Theory of Food: Unravelling the Lifelong Impact of Childhood Dietary Habits on Adult Food Preferences across Different Diet Groups
The study investigates the behavioral manifestations of the “Theory of Food” (ToF), a novel theoretical framework centered on the early development of food perceptions. The ToF posits that childhood experiences with food shape cognitive networks influencing adult dietary choices. Stemming from the “...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/3/428 |
| _version_ | 1797318384568762368 |
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| author | Omer Horovitz |
| author_facet | Omer Horovitz |
| author_sort | Omer Horovitz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The study investigates the behavioral manifestations of the “Theory of Food” (ToF), a novel theoretical framework centered on the early development of food perceptions. The ToF posits that childhood experiences with food shape cognitive networks influencing adult dietary choices. Stemming from the “Theory of Mind,” the ToF hypothesizes that individuals construct an associative world of food images and representations mirroring the socio-cognitive world shaped by proper theory of mind development. The study, involving 249 healthy adults, employs the Cognitive Food Preference Questionnaire (CFPQ) and the Adult Food Preference Profile (AFPP) to explore the correlation between childhood and adult food preferences across diet groups (omnivores, vegetarians, and vegans). Results reveal robust correlations in omnivores, varied patterns in vegetarians, and mixed outcomes in vegans. Notably, omnivores show correlations in grains, fast food, dairy products, vegetables, meat, soft drinks, and snack consumption. Vegetarians exhibit correlations in grains, fast food, dairy products, vegetables, snacks, and, surprisingly, meat consumption. Vegans display correlations in grains, fast food, vegetables, and snacks. The study suggests that childhood dietary habits tend to influence adult food choices, offering insights for future research in the field of theory of food (ToF). |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:50:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-96acea97235b4d75b06d1f0e4c0e807b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:50:54Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-96acea97235b4d75b06d1f0e4c0e807b2024-02-09T15:19:57ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432024-01-0116342810.3390/nu16030428Theory of Food: Unravelling the Lifelong Impact of Childhood Dietary Habits on Adult Food Preferences across Different Diet GroupsOmer Horovitz0The Physiology & Behavior Laboratory, Tel-Hai Academic College, 9977 North Districts, Qiryat Shemona 1220800, IsraelThe study investigates the behavioral manifestations of the “Theory of Food” (ToF), a novel theoretical framework centered on the early development of food perceptions. The ToF posits that childhood experiences with food shape cognitive networks influencing adult dietary choices. Stemming from the “Theory of Mind,” the ToF hypothesizes that individuals construct an associative world of food images and representations mirroring the socio-cognitive world shaped by proper theory of mind development. The study, involving 249 healthy adults, employs the Cognitive Food Preference Questionnaire (CFPQ) and the Adult Food Preference Profile (AFPP) to explore the correlation between childhood and adult food preferences across diet groups (omnivores, vegetarians, and vegans). Results reveal robust correlations in omnivores, varied patterns in vegetarians, and mixed outcomes in vegans. Notably, omnivores show correlations in grains, fast food, dairy products, vegetables, meat, soft drinks, and snack consumption. Vegetarians exhibit correlations in grains, fast food, dairy products, vegetables, snacks, and, surprisingly, meat consumption. Vegans display correlations in grains, fast food, vegetables, and snacks. The study suggests that childhood dietary habits tend to influence adult food choices, offering insights for future research in the field of theory of food (ToF).https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/3/428theory of food (ToF)diet groupsdietary habitsfood preference |
| spellingShingle | Omer Horovitz Theory of Food: Unravelling the Lifelong Impact of Childhood Dietary Habits on Adult Food Preferences across Different Diet Groups Nutrients theory of food (ToF) diet groups dietary habits food preference |
| title | Theory of Food: Unravelling the Lifelong Impact of Childhood Dietary Habits on Adult Food Preferences across Different Diet Groups |
| title_full | Theory of Food: Unravelling the Lifelong Impact of Childhood Dietary Habits on Adult Food Preferences across Different Diet Groups |
| title_fullStr | Theory of Food: Unravelling the Lifelong Impact of Childhood Dietary Habits on Adult Food Preferences across Different Diet Groups |
| title_full_unstemmed | Theory of Food: Unravelling the Lifelong Impact of Childhood Dietary Habits on Adult Food Preferences across Different Diet Groups |
| title_short | Theory of Food: Unravelling the Lifelong Impact of Childhood Dietary Habits on Adult Food Preferences across Different Diet Groups |
| title_sort | theory of food unravelling the lifelong impact of childhood dietary habits on adult food preferences across different diet groups |
| topic | theory of food (ToF) diet groups dietary habits food preference |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/3/428 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT omerhorovitz theoryoffoodunravellingthelifelongimpactofchildhooddietaryhabitsonadultfoodpreferencesacrossdifferentdietgroups |