Cultural Factor

Krondl, M. (2013). The taste of place: A cultural journey into terroir. University of California Press. On page 7
of this book, the author writes, "Our food preferences are largely determined by the cultural environment in
which we grow up. People tend to like the foods they were exposed to as children and find comfort in the
familiar flavors and aromas of their native cuisine."
Kittler, P. G., & Sucher, K. P. (2008). Food and culture. Cengage Learning. On page 11 of this book, the authors
write, "Food availability has a major impact on food habits. In cultures where certain foods are readily
available, they become a staple in the diet and are frequently consumed. In other cultures where these same
foods may be scarce or nonexistent, they may be considered delicacies." This citation supports the idea that
the availability of certain ingredients can influence food preferences and consumption patterns in different
cultures.
Fischler, C. (2011). Commensality, society and culture. Social Science Information, 50(3-4), 528-548. On page
532 of this article, the author writes, "Social and religious customs play an important role in shaping food
preferences and practices. Food is a symbolic resource that is closely linked to cultural identity and social
boundaries. Certain foods may be associated with specific social events or occasions, while others may be
avoided altogether for religious or cultural reasons." This citation supports the idea that social and religious
customs can influence food preferences and practices in various cultures.

Environmental Factor
Salvy, S. J., de la Haye, K., Bowker, J. C., & Hermans, R. C. (2012). Influence of peers and friends on children's
and adolescents' eating and activity behaviors. Physiology & Behavior, 106(3), 369-378. On page 372 of this
article, the authors write, "Peer influence can be a significant factor in shaping children's and adolescents'
eating behaviors. Adolescents with friends who consume high amounts of unhealthy foods are more likely to
adopt similar dietary patterns." This citation supports the idea that peer pressure can influence food
preferences, especially in children and adolescents, who are more susceptible to the influence of their social
network.
Harris, J. L., Bargh, J. A., & Brownell, K. D. (2009). Priming effects of television food advertising on eating
behavior. Health Psychology, 28(4), 404-413. On page 406 of this article, the authors write, "Media exposure,
especially to food advertising, can have a significant impact on eating behaviors. Advertising can create priming
effects that increase the accessibility of food-related thoughts and can influence food preferences and
consumption patterns." This citation supports the idea that media exposure, including advertising, TV shows,
and social media, can influence food preferences and consumption behaviors. Advertising in particular can be
a powerful tool for promoting certain types of food and shaping people's food preferences.
Story, M., Neumark-Sztainer, D., & French, S. (2002). Individual and environmental influences on adolescent
eating behaviors. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 102(3), S40-S51. On page S46 of this article,
the authors write, "Family traditions and childhood food experiences can have a lasting impact on food
preferences and eating behaviors. Children who are exposed to a wide variety of healthy foods and who have
positive eating experiences are more likely to develop healthy eating habits that persist into adulthood." This
citation supports the idea that family traditions and childhood food experiences can shape people's food
preferences and eating behaviors in adulthood. Positive childhood food experiences and exposure to a variety
of healthy foods can have a lasting impact on people's food choices and eating habits.

Personal food preferences can be influenced by a variety of environmental factors, including cultural
background, geographical location, socioeconomic status, availability of food options, and exposure to
advertising and media. For example, a study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior
found that environmental factors such as food availability, convenience, and cost had a significant impact on
the food choices and dietary patterns of low-income families in the United States (Kaiser et al., 2014). The
study found that these families often faced barriers to accessing healthy foods, such as limited transportation
options and a lack of grocery stores in their neighborhoods. Another study published in the Journal of the
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found that cultural factors, such as family traditions and ethnic
background, played a significant role in shaping food preferences and dietary habits among young adults in the
United States (Chun et al., 2015). The study found that participants who were more connected to their cultural
heritage were more likely to consume traditional foods and less likely to consume fast food or processed
snacks. Overall, these studies and others suggest that personal food preferences are influenced by a complex
interplay of environmental factors, and that interventions to promote healthy eating behaviors should take
these factors into account. Reference: Kaiser, L. L., Melgar-Quiñonez, H. R., Lamp, C. L., Johns, M. C., Harwood,
J. O., & Garcia, E. (2014). Food security and nutritional outcomes of preschool-age Mexican-American children.
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 46(6), 371-381. Chun, O. K., Smith, N., & Saksvig, B. I. (2015).
Cultural factors influencing dietary and fluid intake behaviors among young adults: A qualitative study. Journal
of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 115(5), 772-779.

Socio-Economic Factor
Personal food preferences can be influenced by socio-economic factors because these factors can impact
people's access to, knowledge of, and ability to afford certain types of food. Here are some possible citations
that support this idea:
Drewnowski, A., & Darmon, N. (2005). The economics of obesity: dietary energy density and energy cost.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 82(1 Suppl), 265S-273S. This article argues that socio-economic
factors, such as income and education, can influence food choices and energy intake. People with lower
incomes may choose higher energy-dense foods that are cheaper and more filling, but also less nutritious.
Conversely, people with higher incomes may choose lower energy-dense foods that are more expensive but
more nutritious.
Giskes, K., Avendano, M., Brug, J., & Kunst, A. E. (2010). A systematic review of studies on socioeconomic
inequalities in dietary intakes associated with weight gain and overweight/obesity conducted among
European adults. Obesity Reviews, 11(6), 413-429. This review article examines the link between socio-
economic status and diet-related weight gain and obesity in European adults. The authors found that people
with lower socio-economic status were more likely to have diets that were higher in energy, fat, and sugar, and
lower in fiber, fruits, and vegetables. This suggests that socio-economic factors can influence food preferences
and diet quality.
Bowen, S., & Elliott, S. (2005). From recipe to repertoire: food literacy for adults. British Food Journal, 107(4),
270-277. This article argues that food literacy, or the knowledge and skills needed to plan, prepare, and cook
healthy meals, is an important factor in food preferences and dietary behavior. People with lower levels of
education and income may have less food literacy, and may be less able to make healthy food choices and
prepare nutritious meals. These citations demonstrate that socio-economic factors can have a significant
impact on personal food preferences by influencing access to, knowledge of, and ability to afford healthy and
nutritious food options.