specific product.

No group of population is excluded from the influences of advertising and it has profound effects on food choices. A lot of advertising on television is intended to change children’ eating habits.

Environment The environment in which a food is to be prepared affects food choice as does the environment in which it is to be consumed. If the cooking and storage facilities are limited, then the choice of foods is restricted by whether or not it is actually feasible to prepare and cook a particular item. The same applies to where the food is to eaten. Environment is also influenced by socioeconomic factors.

Income Surveys show that those with a low income have a poorer diet than those with higher income.

Transport Superstores stock a wide variety of goods that are generally at lower prices but are only accessible to those with their own transport or good public transport. Local corner shops usually stock a limited range of foods at higher prices. This may mean that foods like fruit, vegetables and whole meal are expensive.

Storage/cooking facilities If storage and cooking facilities are poor then it is inevitable that people will have to reply on manufactured and pre-packed foods which require little more than unwrapping and reheating, or buy their food at restaurants or take- away food shops. This is of particular significance to those living in bed and breakfast accommodation.

Social status In every culture there are foods that are perceived as high-status foods and those that are considered of low status. For example, in the UK cabbage is seen as a low-status food while broccoli is seen as a high-status food.

Peer group pressure Individuals want to belong to a group and so conform to the dietary pattern of those around them. This is particularly so amongst children.

3.Geographical and Cultural Factors Geographical location This influences the availability of foods. The staple food of population depends on the climate, and way in which food is cooked depends on the availability of fuel.

Culture Culture is defined as the customs and civilization of a particular people or group. The dietary habits of any group people conform to a culturally standardized set of behaviors. These are acquired from the family and surrounding community and show considerable variation. Children grow up in a culture and accept to the cultural tradition that surrounds them. Culture will also govern food intake. In some cultures, the ideal body shape is very thin, whereas, in others, obesity is striven for as it signifies wealth and success.

Religion Food has differing significance in different dietary rules depends on the individual.