Unit 3: Food Sociology

Question 1

What are the 4 factors affecting food selection?

Answer 1

Physiological, Psychological, Economic and Social

Question 2

Define Physiological factors.

Answer 2

Based on the body’s need and desire for food as well as the physical responses to it.

Question 3

What are the physiological factors?

Answer 3

Hunger, appetite and satiety.
Sensory reactions to food
Food sensitivities
Nutritional requirements

Question 4

What is hunger?

Answer 4

Hunger is the drive to satisfy the need for food

Question 5

What is appetite?

Answer 5

Appetite is the want for food even when you’re not hungry - can be triggered by appearance and aroma.

Question 6

What is satiety?

Answer 6

Satiety is the feeling of fullness when the body has received adequate amounts of food.

Question 7

What are the sensory reactions to food?

Answer 7

Shape, turgor, flavour, aroma.

Question 8

How does shape affect food selection?

Answer 8

It influences appeal, and people usually go for certain shapes.

Question 9

How does turgor affect food selection?

Answer 9

Refers to the pressure placed on the cell wall or membrane by fluids within the cells.
Gives food a full, fresh appearance, and crisp texture.

Question 10

How does flavour affect food selection?

Answer 10

Refers to the taste and smell.
Tastebuds decrease with age, therefore, young children prefer less flavour due to high sensitivities whereas older people add spice, salt and sugar.
Main tastes are sweet, bitter, savoury, salty and sour

Question 11

How does aroma affect food selection?

Answer 11

Refers to the smell
Indicates freshness and stimulates appetite and influences taste.
Smell through both the front and back of the nasal cavity.

Question 12

What are the 2 types of Food sensitivities?

Answer 12

Allergies and Intolerances.

Question 13

What is an allergy?

Answer 13

Abnormal immune response to food (particularly the proteins within)
Reactions can occur soon after eating and can be mild to severe.

Question 14

What are the symptoms of an allergy and how to adjust diet?

Answer 14

Symptoms include hives, diarrhoea, vomiting, swelling of the face and anaphylaxis through either traces or contact.
Adjust diet by avoiding food that causes reaction eg, nuts, shellfish, dairy

Question 15

What is an intolerance?

Answer 15

Chemical reaction to foods rather than an immune response as an individual may not have enzymes to digest certain nutrients.
Reaction can occur many hours after eating

Question 16

What are the symptoms of intolerance and how to adjust diet?

Answer 16

Symptoms include bloating, nausea, diarrhoea, joint pain and headaches.
Adjust diet by limiting or removing foods eg. lactose or gluten.

Question 17

Define psychological factors.

Answer 17

Based on the mind, emotions and patterns of thinking and behaviour.

Question 18

What are the 6 psychological factors?

Answer 18

Values
Beliefs
Attitudes and experiences
Habits
Emotions
Self concept

Question 19

What are values?

Answer 19

They are the deep personal feelings about what is importance which can be related to food origins and maintenance of health.
Can be ETHICAL considerations eg. Veganism or HEALTH considerations eg. Organic, fresh produce.

Question 20

What are beliefs?

Answer 20

An opinion or conviction not based on positive scientific truth - Cultural or religious.
Beliefs can be challenged or changed where as values can’t.
Eg. Hindus believe cows are sacred so cannot be eaten.

Question 21

What are attitudes and experiences?

Answer 21

The way in which a person views something and behaves towards it, usually after evaluating it’s merit.
Can be based on origin of food, culture, personal history, travel experience, perceived status, economic depression and war.

Question 22

What are habits?

Answer 22

Something done regularly without thinking eg. Not packing lunch (bad), snacking on vegetables (good).

Question 23

What are emotions?

Answer 23

To do with the state of mind and how we feel.

Emotional release food = high energy, high sugar, high fat and caffeine.

Question 24

What is self concept?

Answer 24

Is also known as self-esteem, it refers to how someone feels about themselves and the way they see their personal appearance.
Media and messages from family and friends affects this.

Question 25

Define social influences.

Answer 25

Related to the cultures and societies which people live, along with the types of contact that individuals have with one another.

Question 26

What are the 4 social factors?

Answer 26

Culture & Tradition
Lifestyles & Work Patterns
Food Regulation, Marketing & Advertising
Social & community interaction

Question 27

What is Culture and Tradition?

Answer 27

Traditions are customs that are repeated at specific times by members of a group or society, often relating to special occasions eg. Easter - chocolate eggs and hot cross buns, Ramadan- Fasting, Christmas - roast meals.

Question 28

What does Lifestyle and work pattern include?

Answer 28

Employment, education, household structure & roles, climate and geographical location, travel and other interests.

Question 29

How does employment affect food selection?

Answer 29

Energy requirements vary depending on occupation
Full or part time affects both time and money
Work pressure may reduce time available throughout the day
Location may mean food is packed from home or purchased

Question 30

How does education affect food selection?

Answer 30

Knowledge and skills relating to nutrients and nutritional requirements
If not knowledgable, inadequate skills can result in bad food choices.
Food safety and meal planning - organising and planning enough meals and ingredients for a set time.

Question 31

How does Household structure and roles affect food selection?

Answer 31

The makeup of a family unit determines the variety, quality and quantity of food consumed in a meal
If times is limited, chances of takeout increases
Parents may need to cater for dislikes or food sensitivities, also extracurricular activities or late shifts.

Question 32

How does Climate and Geographical Location affect food selection?

Answer 32

Affects food grown/available and the food people like eating
Locally grown fresher, cheaper and has a higher nutritional value
Rural and remote have less access than urban areas.

Question 33

How does travel and other interest influence food selection?

Answer 33

Eat more takeout, changing from normal
New recipes or ingredients
Interest in food ethics and production (free range, organic)
Less wasteful use of food after seeing families who have little.

Question 34

What is Food Regulation, Marketing and Advertising?

Answer 34

Advertising is a process of communication that persuades consumers to desire a particular product then buy it.
Marketing involves a series of planned activities and techniques which aims to develop products that consumers need or want

Question 35

How can marketing and advertising be done?

Answer 35

Through celebrity endorsement, sponsorship, packaging and appearance, opportunistic location of food, free toys or gifts, social media
Exposes individuals to multiple messages about food and drinks.

Question 36

What is social and community interactions?

Answer 36

Food forms a strong symbol of friendship and hospitality and is often a huge part of social interaction.

Question 37

How does social and community interactions affect food selection?

Answer 37

Friends eating particular things can cause self-
consciousness
Fad dieting could be encouraged by peers - the influence of peers is stronger throughout adolescence through the need of acceptance

Question 38

Define Economic influences.

Answer 38

Relates to the cost of food along with the availability of food along with the availability of food and food resources.

Question 39

What are the 4 economic influences?

Answer 39

Food affordability
Food availability
Resources
Employment status and income

Question 40

What is food affordability?

Answer 40

Relates to the actual cost of food and money people have to spend on it.
Low income, single parent, students and elderly are the ones most affected by this.

Question 41

How does food affordability affect food selection?

Answer 41

Cost varies according to;
Quantity (bulk buying can reduce cost long term), Seasonal/local produce (less transport = cheaper), ripeness/use by date (reduces cost if closer to the use by date), place of purchase and specials or generic brand.

Question 42

What is food availability?

Answer 42

Refers to where people can get their food eg. Corner store, small local supermarket or large chain supermarket

Question 43

What are resources?

Answer 43

Something used to achieve goals eg. Time, money, skill level, storage and prep, transport, government agencies and charities.

Question 44

How does Employment status and income affect food selection?

Answer 44

It affects quality and quantity based on the type of job.
When other finances build up, food budget is usually cut as it is the most flexible, leading to less nutritious or the skipping of meals.