Factors influencing dietary intake

Question 1

How does advertising influence food choices?

Answer 1

-use of celebrities or characters to endorse a product.
-children appeal (lucky charm cereals, fish fingers)
-buy one get one free

Question 2

How does availability influence food choices?

Answer 2

-soil type, climate, storage, water supply and transportation determine availability.
-rich countries offer global transport systems giving people access to foods all year around.
-local shops may have limited range of foods.
-large supermarkets will have access to wider choices.

Question 3

How does religion influence food choices?

Answer 3

-muslims only eat food that is Halal
-Jewish people only eat kosher foods
-many Hindus will not eat beef.
-Many Buddhists are vegetarian so soya and cereal based foods may be offered.
-festivals for different religions will influence food choices throughout the year e.g. Ramadan, Hanukkah for Jews and Christmas for Christians .

Question 4

How does economics influence food choices?

Answer 4

econimic factors such as;
-price of the food item
-in store promotion (buy one get one free).
-amount of budget allocated to food.

Question 5

How does knowledge influence food choices?

Answer 5

-knowledge about nutrition will influence food choices.
knowing the likes and dislikes of the family
-purchasers will read and understand the food labels.
-having an understanding about farming methods involved and animal welfare.

Question 6

How does culture influence food choices?

Answer 6

-older people may prefer a diet of food they have grown up with (potatoes and mince)

Question 7

How can psychological factors influence food choices?

Answer 7

-stress can lead to stress eating or a reduced appetite.
-mood can cause food cravings
-past experiences with food can cause picky or fussy eating
-people with learning behaviours.
-perception of body image e.g. wanting to lose weight or gain weight.

Question 8

How can physiological factors influence food choices?

Answer 8

Coronary heart disease:
-limit foods high in saturated fats
-reduce high salt content foods.
-reduce foods with high sugar content.

Coeliac disease:
-following a strict gluten-free diet.
-consume foods that are naturally gluten-free
-check food labels and packaging.

Question 9

How does labelling influence food choices?

Answer 9

-traffic light system provides nutritional value an at-a-glance.
-ingredients list can show how healthy products are.
-labels that say ‘meal for one’ can influence portion sizes.
-ready made meals with cooking times
-how long food will keep for.
-how food should be stored.