Conceptual Models of Food Choice: Influential Factors Related to Foods, Individual Differences, and Society
Understanding individual food choices is critical for transforming the current food system to ensure healthiness of people and sustainability of the planet. Throughout the years, researchers from different fields have proposed conceptual models addressing factors influencing the food choice, recogni...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-12-01
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Series: | Foods |
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Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/9/12/1898 |
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author | Pin-Jane Chen Marta Antonelli |
author_facet | Pin-Jane Chen Marta Antonelli |
author_sort | Pin-Jane Chen |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Understanding individual food choices is critical for transforming the current food system to ensure healthiness of people and sustainability of the planet. Throughout the years, researchers from different fields have proposed conceptual models addressing factors influencing the food choice, recognized as a key leverage to improve planetary and human health. However, a multidisciplinary approach is needed to better understand how different factors are involved and interact with each other in the decision-making process. The present paper reviews and analyzes existing models, providing an intact point-of-view by integrating key elements into a bigger framework. Key determinants of general food choice are identified and categorized, including food-internal factor (sensory and perceptual features), food-external factors (information, social environment, physical environment), personal-state factors (biological features and physiological needs, psychological components, habits and experiences), cognitive factors (knowledge and skills, attitude, liking and preference, anticipated consequences, and personal identity), as well as sociocultural factors (culture, economic variables, political elements). Moreover, possible directions of influence among the factors towards final food choice were discussed. The need of multidisciplinary impulses across research field with the support of empirical data are crucial for understanding factors influencing food choice as well as for enriching existing conceptual models. The framework proposed here would serve as a roadmap for facilitating communications and collaborations between research fields in a structural and systematic way. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:56:26Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-a582caa2980242699c886f400d67b27b |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2304-8158 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:56:26Z |
publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Foods |
spelling | doaj.art-a582caa2980242699c886f400d67b27b2023-11-21T01:36:20ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582020-12-01912189810.3390/foods9121898Conceptual Models of Food Choice: Influential Factors Related to Foods, Individual Differences, and SocietyPin-Jane Chen0Marta Antonelli1Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition Foundation, Via Madre Teresa di Calcutta, 3/a, 43121 Parma, ItalyBarilla Center for Food & Nutrition Foundation, Via Madre Teresa di Calcutta, 3/a, 43121 Parma, ItalyUnderstanding individual food choices is critical for transforming the current food system to ensure healthiness of people and sustainability of the planet. Throughout the years, researchers from different fields have proposed conceptual models addressing factors influencing the food choice, recognized as a key leverage to improve planetary and human health. However, a multidisciplinary approach is needed to better understand how different factors are involved and interact with each other in the decision-making process. The present paper reviews and analyzes existing models, providing an intact point-of-view by integrating key elements into a bigger framework. Key determinants of general food choice are identified and categorized, including food-internal factor (sensory and perceptual features), food-external factors (information, social environment, physical environment), personal-state factors (biological features and physiological needs, psychological components, habits and experiences), cognitive factors (knowledge and skills, attitude, liking and preference, anticipated consequences, and personal identity), as well as sociocultural factors (culture, economic variables, political elements). Moreover, possible directions of influence among the factors towards final food choice were discussed. The need of multidisciplinary impulses across research field with the support of empirical data are crucial for understanding factors influencing food choice as well as for enriching existing conceptual models. The framework proposed here would serve as a roadmap for facilitating communications and collaborations between research fields in a structural and systematic way.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/9/12/1898consumer behaviorcontext of choicehealthy and sustainable food choicesdecision makingfood system |
spellingShingle | Pin-Jane Chen Marta Antonelli Conceptual Models of Food Choice: Influential Factors Related to Foods, Individual Differences, and Society Foods consumer behavior context of choice healthy and sustainable food choices decision making food system |
title | Conceptual Models of Food Choice: Influential Factors Related to Foods, Individual Differences, and Society |
title_full | Conceptual Models of Food Choice: Influential Factors Related to Foods, Individual Differences, and Society |
title_fullStr | Conceptual Models of Food Choice: Influential Factors Related to Foods, Individual Differences, and Society |
title_full_unstemmed | Conceptual Models of Food Choice: Influential Factors Related to Foods, Individual Differences, and Society |
title_short | Conceptual Models of Food Choice: Influential Factors Related to Foods, Individual Differences, and Society |
title_sort | conceptual models of food choice influential factors related to foods individual differences and society |
topic | consumer behavior context of choice healthy and sustainable food choices decision making food system |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/9/12/1898 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT pinjanechen conceptualmodelsoffoodchoiceinfluentialfactorsrelatedtofoodsindividualdifferencesandsociety AT martaantonelli conceptualmodelsoffoodchoiceinfluentialfactorsrelatedtofoodsindividualdifferencesandsociety |