The Psychology of Eating

Food choices are influenced by more than just hunger. Psychological, social, and physical factors can strongly affect how and why people eat.

Choose ONE psychological factor from the list below:
- Level of physical activity
- Physical stage of development
- Hunger and satiety cues
- Food allergies and sensitivities
- Hydration and nutritional needs
- Body image
- Peer and family influence
- Stress
Research the factor and how it can contribute to unhealthy eating.
Create a list of specific real-life examples (at least 2) showing how this factor can lead to unhealthy eating habits.
For each example, suggest 1–3 realistic solutions that could help someone avoid or escape that “unhealthy eating trap.”

AI tools can generate ideas quickly, but they must be used thoughtfully.

Your task:

Ask an AI chatbot (such as ChatGPT or Claude) the following question:

“What are 5 ways that people use food to meet their psychological needs?”
Spend about 15 minutes asking follow-up questions and exploring the psychology of food and eating.
Take notes on the responses you receive.

AI responses are not always accurate.

Your task:

Choose 3–5 claims from the chatbot’s responses that you think are most likely to be incorrect, exaggerated, or oversimplified.
Verify each claim using a reliable source (for example: government health websites, hospitals, or academic health organizations).
For each claim:
- State what the AI said
- Summarize what your trusted source says
- Explain whether the AI’s information was accurate, partially accurate, or inaccurate

Make a short video explaining a way that media/society encourages unhealthy eating habits, and a practical way to manage those temptations.

Assessment