Bellringer Think about the food you ate Monday and Tuesday Pick 1 food and write down the food and the reason why you selected that food.

Factors Affecting Food Choices Nutrition and Wellness

Objective I will discuss the factors that affect food choices

Food Fact or Fiction Fresh Fruits are healthier than frozen or canned Body weight is a reliable indicator of a healthful diet Eating carbohydrates causes weight gain Eating just before bedtime is fattening Eating sugar causes diabetes Occasionally following a fad diet is a safe way to lose weight Reference: eatright.org

The Choices You Make Availability Taste Hunger Nutritional Value Calories Cost Convenience Culture Religion Science and Technology Media Friends Age Health Issues Emotions

Availability Factors that can affect what foods are sold in stores include agriculture, technology, economics, and politics. Differs among regions throughout the world Poverty is a close relative of hunger Political powerhouses have less prevalence of hunger than other countries. Some poorer countries use their resource to export rather than feed their own. Federal regulations mandate how food is to be produced and processed

Taste An individual factor Dependent on culture

Hunger How hungry are you? Are you eating only when you are hungry?

Nutritional Value Based on how much you know about nutrition Reading food labels Balancing meals Accurate nutrition knowledge is important!

Calories Do you want to gain weight? Lose weight? Maintain current weight? Activity levels

Convenience Are you a busy person, always on the go? Have time for a sit-down meal?

Cost Budget and finances

Culture Culture: refers to the beliefs and social customs of a group of people. Ethnic foods: foods that are typical of a given racial, national, or religious culture.ie. Soul Food Food norms: typical standards and patterns related to food and eating behaviors. Food taboos: social customs that prohibit the use of certain edible resources as foods.

Food Taboos

Religion Special dietary Restrictions Rules regarding what members may or may not eat. Jewish: Kosher Muslim: No Pork Seventh-Day Adventist: Vegetarian Hindu: Vegetarian Catholic: No meat during Lent

Science and Technology Advances in food growth, preparation, transportation, and preservation. Trucks, trains, and planes equipped with refrigeration allow for food to be transported across long distances without spoiling. Genetic research Extended shelf life

Media Commercials Children view 22,000 commercials a year Magazines Advertising can be helpful and hurtful

Friends Peer Pressure: “everyone else is eating it” Family: watching your parents

Age People of different ages tend to make different food choices Taste changes over life cycle

Health Issues Illnesses, diseases, allergies, and other sensitivities

Emotions People use food to do more than satisfy hunger. Emotional Responses Dealing with emotions Rewards and Punishments

Activity Discuss what certain foods are associated with particular activities and feelings. Explain why. Sports event Date Celebration Illness Family gathering Excited Bored Angry Depressed