The Characteristics of a Healthy Diet and the Psychological, Physical, Social, and Philosophical, Factors that Influence our Food Choices.

     When we talk about a healthy diet, it helps to know that there are five characteristics in the plan that is referred to as the A, B, C, M, V (Adequacy, Balance, Calorie Control, Moderation, and Variety) principles. Adequacy is concerning the adequate amount of nutrition found in the food that is being eaten. Balance is about eating a balanced amount of each necessary nutrient. To maintain a healthy weight and to obtain enough energy from the food, calorie control is needed. Moderation helps keep the intake of foods that are high in salt or sugar at a balance. Variety keeps the amount of nutrients steadily flowing in, on a regular basis. Behavior plays a big part in why we may choose the foods that we eat. Most of us have a basic knowledge of what foods are healthy and which ones are not. We are pretty aware that our bodies need the nutrients we may get through our diet which are essential to good health. Even with this knowledge, some still have the tendency to eat the unhealthy foods. Why would we make these unhealthy choices if we know that this type of diet is not good for us? Perhaps one of the reasons for food choices may be someone's preferences of food or drink, the taste of the food. Lifestyle may be a factor too, in that the individual may not be able to afford certain types of healthy foods. Many families have their own cultures or traditions concerning types of food and how much of it to eat. Habits that have been established a long time ago, eating food for comfort, living a hectic lifestyle, and the advertisement from restaurants may also influence food choices as well. There may be many factors that influence food choices. There may be social pressure to eat certain foods, psychological reasons, like depression, or the physical aspect of just liking how the food tastes, an already established habit may be a factor as well as false advertisements (Sizer, & Whitney, 2013). I anyone knew me personally, they would know that I am living such a fast paced and hectic lifestyle, that I do not have a set eating plan. I either forget to eat, or I eat in a hurry which causes me to make unhealthy food choices. For sound advice on this very subject, you can look into an article entitled:Healthy Eating in a Hurry. This article offers guidelines on how we can put a nutritionally balanced meals together while staying true to a healthy diet plan, no matter if our lifestyle is hectic (Healthy Eating, 2012).

References:

Healthy eating in a hurry. (2012). Nursing Update, 37(2), 28-29.

Sizer, F. & Whitney, E. (2013). Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies (13th ed.). Mason, OH: Cengage Learning.