Cited by 391Nutrition, Health and Food BehaviorFood, Nutrition, and Cultural PracticesEating Disorders and Behaviors

The meaning of food in our lives: a cross-cultural perspective on eating and well-being

Rozin, Paul·2005·Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior

Abstract

Humans are biologically adapted to their ancestral food environment in which foods were dispersed and energy expenditure was required to obtain them. The modern developed world has a surplus of very accessible, inexpensive food. Amid the enormous variety of different foods are "super" foods, such as chocolate, which are particularly appealing and calorie dense. Energy output can be minimal to obtain large amounts of food. In terms of education (eg, in nutrition and risk-benefit thinking) and environment design, modern cultures have not kept pace with changes in the food world. Overweight and worrying about food result from this mismatch between human biological predispositions and the current food environment. The French have coped with this mismatch better than Americans. Although at least as healthy as Americans, they focus more on the experience of eating and less on the health effects of eating. They spend more time eating, but they eat less, partly because of smaller portion sizes. French traditions of moderation (versus American abundance), focus on quality (versus quantity), and emphasis on the joys of the moment (rather than making life comfortable and easy) support a healthier lifestyle. The French physical environment encourages slow, moderate social eating, minimal snacking, and more physical activity in daily life.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/s1499-4046(06)60209-1

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16 of 16 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • The SAVE FOOD program succeeded in significantly reducing food loss in Kenya.

    “For example, the SAVE FOOD program succeeded in significantly reducing FL in Kenya [93].”
  • Culture has a crucial role in dietary habits, as well as in generating food waste.

    “Culture has a crucial role in dietary habits, as well as in generating FW [93].”
  • In the developed world, particularly the U.S., increases in the volume, availability, accessibility, affordability, and caloric density of food have led to increased overconsumption and waste.

    “In the developed world, particularly the U.S., increases in the volume, availability, accessibility (Rozin 2005), affordability, and caloric density of food have led to increased overconsumption and waste (Blair and Sobal 2006).”
  • Culture plays a fundamental role in shaping food, eating, and nutrition, as well as waste generation.

    “Culture plays a fundamental role in shaping food, eating, and nutrition (Rozin 2005, Sobal 1998), as well as waste generation.”
  • French attitudes toward food tend to emphasize moderation and quality, rather than abundance and quantity as in the U.S.

    “French attitudes toward food tend to emphasize moderation and quality, rather than abundance and quantity as in the U.S. (Rozin 2005).”

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Authors
Rozin, P.
Affiliations
University of Pennsylvania (US)
Corresponding author
Rozin, Paul
Venue
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2005-11
Volume
37
Pages
S107-S112
ISSN
1499-4046 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2027880001
Cited by
390
References
17
Citations by year
2026: 19 · 2025: 26 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 38 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 16
FWCI
4.26
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Food, Nutrition, and Cultural Practices
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
Keywords
food environment, dietary habits, well-being, overweight, obesity, cross-cultural comparison, portion size, snacking, physical activity, nutrition education, social eating
MeSH terms
Energy Intake, Cross-Cultural Comparison, Diet, Eating, Feeding Behavior, Humans, Nutritive Value, Obesity, Exercise

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