Factors and Influences that Influence Food Choices

Question 1

societal and economic influences on food choices

Answer 1

societal
- lifestyle
- cultural traditions
- peer groups
- media
- advertising
- marketing

economic
- competition in the marketplace
- product availability
- consumer resources

Question 2

lifestyle

Answer 2

• Social activites
  ○ Often you are limited to what is on offer at the location
  § Parties
  § Concerts
  § Movies
• Use of leisure time
  ○ Spare time may be taken up by hobbies that require an increase in kilojule requirements and others do not
  § AFL
  § Gaming
• Work commitments
  ○ Various factors may change an individuals time commitment to their job
  § Fifo
  § Part-time
  § Full time
• Family meal patterns
  ○ Some families insist on sitting at the table together while others eat on different schedules
• Sleep patterns
  ○ Sleep habits can be affected by work, sport or social commitments which can impact food choices
  § Waking up early
  § Staying out late

Question 3

cultural traditions

Answer 3

• Culture is closely associated with religion which can play a significant role in influencing what or when we eat
  ○ Bhuddism
  § Mostly vegitarian
  ○ Hinduism
  § Bans eating beef as cows are sacred
  ○ Islam
  § Ramadan

Question 4

peer groups

Answer 4

• The greatest influence on food consumption a person has when growing up is from their family and friends. Until early adolecence familes dictate this but then peer groups tend to become the greatest influence in what people eat after that
  ○ Work
  ○ School
  ○ Uni

Question 5

media

Answer 5

• There can be positive influence and negative influences of media
  ○ Positive
  § Live lighter
  § 5 and 2 campaign
  ○ Negative
  § Pushing for ideal body image

Question 6

advertising

Answer 6

• Can be described as a communication process that informs or educates consumers about a product on the market. The aim is for the company to influence a person to buy their product and this can be done in many different ways
  ○ Posters
  ○ Tv
  ○ Radio

Question 7

marketing

Answer 7

• Marketing strategies use various methods to attract a consumer and influence them
  ○ Gimmicks
  § Novelty included with a product
  □ Happy meal
  ○ Offers
  § Special offers
  □ Buy 1 get 1 free
  ○ Packaging
  § Quality graphic used to attract attention
  □ Made in Australia
  ○ Media and print
  § Things put on a product itself
  □ Recipes on packaged food

Question 8

competition in the marketplace

Answer 8

• Competition occurs when the consumer has mopre than once choice for the purchasing of one product or service.
  ○ Coles and woolies

Question 9

product availability

Answer 9

• Avaliability of food can be affected by:
  ○ Seasons of the year
  § Apples are worse in winter
  ○ Gathering/catching times
  § Seafood
  ○ Natural disasters
  § Flooding impacts crops
  ○ Rainfall
  § Not much rain means less crops
  ○ Trade agreements/politics
  § Import and export allowances

Question 10

consumer resources

Answer 10

• Apsects that assist the consumer to make the best choice possible
  ○ Food shopping
  § Catalogues
  ○ Appliance buying
  § Magazines/websites
  ○ Dining out
  § Reviews
  ○ Nutrition advice
  § Nutritionists provide info

Question 11

factors that influence food choices

Answer 11

location
income
supply and demand
environmental issues
advertising and marketing
ethical issues

Question 12

location

Answer 12

• Of the raw product
  ○ Can make it more or less appealing
  § Garlic from china
• Product placement
  ○ End of an aisle is better than middle
• Food outlet location
  ○ Where the food is sold
  § Maccas does better on a busy road

Question 13

income

Answer 13

• how much money a household gets influences what they will buy
  ○ If they have lots of money they’ll buy more expensive things
  ○ If they don’t have much money they’ll buy cheap things

Question 14

supply and demand

Answer 14

• There is an ongoing relationship between the consumer and producer that flows both ways
• Consumers can “make or break” an enterprise based on their food selection

Question 15

environmental issues

Answer 15

• Chemical use
  ○ Many people are concerned in the impact on the environment chemicals have
  § Organic is becoming more popular
• Food miles
  ○ How far the food has travelled from ‘paddock to plate’
  § This affects consumption of fuel and emissions
• Animal welfare
  ○ Many consumers are sympathetic towards animals and don’t like the thought of them being harmed
  § Free range chicken eggs
• Fair trade
  ○ Allows for workers to improve their lives and plan for their future and is an ethical way to reduce poverty
  § Cadburys chocolate
• Country of origin
  ○ Buying local is the best for local economy
  § Australian grown bananas are better than those that are imported

Question 16

advertising and marketing

Answer 16

marketing and advertising you know?
(no info on that in the booklet)

Question 17

ethical issues

Answer 17

poverty and that you know?
(no info on that in the booklet)