Question

Sara is majoring in nutrition and is well aware of the importance of a healthy diet. She has recently been analyzing her own diet and is confused. She notices that she eats a great deal of high-fat foods, and few fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. She also has developed quite a “sweet tooth”. What three factors may be influencing Sarah’s food choices? What advice would you give her on how to have her diet match her needs?

Answer 1

Factors influencing the food choices

1. Biological determinants

2. Economic determinants

3. Social determinants

Biological determinants : such as appetite and taste of an individual decides her choice of food. The need for for nutrients are met by the intake of food. The brain and nervous system are controlling the hunger, appetite stimulation and food intake.

Economic determinants : one of the primary determinant of food choice is cost of the food. A person's income and socio economicstatus can influence his food habits. Low socio economic class people tends to take unbalanced diet. On the other side rich people may go for high fat content and junk and canned foods than the fresh foods. Education and knowledge also play an important role in food choices. Level of education can change dietary behaviour.

Social determinants : cultural influence, social setting, meal pattern and social context can influence food choices. Consumption of certain foods, methods of preparation may vary from culture to culture. Certain religious belief restrict meat, fishor milk from diet. For a healthy dietary change social support from home and co- workers is needed.

Sara's diet contains high fat food and sweets but the vegetables, fruits and whole grain is very less in it. For a healthy dietary change she can adapt a few changes to her dietary habits. To adapt her needs she can follow ' My Plate' concept by USDA Center for Nutrition policy and promotion. She can have her diet, 30% grains, 40% vegetables, 10% fruits, and 20% protien and a glass of milk or a cup of yogurt. She can avoid more sweet and high fat content(it may leads to high Cholesterol level). She can exclude high fat content food like cheese, red meat and deep fried items.