Debra A. Zellner

Montclair State University

Presidential Address: Why We Like the Foods We Like

People make decisions about whether and what to eat many times a day. One factor that influences these decisions (although certainly not the only one) is how much they like the food. There are some innate sensory qualities that influence liking and preference. However, those innate qualities are clearly not the entire story since how much people like a given food varies greatly from person to person. My talk will discuss some factors that influence liking and degree of preference for foods. Knowing what factors can influence liking for a food and the degree to which one food is preferred to another will help us understand why there is such a great deal of variability among individuals in liking and preference. This knowledge might also provide ways to make it easier for people to make healthier food choices.