Influences on Food Choices
There are many factors to determine what people choose to eat. These include, but are not necessarily limited to, culture, customs, religion, environment, location, and cost.
Culture, customs, and religion, are large determinants for food choices. There are thousands upon thousands of cultures in the world, each sustaining their life through consumption of food based on numerous factors. For instance, Hindus have a belief that that cows are sacred beings, and therefore, do not eat their meat. Another group with specific dietary restrictions are the more traditional Jewish people are opposed to eating pork because they believed they were not kosher, meaning not blessed.
The environment/location is another huge influence on what people eat. Where people live is probably the biggest decision maker for what people eat. People living in coastal regions are more likely to eat more fish and seafood because it is what is accessible to them. The same concept goes for people living in different climates. Plant and animal species vary in different climates. For instance, corn is a major crop in Mexico, whereas rice is the major crop in many Asian countries. It's cheaper, faster, and more sufficient to eat locally, meaning eating foods that are grown or produced in a generally close distance to your home or the community you live in. For instance, many Japanese people revolve their diets around fish because they are sustainably caught right off their shores. Similarly, in many southern states in the US, red meat and pork are very common to add to diets because farms are popular there, with high amounts of animals such as cows and pigs.
Food prices affect who can afford what food items. People with higher incomes can afford higher priced food items, whereas people with low incomes cannot afford such luxuries. For the most part, the United States is a fairly high income country, so the majority of its citizens enjoy the luxury of fine food, like steak. However, people from lower average income countries, such as the Philippines, live more primarily on the staples of their country because it is all they can afford. Many people in the United States are living in lower income conditions, most even forced to use Food Stamps. The Food Stamps only cover so much, so they are resorted to buying products that are affordable to them. The sad truth is that 'junk' food tends to be exponentially cheaper than healthier options, such as fresh fruits and vegetables. This results in many lower income families purchasing less healthy food items.
Culture, customs, and religion, are large determinants for food choices. There are thousands upon thousands of cultures in the world, each sustaining their life through consumption of food based on numerous factors. For instance, Hindus have a belief that that cows are sacred beings, and therefore, do not eat their meat. Another group with specific dietary restrictions are the more traditional Jewish people are opposed to eating pork because they believed they were not kosher, meaning not blessed.
The environment/location is another huge influence on what people eat. Where people live is probably the biggest decision maker for what people eat. People living in coastal regions are more likely to eat more fish and seafood because it is what is accessible to them. The same concept goes for people living in different climates. Plant and animal species vary in different climates. For instance, corn is a major crop in Mexico, whereas rice is the major crop in many Asian countries. It's cheaper, faster, and more sufficient to eat locally, meaning eating foods that are grown or produced in a generally close distance to your home or the community you live in. For instance, many Japanese people revolve their diets around fish because they are sustainably caught right off their shores. Similarly, in many southern states in the US, red meat and pork are very common to add to diets because farms are popular there, with high amounts of animals such as cows and pigs.
Food prices affect who can afford what food items. People with higher incomes can afford higher priced food items, whereas people with low incomes cannot afford such luxuries. For the most part, the United States is a fairly high income country, so the majority of its citizens enjoy the luxury of fine food, like steak. However, people from lower average income countries, such as the Philippines, live more primarily on the staples of their country because it is all they can afford. Many people in the United States are living in lower income conditions, most even forced to use Food Stamps. The Food Stamps only cover so much, so they are resorted to buying products that are affordable to them. The sad truth is that 'junk' food tends to be exponentially cheaper than healthier options, such as fresh fruits and vegetables. This results in many lower income families purchasing less healthy food items.