The key driver for eating is of course hunger but what we choose to eat is not determined solely by physiological or nutritional needs. Some of the other factors that influence food choices include: Biological determines such as hunger appetite and taste. Economic determines such as cost, income and availability. Physical determines such as access, education, skills (e.g. cooking) and time. Social determines such as culture, family, peers and meal patterns.
The complexity of food choice is obvious from the lists above, which is in itself not exhaustive. Food choice factors also vary according to life stage and the power to the next. Thus, one type of intervention to modify food choice behavior will not suit all population groups. Rather, interventions need to be geared towards different groups of the population with consideration to the many factors influencing their decisions of food choice.
Our physiological needs provide the basic determines of food choice. Humans need energy and nutrients in order to survive and will respond to the feeling of hunger and satiety ( satisfaction of appetite, state of no hunger between two eating occasions). The central nervous system is involved in controlling the balance between hunger, appetite stimulation and food intake.
Palatability is proportional to the pleasure someone experiences when eating a particular food. It is dependent on the sensory properties of the food such as taste, smell, texture and appearance. Sweet and high-fat foods have an undeniable sensory appeal. it is not surprising then that food is not solely regarded as a source of nourishment but is often consumed for the pleasure value it imparts.
Taste is consistently reported as a major influence on food behavior.
In reality 'taste' is the sum of all sensory stimulation that is produced by the ingestion of a food. This includes not only taste per se but also smell, appearance and texture of food. these sensory aspects are thought to influence in particular, spontaneous food choice.
Your culture might influence in leading to the difference in the habitual consumption of certain foods and in traditions of preparation and in certain cases can lead to restrictions such as exclusion of meat and milk from the diet. Cultural influences are however amenable to change: when moving to a new country individuals often adopt particular food habits of the local culture.
Psychological stress is a common feature of modern life and can modify behaviors that affect health, such as physical activity, smoking or food choice. The influence of stress on food choice is complex not least because of the various types of stress one can experience. The effect of stress on food intake depends on the individual, the stressor and the circumstances. In general, some people eat more and some eat less than normal when experiencing stress.
Interestingly, it appears that the influence of food on moods is related in part to attitudes towards particular foods. The ambivalent relationship with food - wanting to enjoy it but conscious of weight gain is a struggle experienced by many Dieters, people with high restraints report feeling guilty because of not eating what they should. Moreover, attempts to restrict intake of certain foods can increase the desire for these particular foods, leading to what are described as food cravings. Thus, mood ans stress can influence food choice behavior and possibly short and long term responses to dietary intervention.
There are many influences on food choice which provide a whole set of means to intervene into and improve people's food choices. there are also a number of barriers to dietary and lifestyle change, which vary depending on life stages and the individual or group of people in question. It is a major challenge both to health professionals and to the public themselves to effect dietary change. Different strategies are required to trigger a change in behavior in groups with different priorities. Campaigns that incorporate tailored advice that include practical solutions as well as environmental change are likely to succeed in facilitating dietary change.
Explanation:
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