Introduction

Food choice is complex and it is influenced by various factors, each on different

levels. Two factors that influence food choice at an individual level are food preference
and nutrition knowledge. Nutrition knowledge is defined as knowledge about the
different aspects of nutrition (e.g. nutrients, dietary guidelines) and their relationship to
health. Although associations between nutrition knowledge and food choice are
generally small, knowledge is a variable factor, with a certain level of knowledge which
is essential to make healthy choices (Schreiber, M., Bucher, T., Collins, C., Dohle, S.,
2020).
The eating behavior of individuals changes overtime as generation passes by.
One study produced results that stated, millennials eating habits are very different from
previous generations. 52% adopts healthy eating habits by consuming more vegetables
and organic foods. (Sacca, 2018). While 69% of millennials eat out at fast-casual
restaurants compared to 62% for Gen X and 43% of baby boomers according to the
findings of Morgan Stanley (Lutz, 2015). There are some things that millennials are
seeking when it comes to dining out thus affects their eating habits, (1) convenience,
which involves online ordering, home delivery and heat-and-eat options at grocery
stores. (2) transparency and responsibility, wherein they consider healthy food as
natural and organic compared to being low-fat. Also, 80% wants to know where their
food is grown, or its origin. (3) trendiness and experience, interest in popular meals are
high and also the sharing of experiences from eating and posting photos of food
consumed on social media also affects the peer's food choice (Wordtext Systems, Inc.,
2019).
With the overview of generations' eating habits, the idea would be present to
have a basis for their food choices and eating habits. There was evidence that stated,
millennials considered healthy foods and this study explored the effect of spatial
positioning of a healthy food cue. Unlike some menus wherein there are categories and
healthy and unhealthy food were presented separately, the condition used in this study
is presenting the healthy food with unhealthy foods in a pictorial-style menu. This study
aims to investigate how the spatial positioning of healthy food will affect the food choice
of an individual and will also look out on other factors that might affect it.
Though there is also an abundance of palatable, high-energy-dense food-related
cues, which causes a major contribution to poor dietary choices and other effects like
increased obesity rates, research studies the strategies and other ways to help promote
healthier food choices. Also, there is a shift of focus from changing an individual's eating
behavior to the change of food environment for the promotion of healthier dietary
choices (Tonkin, et al., 2019).
 For the local setting, this study will be able to observe its differences from the
foreign study and cite factors that cause the difference in dietary choices like social
norms. According to the study of Stok, F. M., de Vet, E., de Ridder, D. T. D., & de Wit, J.
B. F. (2016) that norms are crucial; often socially shaped. Social norms constitute an
important source of influence on the individual members of social groups, affecting
people’s goals experiences and behaviors. It is important to note that social norms are
only one of multiple forms of social influence on food choice.

Schreiber M., Bucher T., Collins C.E. & Dohle S., The Multiple Food Test:
Development and validation of a new tool to measure food choice and applied nutrition
knowledge, Appetite (2020)
Stok, F. M., de Vet, E., de Ridder, D. T. D., & de Wit, J. B. F. (2016). The potential of
peer social norms to shape food intake in adolescents and young adults: a systematic review of
effects and moderators. Health Psychology Review, 10(3), 326–340.