Food Choices, Nutrition, and Wellness

Our Food Choices

Food Science and Nutrition

• Food Science: Study of producing, processing, preparing, evaluating, and using food.
• Nutrition: Study of nutrients and their use by the body, dating back to the early 1900s.

Nutrition and Wellness

• Nutrition: Study of nutrients and how the body uses them.
• Wellness: Philosophy encouraging personal responsibility for health.

Nutrients

• Substances in food providing nourishment.
• Functions:
  • Provide energy.
  • Build and repair cells.
  • Regulate body processes.

Needs Addressed by Food

• Physical Needs: Hunger.
• Psychological Needs:
  • Security and comfort.
  • Sense of belonging.
  • Enjoyment.

Benefits of Good Nutrition

• Feeling and looking best.
• Growth and strength.
• Optimal physical, emotional, and intellectual health.
• Providing optimum conditions for a healthy life.

Wellness

• Philosophy encouraging personal responsibility for health.
• Focuses on overall health: physical, social, emotional, intellectual.
• Reflected in attitudes and behaviors.

Factors Influencing Health

• Food choices.
• Physical activity.
• Managing feelings.
• Handling social situations.
• Sleep.

Benefits of Promoting Wellness

• Improved quality of life.
• Increased life span.
• Greater energy levels.
• Stronger immune system.
• Improved self-confidence and self-esteem.
• Improved relationships.
• Improved ability to manage and control stress.

Food and Psychological Needs

• Security: Basic necessities; food security = access to sufficient, safe food.
• Comfort Food: Associated with childhood, believed to improve mood.

Sense of Belonging

• Food creates bonds between people.
• Associated with social events (friends, movies, celebrations).

Enjoyment

• Food enhances enjoyment.
• Dependent on the situation.
• Preparation can bring pleasure.

Food Advertising

• Advertisers spend millions on food product advertising.
• Categories include desserts, snacks, soft drinks, breads, meats, dairy, fruits, and vegetables.