1. Connection Between Nutrition and Disease

A well-balanced diet is an important factor in promoting a healthy lifestyle and encourages a longer life with lower incidence of disease.  Chronic diseases, like obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, are long-term diseases that are often preventable. According to an article on malnutrition, “Infectious disease is the primary reason for death in the developing world.  Malnutrition is a chief contributor to illness, disease and early death. In communities where there are high levels of malnutrition, the risk of contracting infectious disease, microorganisms and pathogens, including new and challenging organisms such as SARS and drug-resistant strains of diseases, increases” (Arnanya Mandal, 2011).   

Arnanya Mandal, M. (2011, April ). Malnutrition - What is Malnutrition? Retrieved March 5, 2013, from News Medical: http://www.news-medical.net/health/Malnutrition-What-is-malnutrition.aspx

2. Traits of a Healthy Diet

Fighting the temptation of a double cheeseburger and fries over a salad and fruit is the nutritional struggle many face day to day.  One thing is known, there are many challenges associated with choosing the “right” foods.  Our text list many factors that drive food choice:  advertising, availability, cost, habit, emotional comfort, values, weight and nutrition.  For the sad girl crying with a quart of chunky monkey to the hungry guy drooling over a Carl’s Jr. commercial, there are many factors that drive our food choice. According to our text, “A nutritious diet has five characteristics. First is adequacy: the foods provide enough of each essential nutrient, fiber, and energy.  Second is balance: the choices do not overemphasize one nutrient or food type at the expense of another. Third is calorie control: the foods provide the amount of energy you need to maintain appropriate weight. Fourth is moderation: the foods do not provide excess fat, salt, sugar, or other unwanted constituents. Fifth is variety: the foods chosen differ from one day to the next” (Sizer & Whitney, 2012).  

Sizer, F. S., & Whitney, E. (2012). Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies (12th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

3. Factors of Food Choices

Social factors that drive our food choices can be advertising, social pressure, and regions of the country.  My boyfriend was born and raised in San Diego and has to eat a burrito a week.  Psychological factors that drive our food choices can be emotional comfort, positive and negative association.  For negative association, I remember as a kid, sitting at our dinner for an hour because my mother wouldn’t let me leave until I finished my vegetables. Philosophical factors that drive our food choices can be values or beliefs.  Muslims choose not to eat pork because of their religious beliefs.  During Lent, Catholics would not eat meat on Fridays because of their religious beliefs.  Physical factors that drive our food choices can be weight, personal preferences and genetic inheritance.  A persons weight can be a factor in a persons nutritious decisions.  For instance, people who want to lose weight would have a strict diet that prevents poor eating choices. 

Sizer, F. S., & Whitney, E. (2012). Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies (12th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.