1.Nutritional Adequacy
• This is the most important factor, which means that the nutritional requirements of all the family members are fulfilled. e.g. a growing child needs more protein, a pregnant or lactating woman needs calcium, etc.
• While planning meals you will include food items from various food groups, that is, energy giving foods, body building foods and protective and regulating foods.
2.Age
• People normally eat according to their age.
• The diet of various members of different age groups differs in quantity. A new born baby drinks
only milk, a small child’s meal is also of very small quantity, an adolescent eats still more in amount
and variety of foods.
• Similarly, elderly persons eat less food and also that they prefer soft and easy to digest foods.
3.Sex
Dietary requirement of adolescent and adult males are more than their female counterparts.
4.Physical activity
• The kind of work a person does affects the kind and amount of food they need to take.
• RDA is different for people engaged in different activities.
• A laborer not only eats more quantity but needs more energy because he is engaged in hard work.
• His body uses up more energy while performing hard work.
• So, if you have to plan for such a person you will include more energy giving foods in the diet
5.Economic consideration:
• Money available to the family to be spent on food is another major factor.
• Foods like milk, cheese, meat, fruits, nuts etc. are expensive.
• However, when fruits and vegetables are in season they are less costly and at the same time nutritious, hence it is possible to plan a balanced diet to suit every budget
6.Time, energy and skill considerations
• While planning the meals, it is important to consider resources like time, energy and skill
available to the family.
• Meals can be elaborate with different dishes or simple but nutritious.
7.Seasonal availability
• Some foods are available in during rainy seasons while some are available during dry seasons.
• The off season foods are expensive and less nutritious, while those in season are fresh, nutritious, tasty and cheap.
• Hence, while planning, it is best to use seasonal foods.
8.Religion, region, cultural patterns, traditions and customs
• Regional factors influence meal planning.
• Religious beliefs prevalent in the family also have an influence.
• For example, if you are a vegetarian, your diet will not have any meat or meat product, e.g. Hindus do
not eat beef and Muslims do not eat pork etc.
9.Variety in color and texture
• Varying color and texture in a meal makes it more appealing, attractive and is likely to be more acceptable
10.Likes and dislikes of individuals
• The food you serve should cater to the likes and dislikes of the individual family members.
• It is often better to change the form of some particularly nutritious food item, rather than omitting it completely.
• For example, if someone in your family does not like fresh milk, you can offer it in the form of fermented milk.
11.Satiety value
• While planning meals, take care that you select foods which provide satiety value.
• Meals which produce inadequate satiety, will lead to onset of hunger pangs, which in turn will affect the working capacity and efficiency of a person.
Titany answered the question on May 5, 2022 at 11:51