Junior Cert Home Economics: Healthy Eating

Why do we eat?
1. Most people eat because they feel hungry or because they like the taste of food. However, the most important reason we eat is to stay alive.
Functions of food
1. For the growth and repair of body cells
2. To provide heat and energy for the body
3. To regulate and protect the body
Food choices
1. Most foods will keep us alive, but in order to keep the body healthy, we must choose nourishing foods, i.e. those that will help maintain good health
  1. Good food choices include fruit and veg, white meat, eggs, potatoes and fish
  2. Bad food choices lead to bad health - many diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and dental decay are associated with an unhealthy diet
Factors that affect our choice of food
1. 1. Senses: Our senses help us to decide whether we like or dislike a food
  1. Smell: Cells in the nose pick up the odor of food. This makes the mouth water and starts the digestive juices working
  2. Sight: Food that is well-presented and looks attractive makes us want to eat it
  3. Taste: Cells on the tongue, called taste buds, pick out flavors (sweet, sour, salty, and bitter)
  4. Touch: The tongue also senses the texture and temperature of food. Is it hot, cold, smooth, lumpy, soft, or crunchy?
2. 2. Food value: Is the food nourishing? Has it a good balance of nutrients, with the right amount of kilocalories for the energy needs of the body?
3. 3. Lifestyle: Eating habits are formed at the home, where children tend to eat the same thing as their families, whether this is a nourishing on or not. As children grow older, outside influences such as friends and advertising may encourage them to try other foods
4. 4. Culture: The country we live in and the group or race we belong to influence what we eat. In Ireland, bread and potatoes are staple foods; in Italy, people eat lots of pasta. Some religions have specific rules about what foods may be eaten (e.g. Hindus do not eat beef). Eating traditions play a part in celebrations such as weddings, Christmas, Passover and Shrove Tuesday.
5. 5. Cost: What foods can I afford to buy? Wealthy people may eat more expensive foods and eat out more often. Those on a limited budget, e.g. pensioners, have to settle for cheaper foods, though these are not necessarily less nourishing
6. 6. Availability: What types of foods are available in the shops? Today, we have a greater choice of food than ever before. Improved transport and technology mean that foods from all over the world are available all year round. In rural areas there is often less choice, although some families may produce some of their own food
Eating patterns today
1. Food not only satisfies our hunger, it is also a source of pleasure and a social activity. At mealtime the family has a chance to sit down to talk and eat with each other. Regular meals are important, and three meals a day is the usual pattern - breakfast, lunch and dinner/supper.
2. In recent years there have been many changes in eating habits.
  1. Many people lead busier lives, they have less time for cooking and for sit-down meals, so they may not cook or eat together regularly
  2. More fast foods (i.e. processed/convenience foods, such as McDonald's) are eaten
  3. Young people often eat 'on the move' , eating snacks such as sandwiches or takeaways
  4. More people eat out in restaurants, both traditional and ethnic
  5. There is greater interest in healthy eating. Organic food (food produced without the use of artificial chemicals) and vegetarianism have become popular
  6. People tend to 'graze' more, i.e. they eat throughout the whole day, rather than just three times a day, even though they might not be hungry.
Unhealthy eating
1. Medical experts have found that we consume too much:
  1. Fat (particularly animal fat)
  2. Sugar
  3. Salt
  4. Alcohol
2. And that we do not consume enough:
  1. Fibre
  2. Fruit and vegetables

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Junior Cert Home Economics: Healthy Eating

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