Chap 2: Overview of Determinants of Food Choice & Dietary Change: Implications for NutED

Question 1

Discuss the determinants of food choice and dietary behavior related to:
BIOLOGICAL & FOOD-RELATED DETERMINANTS

Answer 1

FOOD DECISIONS ARE COMPLEX & ARE INFLUENCED BY:
1. Food related influences: biology & food-related experience

-taste/pleasure
-sweet, sour, salt, bitter, umami
hunger/satiety mechanisms
sensory-specifc satiety

EXPERIENCE W/ FOOD
--sensory-affectove factors--
(asso. conditioning) 
PHYSIO CONDITIONING:
familiarity: learned safety
conditioned food preferences
conditioned satiety
SOCIAL CONDITIONING:
social-affective context
parenting practices

THESE INFLUENCES ARE USUALLY CALLED DETERMINANTS (OR MEDIATORS)
UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE, THEIR BAHVIOR, & THE CONTEXT OF THEIR BEHAVIOR IS VITAL TO EFFECTIVE NUT ED

Question 2

Discuss the determinants of food choice and dietary behavior related to:
PERSON-RELATED DETEREMINANTS

Answer 2

2. Person-related influences
   –beliefs, norms, attitudes, skills–
   (intra- and inter-personal)

INTRAPERSON FACTORS
perceptions
attitudes
beliefs
motivations & values
personal meanings
knowledge & skills
social norms
cultural norms

INTERPERSON FACTRS
family & social networks

Question 3

Discuss the determinants of food choice and dietary behavior related to:
SOCIAL & ENV’TAL DETERMINANTS

Answer 3

3. Environmental influences
   –social/env’tal influences—
   (physical & social)

PHYSICAL/BUILT ENV’T
food availability
build env’t

SOCIAL/CULTURAL ENV'T
social relations
cultural practives
social structures
public policy

ECONOMIC ENV’T
resources
price
time

INFORMATIONAL ENV’T
advertising
media

Question 4

Why is it important to address multiple levels of influence?

Answer 4

Food decisions are complex and are influenced by many of the levels

Understanding people, their behavior, and the context of their behavior is vital to effective nutrition education.