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The purpose of this study was to study the relationship between social position and food tastes. The empirical data stem from a survey carried out in 1991 on 703 people aged 23–26 years. Bourdieu's theory of the relationship between social position and consumption was used as a theoretical framework. Bourdieu attacks the position often expressed by economists that consumers are similar in most respects except for their economic capital. He introduced the concept ‘cultural capital’ when describing different consumption practices and emphasizes the relationship between gender and food tastes. The social position variables in this study include economic and cultural capital, and gender. Participants were asked to evaluate exotic, healthy, filling, inexpensive and traditional food. Two dimensions of food orientations were observed: food as form and food as function. Economic capital was of importance concerning the costs of food and its filling functions. Groups rich in cultural capital were more interested in healthy and exotic food and less interested in filling food than those possessing less cultural capital. Women were more concerned about healthy food than men. Cultural capital had an independent effect when economic capital was constant.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which social groups influenced eating patterns among young adults, aged 23-26 years. The analyses are based on a study consisting of 703 individuals with social groups being made up by parents, siblings, partners, friends, and co-workers/fellow students. Perceived norms of social groups and social attachment to these groups were measured. Demographic variables included education, income, marital status, and whether participants had children. These variables were subsequently correlated with a food frequency measure. The most influential social factor for predicting eating patterns among young adults was perceived norms of partner. Educational level was also an important factor. These results support the Lifelong Openness Model which suggests that individuals remain open to persuasion from socialization agents throughout life.