Speakers and presentation

Edward Frongillo, University of South Carolina | Christine Blake, Drivers of Food Choice Program 
Drivers of Food Choice Behaviour

Session overview

Healthy food systems provide the foods necessary for sustained nutrition of a population. Rapid changes in food systems are shifting traditional dietary practices towards consumption of industrially or locally processed foods in countries regardless of income classification.  Understanding these changes and how they occur is important for promoting healthy nutrition and disease prevention. Frameworks and methods for studying drivers of food choice will be presented.  Three case studies will be used to frame a discussion about drivers of food choice in changing food systems. Brainstorming for policy and program action will be identified for each case. 

Learning objectives and outcomes

• Participants will be able to describe at least 2 frameworks for understanding drivers of food choice.
• Participants will be able to list common methods used to study drivers of food choice
• Participants will be able to evaluate the influence of selected food system changes on individual and household food choice behaviors
• Participants will be able to list policy and program actions to alter specific food choice behaviors

Target audience

Nutrition, agriculture, food systems researchers, program leaders, policy actors

Format, level and prerequisites

Introduction to frameworks and methods for food choice | Case studies, guided group work, presentations and discussion | Mixed | Session will be targeted to an intermediate level, meaning participants will need some knowledge of food systems and food behaviors