Can you eat it? A link between categorization difficulty and food likability

In the present study we examined whether categorization difficulty regarding a food is related to its likability. For this purpose, we produced stimulus images by morphing photographs of a tomato and a strawberry. Subjects categorized these images as either a tomato or a strawberry and in separate sessions evaluated the food's eatability or the subject's willingness to eat (Experiments 1 and 2) and the likeliness of existence of each food (Experiment 2). The lowest score for ca- tegorization confidence coincided with the lowest scores for eatability, willingness to eat, and likeliness of existence. In Experiment 3, we found that food neophobia, a trait of ingestion avoidance of novel foods, modulated food likability but not categorization confidence. These findings suggest that a high categorization difficulty generally co-occurs with a decrease in food likability and that food neophobia modulates likability. This avoidance of difficult-to-categorize foods seems ecologically valid because before eating we have little information regarding whether a food is potentially harmful.     

VALUING OUR FOOD: MINIMIZING WASTE AND OPTIMIZING RESOURCES

The magnitude of the global food waste problem is staggering, yet it receives little mainstream attention. We waste nearly half of all food produced—more than one billion tons annually—yet nearly one billion global citizens are hungry. Our values are out of balance; we need to properly value our food. Urgent change is needed, beginning with heightened awareness and a sense of responsibility to people and planet. Feeding nine billion people by 2050 is a tremendous challenge, but also a tremendous opportunity to develop new levels of innovation and collaboration to eradicate hunger, improve the environment for future generations, and create a more unified, secure world. A new, durable, multifaceted approach to reducing food waste is needed in the form of a global network. This global network should be anchored by a sense of shared responsibility among consumers, businesses, governments, and global institutions to optimize resources in the quest to provide for nine billion people by 2050.     

时间洞察力特质对食品选择偏好的影响:解释水平对内隐偏好的作用

探索两类时间洞察力特质个体外显与内隐食物选择偏好。实验1用《津巴多时间洞察力问卷》选出\"现在享乐\"和\"未来定向\"两类个体,考察其外显食物选择偏好,结果发现,与\"未来定向\"组相比,\"现在享乐\"个体选择更多垃圾食品。实验2中,两类个体分别接受不同的解释水平操作,之后完成单靶内隐联想测验,以考察其对垃圾食品的内隐态度,并检验解释水平的调节作用。结果发现,与未来定向组相比,现在享乐组对\"垃圾食品\"存在内隐偏好。此外,对现在享乐者,解释水平改变会对食物选择偏好有显著影响;而对未来定向者,其影响不显著。这表明与未来时间定向者比,现在享乐者在外显、内隐层面对\"垃圾食品\"有选择偏好,并且解释水平会通过改变心理距离对其内隐选择偏好产生影响。     

暴食症的影响因素及其机制

暴食症表现为反复发作的暴饮暴食症状, 并伴随着强烈的沮丧感, 个体在进食时通常感觉失去控制, 进食大量食物。暴食行为受到应激、负性情绪、冲动性人格、身体不满意与限制性进食以及父母的喂养方式影响。关于暴食症发生和维持的理论模型主要有情感调节理论、食物成瘾模型、人际关系模型以及完美主义模型。未来要进一步探究影响暴食的因素, 完善暴食症的理论模型, 运用脑成像等技术深入研究暴食症的认知神经机制并加强对暴食症的干预与治疗研究。     

我国农村地区婴幼儿的喂养问题与对策

喂养不当是导致婴幼儿生长发育不良及营养障碍性疾病的主要原因。婴幼儿的喂养问题在我国农村地区尤为突出,主要表现在喂养方式、添加辅食和喂养行为等方面。文章重点围绕上述3个方面展开分析、提出对策,以期为政府决策、儿童保健人员及喂养者提供参考。