1. Why Do We Eat the Way We Do?

2. Reasons We Eat: To sustain life Enjoyment Meet Social Norms
Experience calming effect (cope with stress)
Reward

3. Influences on Food Choices
Sensory Preferences
-Taste (sweet, sour, bitter, salty)
-Texture
-Aroma (smell)
-Appearance

4. Influences on Food Choices
Cognitive (Psychological) Influences
1. 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)

5. 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

6. 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

7. Environmental Influences
Economics
a. Income
b. Food availability
-climate
-living location (urban, rural
Lifestyle
a. Face-paced society
b. More time away from home
c. Development of convenience foods

8. 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)

9. 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)

10. 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