It may seem like a strange question to ask, but “why do you eat what you eat?” If we did a survey the most common response would probably be “because I’m hungry.” While hunger is undoubtedly the biggest influence on when people eat, it should not greatly influence what people eat.
For most people living in developed countries there are more food choices than our ancestors would have ever thought possible. Take a walk around any supermarket and you’ll find numerous options of meat, fish, fruit, vegetables and cereals.
Compare this situation to that of pre-historic man. Historians tell us that Stone Age man was a hunter and gatherer and that their main source of food was berries and edible plants, combined with occasional meat that they hunted. Their choices were limited, to say the least. It was a case of ‘eat what you find’ rather than ‘eat what you want’. The history of mankind goes back thousands of years, yet it was really only during the 20th century, with the Industrial Revolution, that the availability of food became abundant.
Having a wide selection of food to choose from is a good thing, but when people take the unhealthy option too often it can be detrimental to their health. Many people don’t pay enough attention to whether the food they eat is good for them; their choice simply comes down to a combination of convenience and taste. Yet food is the fuel that drives our bodies and feeds our cells. The human body needs food to provide energy and nutrients to maintain optimum health. Numerous studies have shown a link between the food people eat and their health, with poor diet directly related to conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer, while nutritional improvements are directly associated with improved health.
Here are a few of the most common factors that influence food choices:
• Finance. Food accounts for a significant part of a family’s monthly budget, so it’s important to choose foods within your budget. People with low incomes have a more limited choice of food than those with higher earnings.
• Emotion. People’s mood often determines what, and how much, they eat. This can work in various ways as people react differently due to their emotional state. When depressed, some people tend to seek solace in food and gorge on what’s commonly referred to as comfort food; products high in sugar and fat. Conversely, when depressed, some people may lose their appetite altogether and eat very little.
• Impact on health. Food has a major influence on health, in both a positive and negative way. Eating a diet that is low in saturated fat, salt and sugar, with lots of fruits and vegetables, is very important, but often overlooked.
• Taste. Logically, people eat food that they like the taste of and avoid food they dislike.
• Convenience. Today, fewer people cook at home than a generation ago, choosing instead to opt more frequently for ready meals and takeaway foods. While processed meals can be prepared very quickly, they tend to have higher amounts of salt, sugar and fat than home cooked meals.
When choosing what to eat, all the factors above must be considered in order to ensure that the most balanced decision is made. So next time you go shopping, or plan a meal, take a minute to think about what it is that you require from your food. Yes, you want it to taste good, but how about it being nwutritionally beneficial as well?
Contributed by Hamad Medical Corporation
