Does everyone you know eat and enjoy the same foods? Not likely. You may have favorite foods in common with others, but your overall eating style is unique. Whatever your food choices are, keep in mind that any food can be included in an eating plan that promotes wellness. 

            There are many influences on your food choices. When you know what those influences are, it’s easier to make healthful decisions. 

            People around you – Your family probably has influenced your food preferences and eating habits more than anyone else. You’ve grown up eating the foods your family likes and learning family food traditions. Your friends influence your food choices, too. Are you a good influence on their choices? 

            Culture connection – Take a mental trip around the world. Think about the different forms of music or art you hear and see. Like music and art, food is an expression of culture. Culture includes the shared beliefs, values, and behavior of a group of people. The group might be in your part of the world. Different cultural groups have different food traditions. What are the cultural connections of foods you enjoy? Why can any food be considered a cultural food?

             Available food supply – Think of the foods you can buy or grow where you live. What’s available in grocery stores, local markets, restaurants, and perhaps your own garden? 

            Schedules, energy, budget – The foods you buy and how you prepare them are affected by your resources. Resources are things such as time, money, and personal energy that help you reach a goal or complete a task. If you’re short of money, ground beef might be a better choice than steak. To prepare a quick family meal, you might use foods that are partly or fully prepared. 

            Food advertising – how many food advertisements do you read or hear each year? Probably thousands! Ads make you aware of new foods and may provide useful information about nutrition. These same promotions may lead you to buy foods whether or not you really need them. 

            Knowing about food, nutrition, and wellness – What you know affects the foods you buy, prepare, and eat. The more you know, the more able you are to make food and lifestyle choices that promote wellness. 

            All about you – Your age, attitudes, emotions, health, and goals all affect what you choose to eat.

Tags: cultural food, eat, food, food choices