Factors affecting food choice in relation to fruit and vegetable intake: a review

Abstract

The present review provides an investigation into the food choice decisions made by individuals in relation to fruit and vegetable consumption. A comprehensive body of evidence now exists concerning the protective effect of fruit and vegetables against a number of diseases, particularly cardiovascular disease and certain forms of cancer. Current UK recommendations are to increase intakes of fruit and vegetables to 400 g/person per d. In the main body of the review the factors that affect food choice decisions of adults in relation to fruit and vegetable consumption are studied, following a suggested framework of food choice. Factors covered include sensory appeal, familiarity and habit, social interactions, cost, availability, time constraints, personal ideology, media and advertising and health. The content of the review shows just how complex the food choice process can be. Health promotion techniques can be better targeted towards certain groups of individuals, all holding similar sets of values, when making food choice decisions. Food choice, in relation to fruit and vegetable intake, needs to be studied in more depth, in order to provide effective nutrition education programmes, in particular the sets of priorities that different sub-groups of the population consider when making food choice decisions.

The art of grocery shopping on a food stamp budget: factors influencing the food choices of low-income women as they try to make ends meet

“…Hendrickson et al (6) found that fresh F&V at local stores in two urban Minnesota neighbourhoods were not only expensive, but also limited in variety and poorer in quality. These results suggest that the environment in which low-income families obtain food may be one of several barriers to the consumption of a healthy diet, a theme commonly reported in the literature (13)(14)(15)(16) .…”

Association between parental motives for food choice and eating patterns of 12- to 13-year-old Norwegian children

“…At the individual level, the motivation for food choice may be influenced by factors like sensory appeal, convenience, price, habit, weight control, health concerns and ethical concerns. These factors have also been associated with diet quality in adults, and may explain differences in diet linked to socio-economic status (8,(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15) . Individual motives are considered to be modifiable and therefore interesting with regard to health promoting activities.…”

Perceived quality and availability of fruit and vegetables are associated with perceptions of fruit and vegetable affordability among socio-economically disadvantaged women

“…women with low education, low income and/or residing in disadvantaged neighbourhoods) consume diets that are less consistent with guidelines for health, including lower consumption of fruit and vegetables (1)(2)(3) . One explanation for this socio-economic gradient in fruit and vegetable consumption is that women of low SEP are more likely than their more advantaged counterparts to perceive fruit and vegetables as expensive (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10) . Women's perceptions of fruit and vegetable affordability, rather than actual prices of fruit and vegetables, have been found to significantly mediate the relationship between SEP and fruit and vegetable consumption (11,12) .…”