Factors Influencing Food Choices Sue Way Fall 2008 Why Are You Eating That? Factors Influencing Food Choices Physical Psychological Social Cultural Resources Physical Factors: Health Essential to life Nutrients are needed for body to function properly To control diseases such as diabetes Physical Factors: Health Nutrition: Study of nutrients and the body uses them Nutrition: How food choices affect health Benefits of good nutrition: Look your best, grow properly, and you have energy Physical: Taste You enjoy the taste of food Source of pleasure Physical: Age Needs are different throughout the life cycle Physical: Appetite VS Hunger Appetite: A natural and healthy desire for food Want It Hunger: Body needs food Need It Psychological: Emotional Eating Stressed, troubled, bored, or unhappy Psychological: Means of Rewards Food for good grades Food for good behavior Psychological: Food Associations Past Experiences Reminds you of when you were a child Attach importance to an occasion or a loved one Social: Family A time for families to prepare and share meals and time together Social: Peer Pressure Your friends influence your choices Social: Special Occasions Holidays, weddings, birthday parties Social: Food Fads Whats new and trendy? Social: Food Fads Whats old? Social: Lifestyle Your way of life Activities Social: Advertising Advertisers want to convince you to buy their product Social: Advertising Limited information Positive images Celebrity endorsement Scare tactics Studies Infomercials False claims Cultural: National Origin Geography Staple Foods Economics Foreign Contacts Cultural: Religion Hindus do not eat beef Jews keep Kosher Catholics refrain from meat on certain days Muslims dont eat nor drink during daylight hours Cultural: Traditions Food customs are handed down Cultural: Ethnic Customs USA is a blend of many ethnic groups Pretzels and doughnuts from Holland Pizza from Italy Tacos from Mexico Egg rolls from Asia Resources Objects and qualities that can help reach goals Resources: Food Supply What foods are available We may eat more seafood Resources: Time Time to prepare meals Time to shop Time to eat Resources: Energy Electricity or gas Personal energy Resources: Knowledge Knowing how to shop and prepare meals Resources: Skills The ability to do something well Resources: Money The amount of money you have influences the food you can buy