10 Food choices that we need to be more aware.

Welcome to the beautiful world of Nutrition and Diet.

You've eaten and enjoyed your meal yesterday, today and for the next few days ahead. Every meal provides you with pleasure. The time when you eat at your house, cooked by you or someone you love, with your favourite foods. It gives the satisfaction of taste and the feeling of satiety with the presence and good conversation of your favourite people. It is the best experience that we crave most of the time, especially when we celebrate an occasion.

Every individual food that we grab in the grocery store or public market has a specific nutrient that can support having a healthy body to be more productive or harm our body in the future, which can promote diet and lifestyle disease later in our life.

Let's begin with an understanding of our food choices. When we are mindful in our food choices, we can gain control of our behavior and develop solutions or strategies to enjoy food while not jeopardizing our health. 

10 FOOD CHOICES THAT WE NEED TO BE MORE AWARE OF.

1. PERSONAL PREFERENCE

The number 1 reason people choose foods is taste, they like certain flavour. Two widely shared preferences are for the sweetness of sugar and the savoriness of salt. Liking high-fat foods also appear to be universal common preferences.*

-  (Understanding Normal and Clinical Nutrition by Rolfes, Pinna, Whitney 9th edition)

Let's face it you won't t eat when you don't like the taste of the food or you won't include it in your meal. Knowing your personal preferences give you the detailed answer of foods that will consume most of the time. This can be beneficial if it composes of healthy foods or if it composes of fast foods and processes which can be detrimental to your future health.

2. HABIT

 Habit is a routine of behaviour that is repeated regularly and tends to occur subconsciously * (Wikipedia) 

In terms of eating habits, it has a lot of factors to be considered to identify the trigger of behaviour. It can be unlearned and also can learn new healthy food practice to make it a habit. It can be challenging at first because

*Eating familiar food and not having to make any decision can be comforting* (Understanding Normal and Clinical Nutrition by Rolfes, Pinna, Whitney 9th edition). But taking the first small step on your phase is worth like a million in the future for your investment in health. 

3. ETHNIC HERITAGE OR TRADITION

 *People eat the foods they grew up eating.* (Understanding Normal and Clinical Nutrition by Rolfes, Pinna, Whitney 9th edition). 

 

4. SOCIAL INTERACTION

*Meals are often social events, and sharing foods is part of hospitality- regardless of the hunger signal. Social customs invite people to accept food and drink offered by the host or shared by the group.* (Understanding Normal and Clinical Nutrition by Rolfes, Pinna, Whitney 9th edition). 

5.AVAILABILITY, CONVENIENCE, AND ECONOMY

 

*Consumers who value convenience frequently eat out, bring home ready to eat meals or have food delivered. Some Consumer visit a meal preparation business where they can assemble several meals to feed their families from ingredients that have been purchased and portioned according to planned menus.

Rising food cost have shifted some consumer's priorities and change shopping habit. They are less likely to buy higher price convinced foods and likely to buy a less expensive store-brand item and prepare home-cooked meals.* (Understanding Normal and Clinical Nutrition by Rolfes, Pinna, Whitney 9th edition). 

6. POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE ASSOCIATION

*People tend to like particular foods associated with the happy association, such as cake and ice cream at birthday parties. And by using foods as reward or punishments, parents may inadvertently teach their children to like and dislike certain foods.* (Understanding Normal and Clinical Nutrition by Rolfes, Pinna, Whitney 9th edition). 

7. EMOTION

*People may find emotional comfort, in part because foods influence the brain chemistry and mind's response. Carbohydrate and alcohol tend to calm whereas protein and caffeine are more likely to activate. Eating in response to emotions can easily lead to overeating and obesity, but it may appropriate at times.* (Understanding Normal and Clinical Nutrition by Rolfes, Pinna, Whitney 9th edition). 

8. VALUES

*Food Choices may reflect people's religious beliefs, political views, or environmental concern. *(Understanding Normal and Clinical Nutrition by Rolfes, Pinna, Whitney 9th edition). 

9. BODY WEIGHT AND IMAGE

*People select certain foods and supplements that they believe will improve their physical appearance and avoid those they believe might be detrimental. Such decision can be beneficial when they base on fads or carrier to extreme undermine good health.*

(Understanding Normal and Clinical Nutrition by Rolfes, Pinna, Whitney 9th edition). 

10. NUTRITION AND HEALTH BENEFITS

 *Consumer makes food choices that will benefit health. Food manufacturers and restaurants chefs have responded to scientific findings linking health with nutrition by offering an abundant selection of health-promoting foods and beverages.* (Understanding Normal and Clinical Nutrition by Rolfes, Pinna, Whitney 9th edition). 

 

All these food choices are part of our life and we want to enjoy every meal and to provide nourishment to our body. 

'' The challenge then is to combine favourite foods and fun time with nutritionally balanced foods. 

(Understanding Normal and Clinical Nutrition by Rolfes, Pinna, Whitney 9th edition). 

Every step that we take to improve our intake, to include more healthy food in our meal that matters. Let's keep improving slowly toward better health and for the future.