Why People Eat

Do you eat to live or live to eat? Most people do both!

Hunger is… The body’s physical need for food starvation The extreme form of hunger is starvation

When you get hungry… Your stomach growls, makes noises & cramps You may get a headache You may feel tired & fatigued You may be unable to concentrate

Your body needs energy! Without energy, you would be unable to play sports, grow and keep your body working

Your body needs food! physical one One of the most important reason for eating is a physical one survival For survival

three days without water & food The human body can’t go three days without water & food (depending on stored fat reserves) For example, who do you think could survive the longest without food and water? An eight-year old who weighs 50 pounds or a 40-year old who weighs 220 pounds?

Your stomach lets you know that it’s time to eat!

Eating right is part of being healthy!

People also eat for psychological reasons Emotional reasons Tired & bored Happy or sad Emotional crutch Emotional eating can lead to being over or under-weight

Food plays a major role in our lives It’s the center of our celebrations »Holidays & birthdays »Weddings & funerals »When a baby is born

Sometimes people eat because of conditioning Conditioning Conditioning is the way in which people’s behavior is shaped Similar to a habit

Habits Habits have much to do with when you eat You may be used to eating every day at a certain time (even if your body does not send you a signal that you are hungry)

People may be conditioned to eat on certain occasions (like holidays or when you go to your grandmother’s (like holidays or when you go to your grandmother’s house) house)

Others learn to eat certain food at certain times (like when you go to a ball game and eat a hotdog)

Sometimes people eat because of cultural reasons Cultural reasons Cultural reasons include: –Religion –Race or ethnic background –Region you live in –Special dietary needs

5 Senses Our 5 Senses play a part in when and what we eat The sizzle of fajitas in a hot skillet The sizzle of fajitas in a hot skillet The smell of a baking apple pie The smell of a baking apple pie A decadent-looking dessert A decadent-looking dessert

Sometimes food is used as a reward (Ever hear that?) “You don’t get any dessert until you eat all the food on your plate.” (Ever hear that?)

What Influences Our Food Choices? Geography Geography – where you live

Religious Traditions Religious Traditions often influence our food choices

Ethnic Heritage (commonly served food in your home) Ethnic Heritage – ancestral background (commonly served food in your home)

What Affects Food Availability? Weather Seasonal availability Seasonal availability World-wide competition World-wide competition Land availability Land availability

Often, the food people eat is determined by technology Preparation & packaging  Fresh  Frozen  Canned  Dried  Irradiated food

Our technology can help underdeveloped countries increase their food production Malnutrition - not getting enough of the essential ingredients necessary for adequate growth & development

Technology has led to new food Combining food: Broccoli + Cauliflower = Brociflower

And... We are ruled by our taste buds - thousands of them!

BitterSour 1. Bitter 2. Sour SaltySweet 3. Salty 4. Sweet

Interesting Fact... The more taste buds you have, the more likely you are to be able to detect bitterness in the food you eat!

Assignment 1. Make a list of all the food you ate in the last 24 hours and then identify the reasons you had for eating it. 2. Discuss why you think it is important for people to eat healthy food.

Alternate Assignment Research taste buds. Develop a visual presentation, mapping the location of the taste buds in the mouth.