[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/edisoninst.com\/understanding-diet-psychology-what-influences-our-eating\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/edisoninst.com\/understanding-diet-psychology-what-influences-our-eating\/","headline":"Understanding Diet Psychology\u2009\u2014\u2009What Influences Our Eating?","name":"Understanding Diet Psychology\u2009\u2014\u2009What Influences Our Eating?","description":"What comes to mind when you think of food? Of course, most of us eat when we\u2019re hungry\u2009\u2014\u2009but diet psychology goes way beyond just hunger. Food can invoke fond memories of...","datePublished":"2021-10-07","dateModified":"2026-03-31","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/edisoninst.com\/author\/ein_marlene\/#Person","name":"Marlene","url":"https:\/\/edisoninst.com\/author\/ein_marlene\/","identifier":4,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/669d68837c50949b8a978b90d77c2c97da62be0c9a8fee8912abb01c7e0947a8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/669d68837c50949b8a978b90d77c2c97da62be0c9a8fee8912abb01c7e0947a8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Edison Institute of Nutrition","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/edisoninst.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Edison-Institute-of-Nutrition-logo-color.svg","url":"https:\/\/edisoninst.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Edison-Institute-of-Nutrition-logo-color.svg","width":0,"height":0}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/edisoninst.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/understanding-diet-psychology-what-influences-our-eating.jpg","url":"https:\/\/edisoninst.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/understanding-diet-psychology-what-influences-our-eating.jpg","height":630,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/edisoninst.com\/understanding-diet-psychology-what-influences-our-eating\/","about":["Articles","Emotional Health"],"wordCount":1681,"articleBody":"What comes to mind when you think of food?Of course, most of us eat when we\u2019re hungry\u2009\u2014\u2009but diet psychology goes way beyond just hunger.Food can invoke fond memories of cooking with your mother or grandmother.Food can cause feelings of comfort, or contentedness\u2009\u2014\u2009or guilt.When you study for a registered holistic nutrition diploma at the Edison Institute Of Nutrition, one of the many courses you\u2019ll take is in diet psychology.After all, if you want to help your clients improve their eating habits and manage chronic illness, you\u2019ll need to understand their eating habits.The issues around diet psychology are just one of the hurdles your holistic nutrition clients will face.What factors play a role in diet psychology?Keep reading to learn more.What Is The Psychology Of Dieting?The psychology of eating and dieting are all of the factors going into decisions about what we eat, when we eat, and how much we eat.Food is meant to nourish us, of course.However, we also want it to taste good and have a beneficial impact on quality of life.In theory, we want to eat things that make us feel good.However, there is often a dissonance between eating foods that fuel us and leave us feeling our best and eating delicious foods which perhaps aren\u2019t as healthy and leave us feeling unwell.Understanding the psychology behind what we eat can help lead to better choices.When your clients understand why they eat, you\u2019ll have an easier time helping them:Manage depression naturallyManage eczema naturallyNaturally control fearImprove mental capacityManage arthritis naturallyManage stress naturallyAnd much moreMore broadly speaking, it can help your clients enjoy a better body image, manage chronic fatigue, and enjoy higher overall levels of health.And, of course, a more positive relationship with food.What Influences Our Eating Behaviours?If we only ate when we were hungry, and then stopped when full, people probably wouldn\u2019t have as many issues with food as we do.Sure we would need to ensure we\u2019re getting the appropriate nutrients in the food we do eat.But we wouldn\u2019t have issues with overeating, obesity would likely go way down, and food probably wouldn\u2019t be such a source of guilt for so many people.However, there are several other factors going into why we eat\u2009\u2014\u2009hunger is just one of them.Let\u2019s take a look at some of the factors influencing our eating behaviours.1. Being HungryIf you ask people why they eat, hunger is probably number one on the list.As humans, we require energy to function\u2009\u2014\u2009energy we get from the calories in the food we eat.We also need nutrients for our bodies to function\u2009\u2014\u2009this also comes mostly from our food.As we eat, we experience satiety, or a feeling of fullness, based on the energy density of the foods we choose.Being hungry is obviously a factor in why we eat, but it\u2019s hardly the only one.Did you know feeling hungry can be an indication for the need to drink more water? Water fills the stomach and quiets the Ghrelin hormone that triggers hungry, giving you time to make a healthy choice.2. Tasting GoodVery rarely when people go back for a second slice of cake, or another handful of chips is it because they\u2019re still hungry.Instead, it\u2019s because it tasted good.Taste goes beyond just whether something is sweet, salty, sour, or bitter.It\u2019s a combination of all sorts of sensory stimulation related to food, including smell, texture, and appearance.If you\u2019ve ever been drawn toward the kitchen because someone was cooking something that smelled good, or felt your mouth watering because of a picture of food, you know these factors can all influence the taste of food.3. Cultural & Social BackgroundCultural influences can affect both what people eat, and what they don\u2019t.Some cultures celebrate holidays and other celebrations with large, lavish meals.Others restrict people from eating certain types of food, such as pork or ham.Keeping these social and cultural factors in mind will be important when working with your clients.4. Social ContextSocial situations can have a huge impact on what people eat.Who hasn\u2019t been encouraged to have another helping of a dish when at a social function, even if they aren\u2019t feeling hungry?Or ordered a glass of wine because others were ordering a drink?On the other side of this, people are often more likely to make healthier food choices if they notice others around them doing the same.For instance, if you work in a place where most people are eating healthier lunches on a regular basis, you may find yourself reaching for healthier options as well, in order to \u201cfit in\u201d better.5. Psychological FactorsWe\u2019ve all heard of \u201cstress eating\u201d when under pressure, or using ice cream to ease the pain of a bad breakup.These are examples of psychological factors which can impact our eating habits, however, they have different effects on different people.Take stress for example; some people when under high stress will cope by eating a lot more than usual, yet in other people it will cause a reduction in appetite.In addition, food has long been thought to have healing powers and used as a way to alter mood.While there are some foods that reduce anxiety naturally, that isn\u2019t generally what we reach for.Rather, we go for whatever food serves as comfort for us \u2013 which is usually not the healthiest option.6. How Much It CostsFor low income individuals especially, the cost of food plays a huge role in what types of food they are willing to purchase.While eating healthy on a tight budget is of course possible, many people aren\u2019t aware of how to do it properly.A parent may opt to continue purchasing the same foods their children are used to rather than trying to introduce new, healthier options for fear the new foods will be rejected.There may also be worried about the possibility of fresher foods such as fruits and vegetables going bad, or a reluctance to purchase better quality food items instead of less expensive, but shelf stable, alternatives.7. The Presence Of An Eating DisorderThe development of eating disorders generally stems from an individual\u2019s desire to lose weight or otherwise control their body shape.Factors which can lead to eating disorders include stress, anxiety, distorted self image, and low self esteem.8. Education & BiasIn a European study on consumer attitudes towards food, individuals with higher levels of education were more likely to indicate \u201chealth\u201d as a factor when choosing foods.In addition, those who feel their diets are healthy are less likely to be influenced to change their eating habits for health reasons.9. Other FactorsOther factors which can affect what we eat include:Availability of food, and access to healthy foodsCooking skills and time required to prepare mealsBeliefs about which foods are healthful.How Can You Address This In Your Clients As A Registered Holistic Nutritionist?As a registered holistic nutritionist, it\u2019s up to you to understand which of these elements is affecting your clients\u2019 eating habits.Getting a better understanding of these can help you to write an appropriate meal plan for them.If someone grew up in a family with lower income, for example, they may have grown up eating a lot of fast food items.Others might go to certain foods in times of extreme stress.We know removing those items is the ideal situation for their health, but it\u2019s not enough just to tell them to eat fewer cheeseburgers.They have an emotional connection to food, regardless of how unhealthy it is.It\u2019s your job to find a way to help them understand why they eat the way they do and explore options which might trigger a similar emotional connection without the harm.From a purely nutrition based perspective, you can provide an ideal plan for your clients.But if you don\u2019t have a good understanding of the other factors at play which influence your clients\u2019 eating habits, you\u2019ll have a hard time getting them to follow through with the plan you provide.Contact The Edison Institute Of NutritionHave you been considering switching your career and training to become a registered holistic nutritionist?Are you tired of your current career and want to get into something where you feel like you\u2019re making a difference?Did you read the above article and find yourself wanting to know more?Just one of the many holistic nutrition courses we offer as part of our diploma program is \u201cDiet Psychology\u201d, where you\u2019ll learn more about the emotional consciousness behind harmful eating patterns.Practicing as a registered holistic nutritionist is a great way to feel like you\u2019re making a difference in peoples\u2019 lives.To find out more about how to begin your training as a registered holistic nutritionist, contact the Edison Institute of Nutrition today.You\u2019ll get a chance to speak with a counsellor who will help you understand your options and whether studying holistic nutrition is right for you.Contact the Edison Institute of Nutrition today.Explore Our Online Nutrition Programs | Book an Advisor CallFlexible online education \u2022 Pay as you learn\u2009\u2014\u2009no large upfront fees \u2022 Advisor supportNot sure which path is right? 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