Knowing Why We Eat, Understanding the Factors Influencing Food Choices
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About this ebook
Uncover the life-changing impact of nutrition and unveil the hidden knowledge behind healthier, more fulfilling living with "Knowing Why We Eat: Understanding the Factors Influencing Food Choices." This groundbreaking book takes a refreshing approach, unraveling the complexities of achieving overall health and well-being through a tailored and holistic nutrition plan.
"Knowing Why We Eat" explores the seven key factors that shape our eating habits: social environment, economic status, physical health, biology, marketing influences, attitudes and beliefs, and behaviors. By implementing the comprehensive seven-step plan laid out in this book, you will gain invaluable insights into recognizing negative eating habits and creating a personalized nutritional plan tailored to your unique requirements.
Empower yourself to seize control of your nutrition and attain your health and weight loss goals like never before. Unlike typical diet guides, "Knowing Why We Eat" presents a holistic, realistic approach to living a longer, healthier, and more fulfilling life.
Whether you're a dedicated fitness enthusiast, a healthcare professional, or simply an individual seeking to transform your eating habits, "Knowing Why We Eat" is essential. This book equips you with basic tools and guidance to create a positive relationship with food, unlock your mind's potential, and utilize nutrition science to improve your body's unique chemistry and composition.
Embark on a journey towards optimal health by immersing yourself in the enlightening pages of "Knowing Why We Eat." This invaluable resource empowers you with the knowledge and strategies to design a personalized plan that caters to your specific needs, helping you achieve your desired body composition and paving the way for a healthier, happier you.
Key Takeaways from "Knowing Why We Eat":
- Explore the comprehensive guide that delves deep into the 7 factors shaping your dietary decisions.
- Gain insights and practical strategies to navigate the influence of these factors and create a sustainable and 7-step nourishing eating plan.
- Discover the psychological factors influencing healthy eating, such as taste preferences, emotions, memory, food neophobia, and obesity.
- This indispensable resource helps you identify and address nutritional deficiencies, leading to enhanced energy levels, mental clarity, digestion, and reduced risk of chronic illnesses.
Authored by Jairo Hernandez, a retired military veteran, accomplished entrepreneur, and published author of "Knowing Why We Eat" and "Knowing What You Think About is Where You Will Go," embodies his passion for assisting individuals in achieving their goals and reaching their full potential. With over two decades of distinguished military service mentors and thousands of service members, Jairo's commitment to community welfare shines through his creation of F4URY.com, an all-in-one solution designed to prioritize health, love, wealth, and happiness.
Unlock the potential of your nutrition and transform your life with "Knowing Why We Eat." Take the first step to a healthier future by delving into the insightful pages of this resourceful book. Let it be your compass on the journey to a vibrant and fulfilling existence.
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Book preview
Knowing Why We Eat, Understanding the Factors Influencing Food Choices - Jairo Hernandez
KNOWING WHY WE EAT: UNDERSTANDING THE FACTORS INFLUENCING FOOD CHOICES
DISCOVER THE SECRET TO ACHIEVING THE BODY YOU WANT WITH A SIMPLE 7-STEP PLAN
JAIRO HERNANDEZ
© Copyright 2023 by Jairo Hernandez - All rights reserved.
The content contained within this book may not be reproduced, duplicated or transmitted without direct written permission from the author or the publisher.
Under no circumstances will any blame or legal responsibility be held against the publisher, or author, for any damages, reparation, or monetary loss due to the information contained within this book, either directly or indirectly.
Legal Notice:
This book is copyright protected. It is only for personal use. You cannot amend, distribute, sell, use, quote or paraphrase any part, or the content within this book, without the consent of the author or publisher.
Disclaimer Notice:
Please note the information contained within this document is for educational and entertainment purposes only. All effort has been executed to present accurate, up to date, reliable, complete information. No warranties of any kind are declared or implied. Readers acknowledge that the author is not engaged in the rendering of legal, financial, medical or professional advice. The content within this book has been derived from various sources. Please consult a licensed professional before attempting any techniques outlined in this book.
By reading this document, the reader agrees that under no circumstances is the author responsible for any losses, direct or indirect, that are incurred as a result of the use of the information contained within this document, including, but not limited to, errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.
CONTENTS
Introduction
1. The Seven Factors That Influence Your Food Choices
Social Factors That Influence Food Choice
Biological Influence on Food Choice
Economic Influence on Food Choice
Physical Factors Influence on Food Choice
Attitudes, Beliefs, and Behaviors About Food Selection
Advertising and Marketing
Health Concerns About the Impact of Food Choice
Food Diary-Based Action
2. Psychological Factors of Eating Healthy
Taste Preferences
Emotions Impact Your Food Choices
Memory of Food
Food Neophobia
Obesity Affects Food Choice
Food Diary-Based Action
3. How Diet Culture Puts More Pressure
Societal Pressure
Constant Messaging
Emphasis on Control
Food Restriction
Pressure on Physical Appearance
Focus on a Quick Fix
Food Diary-Based Action
4. Awareness of Biochemistry in Nutrition
Metabolism
Energy Balance
Hormonal Regulation
Nutrient Timing
Nutrient Density
Food Quality
Supplementation
Food Diary-Based Action
5. It’s About Your Baseline Dietary Nutrition
The Importance of Knowing Your Baseline Nutrition
One Size Does Not Fit All
Improve Your Baseline Nutrition
Food Diary-Based Action
6. Going Back to the Basics of Nutrition
Functions of Carbohydrates
Functions of Proteins
Functions of Fats
Functions of Dietary Fiber
Functions of Water
Functions of Vitamins and Minerals
Food Diary-Based Action
7. The Importance of Your Body Composition
Weight Versus Body Composition
Remove Disease Risk
Physical Performance
Weight Management
How to Measure to Find Out What Your Body Composition Is
Why Body Composition Measurement Is Better Than Body Mass Index (BMI)
Food Diary-Based Action
8. Understanding the Impact of Unknown Food Effects on Your Body
Food Allergies May Hinder Food Selection
It Might Be Food Intolerance
Hidden Food Sensitivities
You Could Be Nutrient Deficient
The Importance of a Healthy Gut
Food Diary-Based Action
9. Design a Healthy Meal Plan
Creating a Systematic Meal Plan for All
Selection of a Meal Plan
Food Diary-Based Action
10. Putting Your Nutrition Plan Together
Bad Ingredients Found in Food
Healthy Choice Eating
Adopt a Healthy Way of Thinking Instead of Dieting
The Plan That Works for You
Seven-Step Action Plan in Practice
Conclusion
References
INTRODUCTION
What does eating healthy
really mean? The obvious answer is a balanced diet that limits processed foods. A diet that is filled with nutritious foods. Yet, if the answer is so obvious, why are so many of us struggling with diet-related health concerns? Surely, we must be missing the bigger picture somehow. Refocusing on the bigger picture is something that I do best, so join me as we go on a journey of discovery.
I am the author of the book, Knowing What You Think About is Where You Will Go: Making Every Day Count, and a retired military veteran who served over two decades with honorable military service. In my previous written work, I realized that many people limit their true potential and block themselves through self-sabotage. It has to do with what we think about and how we choose to put our dreams into motion; you can have the most fantastic plan in place, and it can still fall apart.
Not surprisingly, many people approach the concept of healthy eating with the same level of self-sabotage. Although, when it comes to food, that sabotage may not always be intentional or obvious.
Knowing Why We Eat: Understanding the Factors Influencing Food Choices is an abridgment of my previous works, in which the goal or objective will fall into place when we understand why we think the way we think. We will have a better chance of achieving the desired health goal if we know which foods work for us. It could be for disease prevention, weight management, or simply to live a longer, healthier life.
While serving in the military, I was physically active. Eating healthy was ingrained into my mind and body within a high-tempo military lifestyle. This is how I was able to survive daily military life. During my time as a military service member, I tried to understand why we eat the way we do and what foods are the best for my body composition. Foods that help our minds and bodies function optimally. I looked at all the different diet types, from high protein intake to intermittent fasting, to juicing, to adding supplemental nutrition to my diet. You name it, and I tried it. My goal was to keep my body at optimal performance for long runs and trekking in unpredictable terrain. There are many physical demands of military life and combat outside the country, and keeping my body in optimal condition was a priority.
Embracing a New Approach to Life
As a result of all my experimentation, I grew to understand the importance of having a healthy diet for your mind and body to perform at their best. Due to my Mexican culture, I had to change what foods worked best for me because of my high cholesterol. The discovery of my high cholesterol came as a shock, as I was the picture of health: trim and fit! As a result, I experimented with foods and finally found what worked for my body. In this process, I uncovered a simple but powerful truth: You must eat balanced meals that include all the nutrients your body needs for your body composition and biochemistry.
Achieving a healthy weight is the missing piece of the puzzle, and it requires understanding your relationship with food. This relationship is formed in our childhood through culture and psychology. I believe anyone can have the body they deserve to live a healthier life without needing to be on a strict diet plan. That’s right! You don’t need to follow an oppressive fad diet when you understand your relationship with food. Instead, you’ll learn to enjoy the foods that give the body the best nutrients for optimal performance.
What You Will Learn
In this book, you’ll discover the real meaning of eating healthy.
Here’s a quick spoiler alert: Fad diets and meal plans are not as helpful as we might assume. We don’t need to disregard meal plans entirely though. You can use diet plans on the market to help you lay the experimental foundations you can use to then figure out what works for you and your whole family. This book will help reacquaint us with the basics of nutrition, while encouraging us to take a deeper look at our relationship with food.
When it comes to improving your health and well-being, scientifically changing your mindset about food will make a difference. Eating the right foods for your body composition will prevent diseases from forming and enable you to live your best life without putting too much pressure on yourself. You deserve to look and feel your best while loving the skin you’re in!
We will go through the cultural and psychological reasons that drive our food choices. Furthermore, you’ll learn how to tap into the biochemistry of nutrition and how it may, or may not, work for your body chemistry. With six simple questions you’ll be able to reclaim control over your eating habits and food choices and kickstart your 7-step plan. This journey into the world of food education will turn everything you think you know about nutrition on its head. The only question that now remains is this: Are you ready to discover a world of possibility?
F4URY.COM was founded by me. The focus of F4URY is on empowering people from all walks of life to live healthy, wealthy, and happy lives. Everyone can strive for greatness; it is much more attainable than you think!
1
THE SEVEN FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE YOUR FOOD CHOICES
We all want to make healthy choices. But how? We often make poor choices because we don’t know how to make healthy ones. Sometimes we are unaware of all the things that influence our choices. Many factors influence our food choices. These factors include our family history, genetics, environment, culture, and social circle. Many people eat unhealthy foods because their environments are filled with fast food, soda, and junk food. Perhaps their parents and grandparents were raised on junk food when they were young. Now , they are still teaching this to their children and grandchildren. Many cultural norms and traditional eating habits also influence eating.
Basic economic theories state that most people purchase food and other marketplace goods to maximize utility. It makes sense. We want to get the most value for our money, especially in difficult economic times. Under the constraint that the price is below or equal to the amount of all the sources of income, what we buy depends on our preferences. Income limitations and time restrictions for preparing food have made it difficult for households to buy healthy food.
Events and experiences have a strong influence on our food choices. These influences start early in life and continue throughout it. Understanding how food choices occur justifies a deeper investigation. We need to look at these choices from the perspective of the life course. A life course refers to an individual’s past experiences related to multiple trajectories, transitions, and turning points and the context in which they occurred. Food choices are influenced by both the life course and current influences. Simply put, the way we eat is influenced by many factors that we don’t usually consider.
An overview of cultural beliefs about eating healthy and how they were developed is needed. Food is a necessary part of retaining culture. For example, we won’t associate sushi with Mexico. So, food speaks volumes about where we come from and, in essence, who we are. Certain cultures are believed to be healthier than others, and some people believe some countries have a better diet. The truth is that food is a celebration of culture, and different cultures can enjoy their favorite dishes if they know how to cook better. Like it or not, our food preferences are affected by social norms, learning behaviors, and evolutionary processes.
Where we live and the families we grow up in have a big impact on our food preferences and dislikes. One family’s delicacy might be another’s kitchen nightmare. Take durian fruit as an example. This melon-sized spiky fruit has a potent smell but is widely consumed by families in Southeast Asia. The scent might be offensive, but the taste seems to be worth it. Then again, many American families are fond of canned spray cheese, a product that certainly raises a few eyebrows in other countries. The debate about cultural food differences is a fascinating one and can fill a library on its own. In this chapter, we’ll take a closer look at the social, biological, economic, and physical factors that influence the way we eat.
SOCIAL FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE FOOD CHOICE
As social beings, food plays a big part in our lives. A person’s cultural and social background can affect their food choices. The traditional foods of their culture, the foods they were exposed to growing up, and the foods they eat with friends and family can all be included. Understanding how the people we dine with influence what we eat becomes all the more important.