Factors Influencing Eating Patterns - Assignment Example

FACTORS INFLUENCING EATING PATTERNS Student Name: Class Name Instructor’s Name: School Name Date: A. Introduction (100 words) Eating habits and patterns are influenced by a number of factors. This assignment provides an opportunity to investigate and discover the underlying issues that control eating habits and patterns. The types of foods a person consumes is influenced by social and environmental influences, individuals education level, access to literature, Influence from the media, time constraints, routine and convenience, income and most importantly age. As a part time student and part time employee, my eating habits is are primarily controlled by time routine and convenience. However it is important to me to live a moderately healthy life style and therefore this assignment can act as a guide to correct my assumptions on eating habits and food types (Valsamis 2009, p. 16). Questions 1 & 2 in the Food and diet questionnaire ask about shopping for food and cooking meals. How would your diet change if your answer to these questions changed? Please explain. (150 words) I shop for and cook meals twice or thrice a week. I especially prefer to cook meats like beef and liver. If I were not in a position to shop or cook I would result to consuming more prepacked foods like noodles. I would also decrease my meat consumption given that I prefer to cook meals like liver and beef by myself and the amount of fruit I eat would also reduce. My consumption of take away foods especially pizza would increase. I would also increase my milk and egg intake to increase my daily protein consumption. Given my lack of control in shopping for meals I would purchase more supplements especially iron, and multivitamins to add on to my nutritional needs and boost my immunity. In addition, my intake of fat may increase especially if the purchaser is not keen on fat free or low fat products like dairy products (Valsamis 2009, p. 15). 2. If the amount of money you spent on food each week doubled, how would this affect the foods you eat? Please explain. (100 words, 6 marks) An increase in food money would result in me eating out at restaurants more frequently and reduce the amount of take away foods I consume. I would also be in a position to afford healthier food options like fat free milks, and other low fat dairy products. “fat reduced products such as milk and yoghurt; tend to be more expensive than their full-cream counterparts” (Valsamis 2009, p. 17). As a consequence my rate of consumption of such products would increase. An increase in food money would give me a chance to experiment with different types of foods for example rare seafood’s which are usually expensive and can be found only at expensive restaurants. 3. Question 7 asks you to rate the importance of many foods and eating related behaviours. Pick two of the behaviours and explain why you answered the way you did. Select behaviours you rate as either ‘very important’ or ‘not important’. You should use references to show whether your belief was correct or not. (150 words) It is very important for me not to add sugar to my coffee. Simple sugars are a major cause of obesity and though they provide the body with energy they can be substituted with other carbohydrates consumed like breads, cakes and muffins. Also consuming a lot of sugar may result in diabetes. “the diabetes research and education organization identifies main risk factors of type II diabetes as being aged over 40 and being overweight” (Australian Bureau of statistics, 1998) Eating five servings of vegetables a day is not important to my dietary requirements. my opinion is that the nutritional value of vegetables is fibre which majorly aids in digestion. I believe that the amount of fibre required is substituted by my intake of breakfast cereal and other cereal products. However it is important to note that vegetables provide the body with nutrients and protect for aging (Commonwealth Department for Health, 2005). 4. Explain reasons why people may choose a vegetarian diet. (150 words, 9 marks) Most vegetarians do not eat meat for moral or religious reasons. For example it is against the religious code for those practicing Buddhism to eat animal meat or animal products because animal life is held sacred. Those who practice Hinduism also do not consume animal meat but believe the consumption of animal products like dairy to increase spirituality. (Valsamis 2009, p 16). Other vegetarians give a moral stand against eating meat. They see the practice as a barbaric act that mistreats animals. Other vegetarians practice this eating lifestyle so as to avoid disease like obesity, gout, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, indigestion, stroke and high blood pressure because meat is believed to promote the development of these diseases. Amount of income or economic status of an individual is another factor that can influence the choice of vegetarianism because a vegetarian diet is cheaper to maintain than a meat eating diet. Vegetarian diets are more nutritious in antioxidants (fight cancer) and vitamins both of which play a role prolonging life. 5. Question 9 asks you to rate the importance of various factors in deciding your choice of food when shopping. Pick two of the factors that you rated either ‘not important’ or ‘extremely important’. Please explain your answer (150 words, 9 marks) Being able to buy food near where I live is extremely important factor that determines the choice of food when shopping. Because of a busy lifestyle, it is more convenient to shop near home. “As a result of busier lifestyles there has been and increase in food products like takeaway foods, prepaid foods and home meal replacements. Not eating animals is not an important factor in my choice of food. Meats are a good source of nutrients especially protein, vitamins, iron, minerals (zinc, calcium), and essential fats. It would be difficult to find all these nutritional requirements on a diet that excluded meat. Meats also give a better feeling of satiety when consumed compared to vegetables only. Consuming meat does not go against my religious beliefs. Rearing animals for food, offers a better nutritional solution to famine problems around the world (Linda, 2010, p.67). 6. Look at your answers for questions 11-19. Of the answers you have given, please explain which ONE has the most influence on your diet. For example, does your ethnicity determine the type of food you eat, or you living arrangements, or your age etc.? Please explain your answer. (100 words, 6 marks) My work and study commitments and living arrangements influence my diet the most. “recent statistics state that Australian spend $ 16.5 billion on takeaway drinks, food and snacks in 2006” (Valsamis 2009, p. 15). It is evident that busy lifestyle influence diet consequently resulting in the consumption of more fast foods. this usually saves on time. Especially time it would take to shop and prepare/cook a meal. Ready to eat meals like takeaways are convenient for me due to my busy schedule. Living next to restaurants and food businesses influences my diet because their meals are ready made and save me time of preparing meals (Valsamis 2009, p. 15). Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) (500 words) 7. How well do you think the food frequency questionnaire captured your usual? dietary intake over the past month? Please explain, giving specific food examples that supports your explanation (100 words, 6 marks) I think the food frequency questionnaire captured my usual dietary intake very well. Firstly it covered all food groups I usually consume. It also gave me a chance to rate the frequency with which I consume a certain type of food monthly. The questionnaire gave appropriate considerations in estimating quantities for example, 1 serving, 2-3 servings and so on. The choices offered for selection ranging from never/rarely to usually are considerate and make questions easy to respond to. Though the questionnaire covered supplements taken it did not cover supplements in terms of minerals like zinc, omega, and other minerals consumed as supplements (Bryant, et al., 2003, p.28). 8. Do you think people who identify with a culture other than your own living in? Australia would have similar eating patterns (i.e. chose similar foods) to you? Please explain. (100 words, 6 marks) Culture plays a major role in diet habits and patterns. People of a different culture from mine would have different eating patterns. Their eating habits would be influenced by their social environments (family and friends), lifestyle choices, daily schedules and more importantly income. The person’s religious beliefs would also contribute to the overall eating habits for example practicing vegetarianism or veganism. Genetics also has a role in choice of eating habits; some individuals are intolerant to substances like lactose and hence can not consume dairy products. Such factors would add to the differences in eating patterns between me and persons of different cultures (Bryant, et al., 2003, p.34). 9. How would the types of food you ate change if you had to grow and prepare all the food you eat? Check the foods you eat often in the food frequency questionnaire to use as examples in your answer. (100 words, 6 marks) From the questionnaire, the foods I consume most are milk, diary products and meats. I was to grow and prepare all the food I ate, I would have to reduce my meat intake and increase my vegetable intake. This is because it would probably be more cost effective to grow more vegetables for consumption than rear animals for dairy and meat. Additionally, preparing vegetables for a meal is easier and less time consuming than preparing meat dishes. As a result I would try to broaden my vegetable diet and grow a wider variety of vegetables for consumption. The variety in type of vegetable consumption would expand (Linda, 2010, p.59). 10. How many serves of vegetables do you eat usually each day (question 4 in the FFQ)? How many serves of fruit do you eat usually each day (question 5 in the FFQ)? A guide to healthy eating, based on the Dietary guidelines for Australians for men and women (not pregnant or breastfeeding) ages 19-60, recommend a daily intake of 5 serves of vegetables and 2 serves of fruit (2). Comment on your intake compared with this recommendation. (100 words, 5 marks) My usual consumption of vegetables is one serving per day with 2-3 three servings of fruit per day. My fruit servings are as per the recommendations by the Dietary guidelines for Australians. Fruits are nutritious in vitamins and antioxidants which help prevent diseases and protect from cancer and other ailments. However my vegetable consumption is lower than the recommended amount. Not only do vegetables contain fibre (aids indigestion) they are rich in nutrients and water and low in kilojoules. Given these benefits I should increase my dietary vegetable intake to 5 servings per day. 11. The most recent national survey in Australia found a daily average intake of 3.4 serves of vegetables and 1.1 serves of fruit in adults (3). How do you think that this intake could be increased to meet the recommendations? (100 words, 5 marks) The media plays a big role in influencing what people eat. Advertisements noting the benefits of consuming vegetables and fruits should be aired on radio, television and posted as internet advertisements. This spread of information will alter perceptions about the consumption of fruits and vegetables and educate a large population of people. Additionally these advertisements should be aired during prime time hours like during news time in order to reach a larger audience. Additionally, learning about the nutritional value of different foods should be incorporated in school syllabus early in the education process (Department of Health and Aging, 1997, p.23). D. Summary (100 words) Write a conclusion that summarizes what you have learnt about factors that influence your individual eating habits. Refer to the biocultural framework when explaining which factors impact most on your food choices. (9 marks) My eating habits are influenced by my social environment, availability of time, and convenience. If my social environment (family and friends) were to change then so would some of my eating habits. My religious and cultural heritage also influences my diet choices. For example I am not prevented from eating meat by my religion, upbringing or social influences from family or friends. Economic factors contribute strongly to my eating habits. Higher food budgets would influence me to buy healthier foods and eat out more frequently. This is because healthier foods like those with low fat content are more expensive than “whole” foods. My eating habits are also influenced by media advertisements and articles from magazines, websites and newspapers given that I encounter these media sources during day to day life. It is however important to conduct thorough research on about nutritional value of certain foods on a persons health before making any drastic changes to the diet (Linda, 2010, p.65). References Bryant, C.A. et al., 2003. Introduction to Food and Society. 2nd ed. South Melbourne: Thomson Wadsworth. Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1998. Mortality and Morbidity: Diabetes. Canberra: ABS, 4102.0 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1995. National Nutrition Survey: Foods Eaten, Australia. Canberra: AGPS Commonwealth Department of Health and Aging, 2005. Food for Health. Dietary Guidelines for Australians. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia. Department of Health and Aging, 1997. First Comprehensive Nutrition Survey Tracks Australians’ Eating Habits. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia, MW 156/97. Linda Tapsell. 2010. Prevalence of malnutrition in adults in Australian public hospitals and residential aged care facilities. Nutrition & Dietetics. 6 (3), p56-70. Valsamis K, et al., 2009. Food in Australia. In: Valsamis K. et al. Whole Food Book 2. Australia: Oxford University Press, p. 122-147. Read More