Changing eating practises, food habits and dietary experiences

This master's thesis aims to determine the societal factors that play a role in the formation of eating practices and food habits. Furthermore, this study focuses on food preferences, dietary recommendations, and practices in terms of nutritional anxieties and fear of food. It aimed to examine the needs of individuals for dietary or nutritional recommendations with a comprehensive field study within the framework of their experiences in following and implementing nutritional recommendations. A qualitative research was carried out for this study. Twenty-five in-depth interviews are made with people who visit a nutritionist regularly. Daily eating practices are so important to reveal possible food fears which existed in society. Results show that certain foods and forms of eating are created with fear in terms of societal factors, perceptions, and attitudes towards food that is effective in food preferences. However, negative attitudes toward certain foods are not always related to decreased consumption patterns. Dieting is done not only because of weight loss but also because of the fear of gaining weight. Healthy nutrition discussions influence attitudes and practices towards obesity, ideal body, beauty perception, and health-related fears. The results of the study also show that eating and diet experiences are different according to gender roles.