What drives your food choices?

Countless influences affect what we eat. Some are obvious — taste preferences, cultural background, health concerns, etc. But some influences can be very subtle, even below the level of consciousness.

Obviously, cost, convenience and calorie content drive food choices. Not so obviously, social and psychological perspectives can be strong influences.

Although food traditions can be persistent, tastes seem to grow broader with each generation as ethnic and cultural influences become more mixed.

Health and environmental issues can have a powerful effect on food choices. Millennials tend to be more interested in organic and farm-to-table choices as well as grocery- and meal-delivery services.

In contrast, the upcoming Z generation seems to prefer snacking.

But some of the strongest drivers of food choice are changing rapidly as health, environmental and philosophical perspectives generate beliefs used by followers to convince others to make change.

Question: What motivates changes in beliefs about eating?

Answer: Clearly the media, family, friends and health professionals all influence food choices. But these influences are fading as people accept new beliefs and begin to proselytize to the point of what could be called food bullying.

Fear and promises are an underlying theme used to motivate people to change behavior. Starting in the 1980s, the McGovern report (Dietary Goals) blamed dietary fat and cholesterol for heart disease.

Since then, health professionals have been blaming a variety of foods for American’s health issues. This has evolved into a popular trend to classify foods and food groups as “good” or “bad” and, more recently, the promotion of “superfoods” with almost magical qualities, rather than a focus on dietary patterns and combinations of food groups that meet essential nutrient needs.

Proponents of diets ranging from low-carb to vegan are passionate about their perspectives, yet virtually oblivious to the importance of meeting essential nutrient needs.

Even when nutrient needs are addressed by a diet, factors that interfere with nutrient absorption are rarely considered.

For example, it is estimated that a vegan diet needs at least 80 percent more iron than one containing red meat. Also, a diet with no animal products makes it difficult to meet protein needs, especially for larger and overweight people.

Q: What is the biological purpose of food?

A: Regardless of which factors affect your personal food choices, consuming adequate essential nutrients to meet your biological needs for energy and health should always be the number one consideration.

Three suggestions for how to accomplish this:

>> Choose a variety of foods from all the food groups.

>> Be sure to have adequate protein.

>> Exercise adequately to help maintain muscle mass and a healthy weight.