Introduction
Dietary behavior is shaped by a wide range of factors, from personal health needs to cultural traditions or even economic circumstances. In this WebQuest, you will explore the many factors that influence how people eat and gain a deeper understanding of the complexity of dietary decisions.
Task
In this Webquest you will investigate the factors that shape dietary behavior (individual, cultural, social and economic), assess their impact on health and sustainability, and present your findings creatively.
Process
Step 1: Investigate the Factors Influencing Dietary Behavior
Work individually to explore the different factors that shape what people eat:
- Individual Factors- Research how age, gender, health status, and personal preferences influence food choices.
- Cultural Factors- Explore how culture, tradition, and religion affect dietary behavior.
- Social Factors- Understand the role of family, friends, and social media in shaping food choices.
- Economic Factors- Investigate how income, food prices, and availability impact dietary decisions.
Useful links:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10912473/
https://www.eufic.org/en/healthy-living/article/the-determinants-of-food-choice
Step 2: Assess the Impact of Dietary Choices
Go deeper by examining the consequences of food decisions:
- Health Impact: Investigate how different diets affect overall health, including weight management, heart health, and disease prevention.
- Environmental Impact: Research the environmental footprint of various diets, focusing on factors like resource usage, carbon footprint, and sustainability.
- Ethical Considerations: Explore ethical issues related to food choices, such as animal welfare and fair trade practices.
Step 3: Share your findings
Share your findings in the following Padlet in any form you want, so that everyone can learn from each other: https://padlet.com/meddiet4health/factors-influencing-dietary-behavior-5becwq0fezh4xqs1
Evaluation
Webquest evaluation: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeb4xxn2Be_EgAsF5Yjgw2PPjJH8v7mvIb0j5d9_zbEprsAOA/viewform?usp=header
Students evaluation will be made according to the following rubric:
|
Criteria |
5 - Excellent |
4 - Proficient |
3 - Satisfactory |
2 - Needs Improvement |
1 - Inadequate |
|
Investigation of Individual Factors |
Thoroughly explores age, gender, health status, and personal preferences with clear, detailed examples and explanations |
Explores most individual factors with relevant examples and explanations |
Covers some individual factors but with limited detail or examples |
Mentions individual factors superficially, lacking clear examples or explanations |
Fails to address individual factors or provides incorrect/incomplete information |
|
Investigation of Cultural Factors |
Insightfully explains how culture, tradition, and religion influence dietary behavior with strong supporting evidence |
Explains cultural factors with relevant examples and some supporting evidence |
Provides basic explanation of cultural factors with limited examples |
Cultural factors mentioned but lack clarity or supporting detail |
Does not address cultural factors or explanations are inaccurate |
|
Investigation of Social Factors |
Clearly analyzes the role of family, friends, and social media in food choices with detailed and relevant examples |
Analyzes social factors with relevant examples |
Mentions social factors but with minimal explanation or examples |
Social factors are vaguely referenced without clear analysis |
Social factors are omitted or incorrectly described |
|
Investigation of Economic Factors |
Thoroughly investigates income, food prices, and availability with detailed explanation and relevant data/examples |
Investigates economic factors with sufficient explanation and examples |
Addresses some economic factors with limited detail or examples |
Economic factors are mentioned superficially without clear explanation |
Does not address economic factors or provides inaccurate information |
|
Assessment of Health Impact |
Provides an in-depth analysis of how diets affect health, including weight, heart health, and disease prevention |
Provides clear analysis of health impacts with relevant examples |
Provides basic information on health impact with limited examples |
Health impact is mentioned but lacks analysis or examples |
Health impacts are not addressed or information is incorrect |
|
Assessment of Environmental Impact |
Thoroughly evaluates environmental footprints including resource use, carbon footprint, and sustainability with examples |
Evaluates environmental impact with relevant examples |
Mentions environmental impact with limited detail or examples |
Environmental impact is superficially covered with little analysis |
Environmental impact is omitted or inaccurately described |
|
Assessment of Ethical Considerations |
Insightfully explores ethical issues such as animal welfare and fair trade with well-supported arguments |
Explores ethical considerations with relevant examples |
Provides basic mention of ethical issues with limited support |
Ethical considerations are mentioned without clear understanding or examples |
Fails to address ethical considerations or provides incorrect information |
|
Creativity and Presentation |
Findings presented very creatively and engagingly using Padlet, demonstrating originality and clarity |
Presentation is creative and clear, effectively using Padlet |
Presentation is clear but lacks creativity or engagement |
Presentation is unclear or minimally uses Padlet features |
Presentation is incomplete, unclear, or not shared on Padlet |
|
Overall Understanding and Insight |
Demonstrates deep understanding of the complexity of dietary behavior influenced by multiple factors |
Shows good understanding of dietary behavior factors |
Shows basic understanding but lacks depth |
Shows limited understanding or misconceptions about dietary behavior factors |
Demonstrates little or no understanding of dietary behavior factors |
Conclusion
Through this WebQuest, you have discovered that our dietary behavior is shaped by individual, cultural, social and economic factors. By investigating these dimensions, you have gained a deeper understanding of why people eat the way they do and how these choices affect both health and society. Now you are better prepared to make informed decisions about your own diet and to appreciate the diversity of eating habits across different communities.
Credits
Teacher Page
This WebQuest was edited by a teacher of Gymnázium Cyrila Daxnera vo Vranove nad Topľou, Slovakia, as part of the activities of the "Mediterranean Diet for Overall Health" (MedDiet4Health) Erasmus+ project (Project number: 2023-2-EL01-KA210-VET-000183592).
By engaging in this WebQuest, students develop research and analytical skills through the investigation of how various factors influence dietary behavior. They enhance critical thinking as they assess the impact of individual, cultural, social and economic influences on food choices. Additionally, they gain practical skills relevant to nutrition, public health and food technology, including interpreting data, presenting information effectively and applying knowledge to real-world contexts.
This WebQuest reflects only the author’s views. The European Commission’s support for the production of this WebQuest does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.