1. WHAT DETERMINES OUR FOOD CHOICES? http://video.foxnews.c om/v/2104 788207001 /comfort- food-diet/

2. EXTERNAL INFLUENCES Those that come from OUTSIDE of the individual or family Four Categories: Media Economy Environment Technology

3. MEDIA INFLUENCES  Media offers a constant source of information about food products and nutrition issues. Which includes…  Television commercial ads commercial ads  Print  Internet & other electronic media  Food Styling: Tricks of the trade… Advertisements vs Reality Buy Me That!

4. ECONOMIC INFLUENCES Influences affected by consumers willing to pay for products and producers willing to provide them. Which includes… Supply/demand Price- healthy vs. not healthy Food’s availability

5. ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES Environmental influences are factors such as air, water, soil, mineral resources, plants & animals. Which includes… Ecological factors- ex. Food chain Climate issues Land availability Local agriculture- buying what’s in season

6. CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE Home to a $38 billion agriculture industry San Jaoquin Valley, CA, in the single richest agriculture region in the world Sole producer in the US of almonds, walnuts, raisins, artichokes, & olives. 22% of nations milk & cream MoOo!

7. TECHNOLOGICAL INFLUENCES Any development that is improving any methods for doing tasks. Food processing/additives Prolonging shelf life Nutritional value of foods- enriched, fortified Additives- thickeners, sweeteners, preservatives Advances in equipment Biotechnology advancements Hormones Genetically modified organism (GMO)- good or bad?

8. CONVENIENCE FOODS What are they? Who uses them most? Are they more or less expensive than fresh, non- processed foods? Are they more or less healthy ? Why?