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.

[1]  F. Mckee.  East of Eden : a brief history of fruit and vegetable consumption , 1995 .

[2]  Mohsen Mesgarani,et al.  Book Review: Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases , 2003, World Health Organization technical report series.

[3]  C. Mooney.  Cost and availability of healthy food choices in a London health district , 1990 .

[4]  K. Beerman,et al.  Benefits and barriers to fruit and vegetable intake: relationship between attitudes and consumption , 1995 .

[5]  M. Nestle.  Ethical dilemmas in choosing a healthful diet: vote with your fork! , 2000, Proceedings of the Nutrition Society.

[6]  A. Anderson,et al.  Ripe for Change: fruit and vegetables in Scotland - current patterns & potential for change , 1994 .

[7]  P. Rozin,et al.  Food likes and dislikes. , 1986, Annual review of nutrition.

[8]  R. Fischer,et al.  Taste Thresholds and Food Dislikes , 1961, Nature.

[9]  M. Lean,et al.  UK consumer attitudes, beliefs and barriers to increasing fruit and vegetable consumption , 1998, Public Health Nutrition.

[10]  A. Fallon,et al.  The psychological bases of food rejections by humans , 1983 .

[11]  Rachel L. Thompson,et al.  The Health Education Authority's health and lifestyle survey 1993: who are the low fruit and vegetable consumers? , 1999, Journal of epidemiology and community health.

[12]  A. Drewnowski,et al.  Young women's food preferences and taste responsiveness to 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) , 2000, Physiology & Behavior.

[13]  Farm Buildings,et al.  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food- , 1956 .

[14]  M. Conner,et al.  The Theory of Planned Behaviour , 2004 .

[15]  A. M. Remaut de Winter,et al.  Influences on food choice perceived to be important by nationally-representative samples of adults in the European Union. , 1997, European journal of clinical nutrition.

[16]  A. Drewnowski,et al.  Taste preferences and food intake. , 1997, Annual review of nutrition.

[17]  M. Perri,et al.  Strategies for Improving Maintenance of Weight Loss: Toward a continuous care model of obesity management , 1993, Diabetes Care.

[18]  V. Freimuth,et al.  Attitudes and Behaviors Related to Fruits and Vegetables among Low-income Women in the WIC Program , 1996 .

[19]  Carlo C. DiClemente,et al.  The Transtheoretical Approach: Crossing Traditional Boundaries of Therapy , 1994 .

[20]  A. Prevost,et al.  Dietary patterns and their associations with demographic, lifestyle and health variables in a random sample of British adults , 1996, British Journal of Nutrition.

[21]  J. Westenhoefer,et al.  Pleasure from Food: Importance for Food Choice and Consequences of Deliberate Restriction , 1993, Appetite.

[22]  W. Demark-Wahnefried,et al.  Fruit and vegetable consumption of rural African Americans: baseline survey results of the Black Churches United for Better Health 5 A Day Project. , 1998, Nutrition and cancer.

[23]  Neil D. Weinstein,et al.  Mindset, optimistic bias about personal risk and health-protective behaviour , 1999 .

[24]  A. Worsley,et al.  Teenage Vegetarianism: Prevalence, Social and Cognitive Contexts , 1998, Appetite.

[25]  Boyd Swinburn,et al.  Diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases. , 2003, World Health Organization technical report series.

[26]  A. Draper.  Vegetarianism in the UK , 1991 .

[27]  S. McClean,et al.  Attitudinal dimensions of food choice and nutrient intake , 1995, British Journal of Nutrition.

[28]  J. Martínez,et al.  Perceived need to alter eating habits among representative samples of adults from all member states of the European Union. , 1997, European journal of clinical nutrition.

[29]  M. Reicks,et al.  Factors affecting consumption of fruits and vegetables by low-income families. , 1994, Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

[30]  M. A. Khan,et al.  Evaluation of food selection patterns and preferences. , 1981, Critical reviews in food science and nutrition.

[31]  J. Heimendinger,et al.  Dietary behavior change: the challenge of recasting the role of fruit and vegetables in the American diet. , 1995, The American journal of clinical nutrition.

[32]  P. Sjödén,et al.  Food and General Neophobia and their Relationship with Self-Reported Food Choice: Familial Resemblance in Swedish Families with Children of Ages 7–17 Years , 1997, Appetite.

[33]  E. Glanville,et al.  Food Preference and Sensitivity of Taste for Bitter Compounds , 1965, Nature.

[34]  J. Brug,et al.  Psychosocial Determinants of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption , 1995, Appetite.

[35]  Nickie Charles,et al.  Women, Food, and Families. , 1988 .

[36]  Johannes Brug,et al.  Psychosocial determinants of fruit and vegetable consumption among adults: Results of focus group interviews , 1995 .

[37]  J. Pryer,et al.  Variation in fruit and vegetable consumption among adults in Britain. An analysis from the dietary and nutritional survey of British adults , 1999, European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

[38]  D. Booth,et al.  Influences on Meat Avoidance Among British Students , 1996, Appetite.

[39]  A. Gillespie,et al.  Factors affecting food choices of working mothers with young families. , 1990 .

[40]  A. Subar,et al.  Nutrition and cancer prevention knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and practices: the 1987 National Health Interview Survey. , 1992, Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

[41]  A. Anderson,et al.  Five a day – challenges and achievements , 2000 .

[42]  D. Schapira.  Nutrition and cancer prevention. , 1992, Primary care.

[43]  D. Kilcast,et al.  Practical approaches to increasing vegetable consumption , 1996 .

[44]  H. Upmeier,et al.  Costs of a healthy diet: analysis from the UK Women's Cohort Study , 1999, Public Health Nutrition.

[45]  A Saba,et al.  Difficulties in trying to eat healthier: descriptive analysis of perceived barriers for healthy eating. , 1997, European journal of clinical nutrition.

[46]  A. Anderson,et al.  Changing fortunes: changing food choices , 2000 .

[47]  J. Clark,et al.  Taste and flavour: their importance in food choice and acceptance , 1998, Proceedings of the Nutrition Society.

[48]  M. Lindström,et al.  Socioeconomic differences in the consumption of vegetables, fruit and fruit juices. The influence of psychosocial factors. , 2001, European journal of public health.

[49]  L. Holm,et al.  Preferences, quantities and concerns: socio-cultural perspectives on the gendered consumption of foods , 1999, European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

[50]  A. Tinsley,et al.  Importance of food choice influences for working young adults. , 1995, Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

[51]  L. Andersen,et al.  Who eats 5 a day?: intake of fruits and vegetables among Norwegians in relation to gender and lifestyle. , 1998, Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

[52]  R Shepherd,et al.  Methodological Approaches to Assessing Risk Perceptions Associated with Food‐Related Hazards , 1998, Risk analysis : an official publication of the Society for Risk Analysis.

[53]  I. Ajzen.  The theory of planned behavior , 1991 .

[54]  J. Kearney,et al.  Perceived barriers in trying to eat healthier – results of a pan-EU consumer attitudinal survey , 1999, British Journal of Nutrition.

[55]  J. Brug,et al.  Misconceptions of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption: Differences between Objective and Subjective Estimation of Intake , 1997 .

[56]  E. Negri,et al.  Margarine intake and risk of nonfatal acute myocardial infarction in Italian women , 1997, European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

[57]  M. Corver,et al.  The development of the UK market for intense and bulk sweeteners , 1995 .

[58]  B. Keen,et al.  Agriculture, Fisheries and Food , 1962, Nature.

[59]  A. Anderson,et al.  Five a Day? Factors Affecting Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Scotland , 1994 .

[60]  L. Donaldson.  Setting the National Agenda-Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation , 1999 .

[61]  London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , 1938, Nature.

[62]  D. Mela,et al.  Take Five, a nutrition education intervention to increase fruit and vegetable intakes: impact on attitudes towards dietary change , 1998, British Journal of Nutrition.