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Influences on Food Choices

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What we eat, when we eat, and how much we eat are all decisions influenced by the environment around us.

What kinds of things influence us every day?

  • Advertising: promotions are often aimed at children and young people – and often promote unhealthy foods.
  • Price: healthy foods sometimes cost more than less healthy options (for example, milk vs fizzy drinks).
  • Packaging size: single package sizes may seem to be an appropriate amount for a single serving – but there can be more than one recommended serving contained in the package (for example, Large Fries vs Small Fries).
  • Food Source: when we buy prepared food, it is often higher in fat, salt and/or sugar, but lower in dietary fibre and other nutrients.
  • Distractions: doing other things while eating (for example, watching TV, playing computer games) can lead to eating a larger quantity of food without noticing it.
  • Peer Pressure: eating what your friends are eating may not always be the best choice.
  • Time: busier lifestyles can leave less time for preparing fresh meals at home.

What can I do?

  • Helping to plan and prepare meals can help me learn about nutrition and be aware of what I eat.
  • Understanding the nutrition panels on food packets will help me be aware of what is in the food that I buy and help me make healthier food choices.

6 Responses

  1. This is a very interesting article and it makes me think twice about what i eat.

  2. I’m defiantly gonna eat healthier wow thanks for bringing this to my concern now I can be healthier

  3. Thanks for the great article about what we eat. It has definitely made me aware of what I eat on a day to day basis.

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