Factors in Food Choices

Diabetes

-Causes high blood sugar levels. -Damages the body over time.

Socio-Cultural Factors

-Ethnicity -Geographic Region -Religion -Personal Environment -Social Environment

Socio-Cultural Factors

Are composed of the social and cultural characteristics of a person's life.

Food Consumption Habits

Are established at infancy through parents in most cases.

Nutrient Dense Foods

Are high in nutrients and low in calories.

Geographic Regions of the United States

Are know for various types of cuisine. Include: -Coastal Regions -South -Midwest -Southwest

Jewish Dietary Laws

Are known as Kashrut.

Food Resources

Are resources available for obtaining, preparing and consuming foods. Include: -time -money -access to food

Therapeutic Diets

Are used to control various conditions, such as: -food allergies -diabetics -hypertension

Household Composition

Can impact food choices due the number of people in the residence, nutritional needs of household and food preferences.

Education Level

Can influence food choice through the awareness of more nutritious alternatives.

Food Consumption Habits

Cause people to eat certain foods as a routine. Example: Eating cereal for breakfast every day.

Age

Classified people based on life stage of chronological age.

Education Level

Classified people based on their highest level of schooling.

Gender

Classifies people as male or female.

Household Compostion

Classifies people based on number of people living in one residence and the relationship between the individuals.

Income Level

Classifies people based on the amount of money earned annually.

Islamic Dietary Laws

Dictate how animals most be slaughtered, halal.

16th Century Europeans

Did not value taste- appreciated food for its appearance, symbolic value or rarity. Example: A prized cook was one who could make fish look like a piece of venison instead of making it taste good.

The 70's

Encouraged the widespread ability to eat a wide-range of foods. In a week, a person could eat: -McDonald's Cheeseburger -Fettuccine Alfredo -Tofu and Black Bean Salad -Homemade Crock-Pot Chili Brought millions of Asians and their unique cultural cuisines to the U.S. through the Immigration Act of 1965.

Hindu Dietary Laws

Forbid eating meat, fish, poultry, and eggs. Some may occasionally eat meat, almost all avoid beef.

Islamic Dietary Lawd

Forbid the consumption of certain foods, including: -pork -blood -alcohol

Southwest Food

Has Native American, Spanish, and Mexican influences.

Kosher

Hebrew word meaning fit or allowed for consumption.

Income Level

Impacts food choices based on amount of money a person has to spend on food. Example: A person might choose to purchase a generic brand over a name brand due to price.

Gender

Impacts food choices due to varying nutritional needs and desired outcomes of diet. Example: Women tend to be more concerned about body weight when choosing the foods they consume.

Age

Impacts food choices due to varying nutritional needs and food preferences. Example: An adult might choose to eat a salad instead of French fries due to concerns about body weight.

Preventative Health Measurs

Include behaviors such as: -consumption of nutrient dense foods -regular exercise -maintenance of body weight -abstaining from tobacco and heavy alcohol use -annual physical exams

Nutrient Dense Foods

Include foods such as: •fruits and vegetables •whole grains •lean protein •low-fat dairy

Demographics

Include. -Age -Gender -Education Level -Household Composition -Income Level Provide information about select population at any given time.

Midwestern Food

Includes items such as: -casseroles -meat -corn -potatoes

The Birth of the 20th Century

Introduced the American Sweet-Tooth. •By 1909, the average person consumed 65 pounds of sugar per year.

Diabetes

Is a condition in which the body cannot properly utilize the hormone insulin.

Demographics

Is a system to group people based on various characteristics.

Health Consciousness

Is associated with characteristics such as: •Preventative health measures. •Effort to improve overall health. •Interest in seeking new health information and findings.

Southern Food

Is normally associated with: -fried foods -types of gravy and sauce -grits

Health Consciousness

Is the concern about and actions taken to address a person's health status.

Religion

Is the term used to describe a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe.

The Birth of the 20th Century

Made Americans optimistic for century ahead. •Preferred saying rich, hearty, meat-filled meals; stylish restaurants offered elk, caribou, bear and moose.

Age

May be divided into categories such as: •children •young adults •adults •middle-age adults •senior citizens

Religion

May influence or direct a follower's food choices. Examples: -Hinduism -Judaism -Islam

Health Status

Measure of how healthy or unhealthy a person is.

Midwestern Food

Nebraska: -beef -corn

Southwest Food

New Mexico: Green Chile

Money

Plays a role in determining the amount, variety, and quality of foods one is able to purchase. For example: -If ample money is available, various types of foods can be purchased. -If money is limited, inexpensive foods can be purchased.

Access to Food

Plays a role in determining the options available to the consumer. For example: -Living in a large city provides many shopping options. -Living in a rural area may limit food shopping venues.

Time

Plays a role in determining the types of food one will eat. For example: -If ample time is available, a homemade meal can be prepared. -If time is limited, convenience foods may need to be prepared.

Hindu Dietary Laws

Prohibit consuming garlic, onions, some types of mushrooms, alcohol and tea or coffee containing caffeine.

Hindu Dietary Laws

Promote vegetarianism for respect for life.

The United States Food Supply

Provides the American consumer with option beyond the traditional production system: -natural -organic

Body Mass Index (BMI)

Ratio of weight to height, used as an indicator of obesity or being underweight.

Abstaining from a Tobacco & Heavy Alcohol Use

Reduces the risk of developing numerous chronic illnesses, including: -cancer -heart disease -hypertension -osteoporosis

Personal Environment

Refers to a person's home or private living space.

Islamic Dietary Laws

Require fasting during the daylight hours of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic year.

Diabetes

Requires a person to adopt a food consumption pattern which regulates blood sugar levels.

Personal Environment

Sets the stage for various day-to-day choices, such as: -food consumption habits -family mealtimes -lifestyle behaviors Is affected by other people living within the home.

Southwest Food

Tends to be spicier in nature than foods from other areas of the U.S.

16th Century Europeans

Valued bread as the fundamental food. -Some lower class members are nothing else. -Only upper class could afford meat regularly.

Food Consumption Habits

When developed properly: •Promote superior growth and development. •Decrease the chance for obesity and diet-related diseases. •Establish a healthy well-being.

Regular Exercise

•Aids in the maintenance of a healthy body weight. •Improved mood and self-esteem.

Preventative Health Measures

•Are actions taken to keep the body as healthy as possible. •Can decrease risk of developing chronic illness.

Food Allergies

•Are caused by an autoimmune response triggered by a specific protein in food. •Can be deadly.

The 50's

•Are considered by experts to be the worst decade in 20th century American cuisine. •Showed an increase in popularity of restaurant chains along the highways due to construction of the national highway system. •Valued time efficiency making dinners from a can, tray, package or pouch popular.

Organic Agricultural Products

•Are regulated and defined by the USDA. •Are produced without synthetic fertilizers and pesticides with sustainable practices and strict guidelines.

The 60's

•Brought French dining to many Americans trough Julia Child's show, The French Chef. •Abandoned prepackaged foods and advocated making products from scratch.

Food Allergies

•Can be conformed by blood or skin tests. •Are mainly treated by avoiding the food. Example: Peanut Allergy

Ethnicity

•Can be thought of as a person's cultural heritage. •Is passed from one generation to another. •Plays a role in day-to-day food patterns.

The Great Depression

•Causing food rationing. •Meat used sparingly; therefore, people are vegetables and beans and fillers.

Jewish Dietary Laws

•Certain animals may not be consumed. •Animals for consumption must be slaughtered.

Early American Colonists

•Copied the diets of the Indians. •Survived mostly on fish and animals indigenous to the settled region. •Feasted on poisonous snakes, bad-smelling musk turtles and horses during periods of starvation.

A Healthy Body Weight

•Decreases the risk of developing chronic illness. •Is associated with having a body mass index (BMI) of 18.5 to 24.9.

Natural Agricultural Products

•Do not have a definition under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). •Usually do not contain artificial preservatives. •Can be grown using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

The 20's

•Enacted Prohibition. •Speakeasies became places to drink and listen to jazz.

The 40's

•Encouraged people to plant "Victory Gardens". •More people began eating vegetables they had grown in their backyards.

Benefits of Family Mealtimes

•Foster family traditions •Teach healthy food choices and regular portion sizes.

20th Century- 1910-1919

•Found immigration at an all time high which brought in many new food variations. •Was the beginning of the processed foods industry. -Revolutionized self-service market -Instead of handling a list of goods to a clerk, people could shop for their own items. -A&P offered buyers up to 1,000 items to choose from.

Southern Food

•Fried Chicken •"Soul Food"

Coastal Region Food

•Includes greater amounts of seafood. •Tends to be very diverse due to the diversity of the population.

The 40's

•Increased food rationing due to World War II •Government limited people to 28 oz. of meat a week. •Limited amounts of sugar, butter, milk, cheese, eggs, and coffee.

The 21st Century

•Introduced MyPlate: The New Food Guide. - Replaced MyPyramid and other food guides of the past and emphasized physical activity. - Shaped like a plate to help consumers visualize healthy portions of food groups on a plate in relation to each other.

Social Environment

•Is a combination of cultural identity and the people and institutions a person interacts with. •May alter an indictable typical behavior patterns due to peer pressure. •May require people to accept food or drink offered in some situations.

The United States Food Supply

•Is created by farmers and ranchers as well any imported foods. •Feeds its citizens as well as people all over the world.

Hypertension

•Is the medically correct term for chronic high blood pressure. •Can be controlled by a healthy diet, keeping sodium levels low and abstaining from smoking and alcohol consumption.

Ethnicity

•Is the state of belonging to a social group with a common national or cultural tradition. •Is the one of the strongest influences on food choices.

The 90's

•Led to people trying to shed pounds due to excessive eating of the 80's. •Saw an increase in low-fat, low calorie, and low-sodium foods from food manufacturers. •Increased popularity of the movement for simplicity and using natural ingredients.

The 80's

•Made Nouvelle Cuisine, a form of French cuisine using reduced sauces and fresh ingredients, popular. •People paid high prices for small amounts of food on large plates. •Considered a status symbol.

The 60's

•Made dining luxuries "en vogue" again. •Large section of middle class now afford food luxuries once only available to the upper class. Example: French Food.

The Great Depression

•Made dishes such as meat loaf, chili, and many kinds of casseroles popular. •Introduced Ritz Crackers and Spam.

The 80's

•Made many types of cuisine popular. - Ethiopian Cuisine - Spanish tapas - Tex-Mex

Coastal Region Food

•Maine: Lobster •Gulf Coast: Shrimp

Jewish Dietary Laws

•Meat cannot be eaten with dairy. •All foods labeled kosher must be prepared under the supervision of a rabbi.

Benefits of Family Mealtimes

•Practice life skills: table etiquette and interpersonal skills. •Practice fine motor and coordination skills: pouring, scooping, serving.

Regular Exercise

•Promoted a healthy cardiovascular system. •Helps regulate hormone levels.

Annual Physical Exams

•Provide a track record of a person's health. •Enable a physician to diagnose a chronic illness in the early stages Some illnesses can be managed through diet.

Geographic Region

•Refers to the continent, county or area of the world in which a person resides. •Impacts ingredients available for food preparation, as well as common foods and food combinations.

The 20's

•When hungry, owners offered finger foods; finger foods became popular and people carried the idea home, thus the Birth of the cocktail party •Considered salad effeminate and French, making them unpopular.