Healthcare professionals would be thrilled if individuals made decisions about what to eat based on a solid knowledge of what constitutes a “healthy diet.” Unfortunately, that is not typically the case. Many people do not know what constitutes a healthy diet. There are also those who do know but make less healthy choices for several reasons.

The food choices that people make are influenced by a variety of factors. Factor-categories include, but are not limited to, environmental cues, socioeconomic realities, cultural/religious beliefs, and the availability of foods in the community.

In a 3-page paper, written in APA format using proper spelling/grammar, address the following:

1. Explain what nutrition is and why it is important.
2. Describe the characteristics of a healthy diet and provide supporting examples.
3. Identify at least two (2) factors (other than culture) that can impact a person’s food choices and provide a specific example for each.
4. Research a culture (e.g., ethnic, religious, dietary) where specific food restrictions are dictated and address the following:
   1. Describe the restrictions.
   2. Explain how the restrictions could make it difficult for an individual to achieve a healthy diet.
   3. What dietary alternatives could be incorporated to overcome the dietary restrictions?
5. Cite at least 3 credible references and present the resources in APA format on the References page.

Answer preview

Biological factors that affect food choice among people are hunger, taste, and appetite. These are the most fundamental determinants of food choices because the human body needs nutrients and energy to survive and respond to hunger or satiety. In the human body, the balance between hunger, food intake, and appetite stimulations are controlled by the central nervous system. Macronutrients generate varying satiety signals, with proteins being the most satiating and fats being the least satiating. Palatability is another crucial determinant of peoples’ food choices. Palatability refers to the proportionate pressure one feels when consuming a particular

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