Food Consumption Patterns
Current Consumption Patterns
Social Factors
o With more single parents working and women working full time, the time available for food selection and preparation has decreased.
o Many homes that are now being constructed in Sydney are made so that they do not even have a proper kitchen because of the changing society factors.
o Australian consumers are experimenting with a diverse range of new, exotic and foods that are culturally different. This includes raw animal foods being influenced by Asia (Japan) – such as sushi which has become every popular
o Restaurants and fast food chains have extended their opening times. This is so they can cater to customer’s lifestyles. Such as some people will pick food up on the way home from work to give to their families or food (such as pizza) can be delivered to your door.
o Australians are cooking less and going out and purchasing and dining more, there has been less and less time spent in the kitchen each year as
of social influences
Economical Factors
Economic factors such as income and the cost of living affect the foods we select. The cost of food often takes priority over considerations such as nutritional value, social desirability and taste.
· Money is the main factor when it comes to family dinners. The cost of food takes priority over desires, nutrition and preferred tastes
· Families with low incomes often suffer poor health because they can’t afford and adequate food intake. They may suffer lack of iron or vitamin C. They may choose the cheaper option in replacement for the healthier option. This all contributes to diet related diseases such as diabetes or heart diseases.
· The main groups that are at risk of under nutrition are those who are:
o Unemployed
o Low-wage earners
o Single parent families
o Pensioners
o Aborigines
· Those who live on the ‘outskirts of town’ (low socio-economic) are also at disadvantaged and placed at risk because they may not have the access to the local fresh food. Therefore forced to depend on the ‘corner shops’ in their local towns.
Nutritional Factors
Environmental Factors
· Food has to be grown, processed, packaged, distributed and stored.
· All these processes have environmental impacts because of the energy and natural resources that they use.
· Some of these resources are renewable but many are not.
· For example, the growing of rice has meant that irrigation has to be used to supply sufficient water.
· Extensive irrigation can have significant effects on surrounding land.
· Land has to be cleared to grow crops and this can cause erosion.
Production and Processing
· The Australian food industry started in the middle of the nineteenth century.
· Recent developments in food packaging and storage include flexible and lightweight plastic packaging materials.
· Food quality has also had an impact on food packaging
· Processing affects how food tastes, looks and smells
Social Factors
o With more single parents working and women working full time, the time available for food selection and preparation has decreased.
o Many homes that are now being constructed in Sydney are made so that they do not even have a proper kitchen because of the changing society factors.
o Australian consumers are experimenting with a diverse range of new, exotic and foods that are culturally different. This includes raw animal foods being influenced by Asia (Japan) – such as sushi which has become every popular
o Restaurants and fast food chains have extended their opening times. This is so they can cater to customer’s lifestyles. Such as some people will pick food up on the way home from work to give to their families or food (such as pizza) can be delivered to your door.
o Australians are cooking less and going out and purchasing and dining more, there has been less and less time spent in the kitchen each year as
of social influences
Economical Factors
Economic factors such as income and the cost of living affect the foods we select. The cost of food often takes priority over considerations such as nutritional value, social desirability and taste.
· Money is the main factor when it comes to family dinners. The cost of food takes priority over desires, nutrition and preferred tastes
· Families with low incomes often suffer poor health because they can’t afford and adequate food intake. They may suffer lack of iron or vitamin C. They may choose the cheaper option in replacement for the healthier option. This all contributes to diet related diseases such as diabetes or heart diseases.
· The main groups that are at risk of under nutrition are those who are:
o Unemployed
o Low-wage earners
o Single parent families
o Pensioners
o Aborigines
· Those who live on the ‘outskirts of town’ (low socio-economic) are also at disadvantaged and placed at risk because they may not have the access to the local fresh food. Therefore forced to depend on the ‘corner shops’ in their local towns.
Nutritional Factors
Environmental Factors
· Food has to be grown, processed, packaged, distributed and stored.
· All these processes have environmental impacts because of the energy and natural resources that they use.
· Some of these resources are renewable but many are not.
· For example, the growing of rice has meant that irrigation has to be used to supply sufficient water.
· Extensive irrigation can have significant effects on surrounding land.
· Land has to be cleared to grow crops and this can cause erosion.
Production and Processing
· The Australian food industry started in the middle of the nineteenth century.
· Recent developments in food packaging and storage include flexible and lightweight plastic packaging materials.
· Food quality has also had an impact on food packaging
· Processing affects how food tastes, looks and smells