98. The choices a person makes regarding food are highly personal. List and describe five factors that influence a person’s food choices.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Preferences: As you might expect, the number one reason most people choose
certain foods is taste—they like the flavor. Two widely shared preferences are
for the sweetness of sugar and the savoriness of salt. High-fat foods also appear
to be a universally common preference.
Habit: People sometimes select foods out of habit. They eat cereal every
morning, for example, simply because they have always eaten cereal for
breakfast. Eating a familiar food and not having to make any decisions can be
comforting.
Ethnic Heritage and Regional Cuisines: Among the strongest influences on food
choices are ethnic heritage and regional cuisines. People tend to prefer the
foods they grew up eating. Every country, and in fact every region of a country,
has its own typical foods and ways of combining them into meals. These
cuisines reflect a unique combination of local ingredients and cooking styles.
Marketing: Food companies spend billions of dollars building brand loyalty and
enticing busy customers with convenience foods.
Social Interactions: Most people enjoy companionship while eating. It’s fun to go
out with friends for a meal or share a snack when watching a movie together.
Meals are often social events, and sharing food is part of hospitality. Social
customs invite people to accept food or drink offered by a host or shared by a
group—regardless of hunger signals.
Availability, Convenience, and Economy: People often eat foods that are
accessible, quick and easy to prepare, and within their financial means.
Consumers who value convenience frequently eat out, bring home ready-to-eat
meals, or have food delivered.
Positive and Negative Associations: People tend to like particular foods
associated with happy occasions—such as hot dogs at ball games or cake and
ice cream at birthday parties. By the same token, people can develop aversions
and dislike foods that they ate when they felt sick or that they were forced to eat
in negative situations. Similarly, children learn to like and dislike certain foods
when their parents use foods as rewards or punishments.
Emotions: Emotions guide food choices and eating behaviors. Some people
cannot eat when they are emotionally upset. Others may eat in response to a
variety of emotional stimuli—for example, to relieve boredom or depression or to
calm anxiety.
Values: Food choices may reflect people’s religious beliefs, political views, or
environmental concerns.
Body Weight and Image: Sometimes people select certain foods and
supplements that they believe will improve their physical appearance and avoid
those they believe might be detrimental. Such decisions can be beneficial when
based on sound nutrition and fitness knowledge, but decisions based on fads or
carried to extremes undermine good health.
Nutrition and Health Benefits: Many consumers make food choices they believe
will improve their health.