A Healthy Perspective: 2017 Food and Consumer Buying Habits, Consumer Confusion and Trends

(Recorded 5/18/17)

Although there is no shortage of research examining American’s perceptions around food, there is remains little consumer research helping unpack factors that drive food purchasing decisions. This session will highlight new research illustrating purchasing trends as well as specific factors contributing to food busy habits across the lifespan. This session will showcase the latest IFIC Food & Health Report findings, now in its 12th year.

Learning objectives:

1. Understand current food purchasing habits and how they have changed over time.

2. Understand how factors like income, gender, chronic disease, and education affect food purchasing and eating behaviors

3. Recognize differences in food purchasing and eating behaviors between baby boomers, older adults and the general population

4. Learn who consumers are turning to for nutrition information, and confusion in the food information landscape

Liz Sanders, MPH, RDN is Associate Director of Nutrition and Food Safety at the International Food Information Council Foundation. In addition to writing educational materials on various food and nutrition topics, Liz manages the planning and implementation of the yearly IFIC Foundation Food and Health Survey. Liz is a fervent science advocate, dedicated to delivering sound nutrition information with relatability and wit.

Before joining IFIC, Liz served as a nutrition educator in a variety of settings including diabetes self-management and community health centers. Liz received her undergraduate degree in Biology from Oberlin College, and is a graduate of the MPH/RD combined program in Nutrition at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

When she’s not writing for Food Insight, you can find her on the stage performing improvisational comedy with Washington Improv Theater.

Alex Lewin-Zwerdling is Vice President, Research and Partnerships. In that role she oversees IFIC’s consumer research, tracking the latest in food and nutrition trends, habits, perceptions and other factors that affect what drives America’s eating habits. Alex also develops IFIC’s partnerships across sectors, from food and agriculture companies and nutrition leaders, to public health experts, government agencies and others.

Alex joined IFIC from AARP Foundation, where she oversaw the organization’s hunger and nutrition research and strategy. In addition, Alex was a Vice President at Weber Shandwick where she served as a communications and nutrition expert for many food, agriculture and health care clients. Alex has also spent time at the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Services and the Pew Charitable Trusts. She is the 2016-2017 Chair of the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior’s Advisory Committee on Public Policy.

Alex holds a PhD in Nutrition, as well as a Master’s in Public Administration and Bachelor of Science, all from Cornell University.

Link to download the complete 2017 Food and Health Survey: http://www.foodinsight.org/pages/download-2017-food-and-health-survey