Influences on Nutrient Intake and Food Choices

Influences on Nutrient Intake and Food Choices

When we make decisions about what to eat, there are a variety of factors that can influence this choice. These factors might include food accessibility, dietary restrictions, culture, food safety, or current “diet” trends to name a few.

In the Unit 9 assignment, you will be given the opportunity to examine the reasons why you choose the foods you eat.

The following resources may assist you with completing this assignment:

• Leng, G., Adan, R., Belot, M., Brunstrom, J., De Graaf, K., Dickson, S., Smeets, P. (2017). . Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 76(3), 316-327. 
• Roberto, C., & Findling, M. (2015, September 25). . The Conversation. 
• The European Food Information Council. (2006, June 6). . 
• Zelman, K. (n.d.). . WebMD. 

Assignment Instructions:

1. Review your Unit 3 Food Intake Record and reflect on the foods you choose to eat.
2. Write an essay that discusses the many factors that influence your food choices.
3. Your essay must include one factor from each of the following categories (do not use the examples given):
   1. Environmental (i.e., organic food does not contain pesticides),
   2. Psychological (i.e., trying to lose weight to feel “good about myself”), and
   3. Social factors (i.e., low carbohydrate diets are the “trend”).
4. Explain how each of the factors influences your food choices now.
5. Explain how each of the factors may influence your food choices in the future.
6. Your cultural background might influence what you eat or how food is prepared. Identify three specific examples of how culture impacts food choices or food preparation.