Sociological Aspects of Food Choice Among Individuals

Sociological Aspects of Food Choice Among Individuals

The pilot study I conducted at Highpoint Shopping Centre allowed me to observe how food choices were made amongst different people. There are many factors that influence food choices. Therefore I conducted this observation to develop into food choices. Some factors involved gender differences, this effected the food choice and the process of eating, how the effect of age plays part in choosing food, along with which cultures foods were eaten most; Chinese, Turkish, or Italian. I also observed whether culture had an effect on food choices? What these people were wearing? How long it took for them to decide on what they were going to eat? Does the time of the day and the days of the week have an effect on the selection and amount of food eaten? And how the food is eaten? Children and how their food selection is analysed?

This topic interested me because eating is a process we go through every day in order to survive therefore it is interesting to see who eats what in this ongoing process. The variety of foods offered today in a multicultural environment can give people a wide choice to choose from, this I think makes it more interesting.

Methodology

The pilot study was conducted at the food court in Highpoint Shopping Centre on the second level, where I spent a total of six hours, broken into three, two-hour sessions. The reason that I chose Highpoint Shopping Centre was because there is a large choice of different culture foods, including McDonald’s and KFC (those two not being a part of the culture foods), which play a major part in the selection for the children.

During this observation I could say that I saw more than 200 people. Interaction wa...

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...nd KFC, whereas middle aged people ate more healthy. Middle aged people ate more of a variety than the younger aged. Elderly people showed attendance in eating healthier food; this could have been because of health reasons.

Time had effects on the social aspects of food choice and the proportion of food eaten. At lunch hour’s people ate more than later on in the evening.

Dress style had effects on food choices. Most dressed formally dined in the take away store. This was the Italian restaurant.

These are just some of the findings in my observation. As you can see food choices are a major part in our lives. Observing helps us have a better understanding of how choices are made when involved in activities such as eating. Therefore it helps us think open-mindedly and perceive about sociological aspects and how patterns are formed when you observe.