When it comes to food and food choices, it is vital to comprehend that we are what we eat; for instance, consuming much fast food will result in our overall health being junk. Therefore, to attain good health, it is crucial to consume healthy food by eating right, which involves getting access to the needed quantity at the right time. Food is acknowledged as a fundamental need, if not a basic right. Nonetheless, according to Kaplan (2019), generalizing it can be challenging due to the wide range of practices, cuisines, and tastes. Eating healthy without a food philosophy can be difficult. I believe that what we eat defines who we are. When a person eats more healthy food, they are likely to have a healthy life. If they eat unhealthy food like junk food, they have a higher likelihood of experiencing health problems such as lifestyle conditions. On taking the essay writer course, my food view has changed, in that I now watch what I eat, owing to the effects it has on my health and the community as a whole. Additionally, my view has changed by noting that without guiding principles or food philosophy, I have been a victim of following another person’s diet, especially with the various trends in food.
When it comes to my relationship with food, biological determinants, which involve taste, appetite, and hunger, are essential. My attitude towards food, its cost, and availability plays an essential role in whether or not I will be eating that particular food. I value the taste of food a lot, and its nutritional value matters. Although not always, I make exceptions while at parties, as a guest in other people’s homes, while dining out, or when I would like to eat a particular meal or snack. According to Eufic (2006), hunger is a biological determinant; physiological needs offer the fundamental determinant of food choice. The survival of humans requires nutrients and energy, as they respond to hunger and the need to satisfy their appetite. The central nervous system controls the balance amid hunger, stimulation of appetite, and food intake. Proteins, fats, and carbohydrates are macro-nutrients that yield satiety signals for varied strength.
The cost of food is undoubtedly among the main determinants of food choice that I would opt for. An individual’s income and socioeconomic status depend on whether the cost would be prohibitive to a person. For instance, individuals with low income tend to consume unbalanced diets with low intakes of fruit and vegetables. Nonetheless, the access to more money does not mechanically correspond to better and healthy dieting or the range of food a person can choose from. Eufic (2006) states that consumers’ attitudes regarding food safety and nutrition are poorly researched. Having a better comprehension of how individuals perceive diets would aid in designing and implementing a healthy eating initiative. Comprehending a consumer’s attitude is vital, as it determines whether a person would eat the food or not. For instance, my attitude toward particular food inhibits their consumption.
Advertising food creates the desire to consume a particular food, which is less nutritious in most cases. For instance, snack foods are not advertised due to their nutritional value but their taste and fun. They are usually an alternative to the healthier foods we would consume; foods advertised on television while children’s shows are on are usually low in nutritional value. The advertised foods are ideal for a busy lifestyle, where grocery stores are full of frozen meals, microwavable meals, prepackaged lunches, and instant soups. Personally, advertised food is usually attractive and brings a desire to try out the dish (My Health Albert, 2020). Through the advertisement, I can become aware of available food choices, bringing a desire to eat them.
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Another aspect to consider regarding food philosophy is my relationship with food, the community, and beyond. This will involve opting for food choices and looking at the impact of food choices, going for climate-friendly food, as food high on the food chain gets to one plate after extensive processing, which requires more energy and releases more global warming owing to air pollution. For instance, the carbon footprint in Hamburger involves fossil fuels that go into the production of fertilizer and pumping of irrigation water on the corn being grown, which is fed to the cattle. It also encompasses emissions caused by the conversion of forest land into grazing land. Ruminant animals such as cows, sheep, and goats produce meat with a large carbon footprint due to methane production, the animals’ digestion, and manure. The NRDC would estimate a reduction in global warming gas emissions, equivalent to four to six million cars off the road if all Americans reduced a one-quarter pound of beef intake in a week (NRDC, 2010). Therefore, as a result, I ensure that I take climate-friendly foods such as fruits and vegetables. Instead of doing a beef serving daily, I opt to serve other meat such as white meat.
References
Eufic (2006, June 6). Food Choices. https://www.eufic.org/en/healthy-living/article/the-determinants-of-food-choice
Kaplan, D. M. (2019). Food Philosophy. In Food Philosophy. Columbia University Press.
My Health Alberta (2020 December 17). Healthy eating in children: things that influence food choices. https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=tn9312
NRDC (2010 February). Eat Green: Our everyday food choices affect global warming and the environment. https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/eatgreenfs_feb2010.pdf
