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Social influence in america about eating
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According to Diaz (2011) income and food cost affect the overall diet of the U.S adult population. Primarily, studies show that issues such as the socioeconomic status and food prices greatly influence people’s diet, determining their food choices. People from higher social classes value importance of nutrition because they have a variety of diet options. For instance, Drewnowski and Darmon (2011) suggest that obesity in the U.S is a socioeconomic issue, which is directly related to limited economic and social resources. This essay explains how income and food cost affect our diet choices. People from higher social classes consume healthier foods compared to people from lower social classes because the overall food choices are influenced by the price of products and the person's socioeconomic position. So, tell me does income and food cost really affect our diet? …show more content…
For instance, people from poor households replace fruit juice with soda and healthy whole-grain bread with wonder bread in the U.S. Drewnowski and Darmon (2011) indicate that lack of knowledge regarding healthy diet by people from low social classes leads to the development of poor health decisions. For instance, the former observe that people from poor households prefer cheap foods with added sugars or fats than the recommended healthy diets such as whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. To this matter, there is an opposite relationship between energy cost and energy density of foods, where energy-dense fats, grains, and sweet are part of the lowest-cost dietary options to the
In her essay, “Food’s Class Warfare,” author Tracie McMillan promotes the inclusion of both “individual changes and structural ones” (217), particularly “class consciousness” (217), in the fight for quality diets in America. She reveals the most common sides of the healthy food debate as the inherent “just-buy-better stuff logic” (215) and the opposing “structural challenges of eating well” (215). The main strategies for defeating the American “obesity epidemic” (216) have been reaching out to the individual, as well as changing the structure of the American food system itself. The favorite concept for structuralists is “food deserts - neighborhoods with insufficient grocery stores and thus insufficient supplies of healthy food” (216). She deems the concept insufficient in practice, as it ignores smaller markets and equates large stores with a healthy food source. While the individual viewpoint and structuralists argue with each other, they share common ideals. According to
In his essay “The American Paradox”, Michael Pollan illustrates his conclusion that Americans who focus on nutrition have a higher probability of decreasing their well-being. Pollan defines the American paradox as “a notably unhealthy population preoccupied with nutrition and the idea of eating healthily.” For most of our human history, our parents and culture have influenced our diet. However, today the idea of what to eat has been based on the opinions of scientists, food markets, and nutritionists. I agree with Pollan’s argument that being preoccupied with what we eat makes us unhealthy, however, we need a balance and a sense of responsibility in what we eat.
Although the two authors do not refer to each other directly in their works, both their perspectives share a common ground that no enough income make people eating less healthy. Pinsker argues that the actual barrier that stops people from eating healthy is the lack of income (129-130). He uses studies to show that poor families choose processed food because children like those tasty processed food (Pinsker 129-134). Whereas poor families cannot afford the waste if children refused to eat healthier but less tasty food parents provided (Pinsker 129-134). Cortright also suggests that income matters the most to why people do not eat healthy. He even further discusses income as the most influential limiting factor by addressing that other factors such as physical proximity to local food sources do not cause people to eat less healthy (Cortright 135-138). The two authors, in general, reach a consensus and mutually prove that income plays as the biggest limiting factor for people to have healthy
Population studies show there are clear contrasts in social classes with respect to nourishment and supplement admissions. Low-salary bunches specifically, have a more prominent propensity to devour lopsided eating methodologies and have low admissions of foods grown from the ground. They don’t have the same economics of food choice as the higher class therefore, they don’t necessarily have the opportunities like the higher class communities. That’s one of the main reason I think obesity occurs, Obesity is one of the most serious growing problems in the United States and requires the prevalence of obesity is dramatically increasing as a result of what the people are eating and the lack of exercise . If a child's parent is overweight then it’s most likely that their child will be overweight as. They are adapting everything their parents do such as eating unhealthy or not exercising enough which is contributing to this major social problem Since obesity involves excessive accumulation of fat in the body. intense health complications including diabetes, heart disease, renal failure, high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke and cancer can
Research proves that low-income families will shop wherever the food prices are lower, and generally cannot afford to pay for healthful foods. In comparison to the residents of higher income communities, low-income households normally have diets that are higher in meat and processed foods and often have low intakes of fruits and vegetables. Research suggests that people with low socioeconomic status spend up to 37% more on food. This is because of smaller weekly food budgets in addition to poorly stocked stores. Those with lower income are more likely to spend money on inexpensive fats and sugars versus fresh fruits and vegetables that are more costly on a per calorie basis. Healthy foods like whole grain products are more expensive than high calorie junk foods.
Nutrition and health have become more popular in today 's society. Our generation is becoming more and more indebted to the idea of being healthy and eating nutritious meals. However, in “The American Paradox,” by Michael Pollan he argues that our unhealthy population is preoccupied with nutrition and the idea of eating healthy than their actual health. He also mentions the food industry, nutrition science and how culture affects the way we eat and make food choices. While Pollan is right about all these factor that affect our eating habits, there is more to it than that. Convenience, affordability and social influence also affects our food choices making them inadequate.
n this research paper, I will discuss how bad eating habits, poor nutritional choices, and economics affect the health of the body. I chose this topic because of my quest to improve my health and my family’s health. I am discovering I must consider the above aspects to improve our overall health and nutrition. I discovered the food we consume gives our body the nutrients and information needed to function. Educating yourself on the effects of the food you consume is key to maintaining healthy eating.
Williams, Carla. "Eating Healthy Foods May Be Too Expensive for the Poor." Fast Food. Ed. Tracy Brown Collins. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005. At Issue. Rpt. from "Eating Healthy Might Prove Too Expensive for the Poor: Fruits, Vegetables May Break a Low-Income Family's Budget." abcnews.go.com. 2007. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 27 Jan. 2014.
The poor food choices that men and women make is the cause of many illnesses, disease and chronic health conditions. Men and women generally have different thoughts and choices on the topic of healthy food. People’s bad health may be genetically occurred or their exposure to their past nutritional education was not helpful, but their bad health is primarily based upon the poor choices that the individuals choose in daily life.
Healthy food is consistently more expensive than less healthy one, because producers are focused on providing inexpensive products for low-income people. As a result, low-income neighborhoods have lack of grocery stores and markets where they can buy a variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, etc. Nevertheless, low-income communities have greater availability of fast food restaurants, especially near schools. Furthermore, they have limited healthy food choices. For example, the advertisement of Sun Fed Beef was displaced in middle and high incomes neighborhood of downtown
One hundred percent of those with an income above $125,000 and seventy –eight percent of those with an income between $80,001-$125,000 were willing to purchase it. The individuals surveyed who earned an income less than $42,000 were willing to purchase the reduced priced expired food 65.5% of the time and those who were in the middle class earning between $42,000-$80,000% were willing to purchase it 52% of the time. This deviated from the original hypothesis since it was thought the lower and middle class were more likely to purchase the food than the upper class. It is surprising that the people in the lower class and middle class supported it the least since it can be thought that they would be the class most benefitted by the reduced prices. Perhaps this is because they don’t want to feel inadequate by purchasing the reduced price food while those with a higher socioeconomic status are more secure with their income. Another reason could be that people with a higher socioeconomic status tend to be better educated; therefore, they might be more aware of the environmental distress caused by food waste.
If our food choices were driven solely on the factors of hunger, and the desire for nutrient, and energy efficient fuel for the body, we as Americans would be a healthier bunch, eating the same foods our great grandmothers could recognize. However this is not the case. So, what are the determining factors shaping what foods we eat? With time, food and technology have progressed, as the food industry has changed the food game completely by having influence on consumer. According to International Food Information Council (IFIC) foundation 2011 food and health survey "Taste and price are the biggest drivers of Americans food choices". Although the economy may impact your finances, and foods high in sugar and salt taste better, make smarter choices,
Therefore, people tend to go to McDonalds to have a Big Mac rather than getting healthier food. According to Fryar and Ervin (2013), “in the youngest age group, 20–39, the percentage of calories consumed from fast food significantly decreased with increasing income level.” In this case, people that have lower income tend to have more unhealthy food because they cannot afford healthy food.
...e in this country are able to survive comfortably. The cost of food and level of income is one of the most thought of influences when it comes to food selection. Generally, a person with a large income is able to afford a varied diet that is rich in all the nutrient groups. The cost of food varies according to the type of food, the amount bought, the place its bought,whether it is in season or not, the use by date, store specials and how much it has been processed. Those on lowered incomes may be forced to select discounted foods, generic brands, and buy in bulk in order to save money. The amount of available resources commonly limits what we can buy and prepare. If money is plentiful it enables you to choose to go out for a meal or have someone cook it for you, whereas if you are on a tight budget it requires knowledge, skill and food requirements to make a meal.
The driving force behind food purchase decisions is hunger overall. Consumers are aware that it is necessary to consume food in order to have enough energy to be able to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Knowledge is limited in some areas of the world so food choices come from observations and experiences. There are many biological, economic, physical, social, and psychological factors that affect food choices.