Factors that influence food choices GapFill

There are many factors which influence an individual’s food  colourrestrictionschoiceexperience.

These may be health related, connected to a belief system, or based on animal welfare issues, income and/or lifestyle. Below, we will explore the factors for food choice:

•  HealthHappinessDesireWeight can be a governing factor in food choice, either through a need to eat or avoid eating certain foods because of a specific condition, to maintain weight or through a desire for a healthy and balanced lifestyle.
• Choices may be affected by special  incomepeer pressuredaysoccasions such as birthdays, religious festivals or parties. Foods consumed during these events may differ from day-to-day eating habits, e.g. food may consist of more sweet/sugary foods, snacks, alcohol or fizzy drinks or may be dependent on the celebration.
• A person’s  incomepreferenceexpenditurehealth can influence their food choice and determine how healthily they eat. A low income consumer may eat fewer foods that are deemed more costly, e.g. organic and free range produce, due to a lack of disposable income. They may also choose their foods based on the cost of food, e.g. marketing offers, sales or bulk purchases and even where they shop. For instance, some supermarkets are regarded as being cheaper than others.
•  sellersrecipesexperiencesPreferences affect food choice – some consumers like spicy foods, some may have a sweet tooth and like sugary foods, some consumers may have a fondness for savoury foods. Enjoyment of food is a big factor in food choice for some people. People who love to talk about food, watch food programmes and eat a variety of food products are referred to as 'foodies'. People who are very selective about what they eat and who like to eat good food are called 'gourmets'.
• Food  aversionseasonalityrecipesavailability can be influenced by transport, weather, political issues (such as sanctions imposed on a country’s ability to export), drought, fire or floods. This can affect the food choices of consumers.  Seasonalityamountnightweather may also be a governing factor if food is available only at certain times of the year, although this is less of an issue in the UK where we import from other countries. People may also pursue seasonality in their diet, as in-season produce is at its most delicious and can reduce food miles.
•  efforttimeeducationLifestyles can be a big factor in food choice. Some people with very busy lives may not be able to eat meals at set times of the day, or have time to prepare or cook food,  and so may be more inclined to eat on the go, e.g. meal deals, takeaways, fast food or ready to eat food. Furthermore, food choice may also reflect the lifestyle of a household, e.g. fussy children, a parent who works nights or those who work longer days. Lifestyle may also include the type of life a person wants to lead; for instance, an active person who plays a lot of sport may be more inclined to eat  heartyfattyhealthylow calorie foods in order to impact their sport or body size/shape.