Presenter(s)
Ava Krolnik, Megan Ekern, Isabelle Okeson, Esther Gauerke, Georgia Jeddeloh, Riley Buck
Abstract
Healthy eating is critical for promoting longevity, lowering risk of chronic illnesses like heart disease and maintaining a healthy weight. However, only 1 in 10 Americans are meeting dietary guidelines and 60% have one or more diet-related chronic diseases. Research on psychosocial factors like the Theory of Planned Behavior and identity may help promote the engagement of healthy eating behaviors. Longitudinal research suggests that factors such as attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and intentions predict long-term eating behaviors and lifestyle changes when intentions are internalized and believed. Research also demonstrates that constructs such as the self-as-doer identity predict healthy eating behaviors. The self-as-doer identity is a construct which aims to describe one in terms of the action of doing a behavior (i.e. gym-goer, fruit-eater). Knowing that doer identities predict a stronger relationship with doing certain habits means that we can create interventions based on identity to promote healthy behaviors. However, less is known about how individuals define a healthy eater. That is, what does a healthy eater look like and in turn, do? Better understandings of how individuals conceptualize healthy eaters may help promote more healthy eating behaviors. Therefore, we qualitatively explored how individuals perceive and describe healthy eaters. Participants (N=383), both online and in-person, were asked to imagine what a healthy eater looks like and responded in an open-ended question. Consensual qualitative research methodology was used to analyze themes. Three themes describing common behaviors of healthy eaters emerged. Healthy eaters eat specific foods or follow certain diets (e.g., vegan, vegetarian). Specific foods mentioned were fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Healthy eaters also prepare food in a specific way (e.g., eating fresh vs. processed foods) and eat foods with specific nutritional values. In addition to eating healthy foods, healthy eaters also engage in regulating their eating behaviors by being “watchful” or “cautious” of what they eat. More specifically, healthy eaters also restrict or avoid certain foods or dietary behaviors (e.g., limit salt or sugar) and certain foods are withheld or avoided altogether. Findings demonstrate that individuals conceptualize healthy eaters eating specific healthy and avoiding specific unhealthy foods. Notably, avoidance or limitation of unhealthy foods and is highly reflective of cultural influences (e.g., fresh vs. processed foods, diet types, etc.). Results also demonstrate a strong presence of what to eat rather than “how” to eat, which enables us to create goals that can build doer identities and to sustain healthy eating. Limitations include a correlational design, limited sample pool, and western culture ideals; themes may not be generalizable to all. Future researchers could examine whether healthy eater identities lead to healthy eating behaviors using experimental designs such as food diaries and real-time food consumption data collection. Researchers could also measure how people are being healthy eaters not just what makes them a healthy eater.
College
College of Liberal Arts
Department
Psychology
Campus
Winona
First Advisor/Mentor
Amanda Brouwer
Location
Kryzsko Great River Ballroom, Winona, Minnesota; United States
Start Date
4-23-2026 9:00 AM
End Date
4-23-2026 10:00 AM
Presentation Type
Poster Session
Format of Presentation or Performance
In-Person
Session
1a=9am-10am
Poster Number
43
What do Healthy Eaters Do?: A Qualitative Analysis of Self-as-Doer Healthy Eater Identities
Kryzsko Great River Ballroom, Winona, Minnesota; United States
Healthy eating is critical for promoting longevity, lowering risk of chronic illnesses like heart disease and maintaining a healthy weight. However, only 1 in 10 Americans are meeting dietary guidelines and 60% have one or more diet-related chronic diseases. Research on psychosocial factors like the Theory of Planned Behavior and identity may help promote the engagement of healthy eating behaviors. Longitudinal research suggests that factors such as attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and intentions predict long-term eating behaviors and lifestyle changes when intentions are internalized and believed. Research also demonstrates that constructs such as the self-as-doer identity predict healthy eating behaviors. The self-as-doer identity is a construct which aims to describe one in terms of the action of doing a behavior (i.e. gym-goer, fruit-eater). Knowing that doer identities predict a stronger relationship with doing certain habits means that we can create interventions based on identity to promote healthy behaviors. However, less is known about how individuals define a healthy eater. That is, what does a healthy eater look like and in turn, do? Better understandings of how individuals conceptualize healthy eaters may help promote more healthy eating behaviors. Therefore, we qualitatively explored how individuals perceive and describe healthy eaters. Participants (N=383), both online and in-person, were asked to imagine what a healthy eater looks like and responded in an open-ended question. Consensual qualitative research methodology was used to analyze themes. Three themes describing common behaviors of healthy eaters emerged. Healthy eaters eat specific foods or follow certain diets (e.g., vegan, vegetarian). Specific foods mentioned were fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Healthy eaters also prepare food in a specific way (e.g., eating fresh vs. processed foods) and eat foods with specific nutritional values. In addition to eating healthy foods, healthy eaters also engage in regulating their eating behaviors by being “watchful” or “cautious” of what they eat. More specifically, healthy eaters also restrict or avoid certain foods or dietary behaviors (e.g., limit salt or sugar) and certain foods are withheld or avoided altogether. Findings demonstrate that individuals conceptualize healthy eaters eating specific healthy and avoiding specific unhealthy foods. Notably, avoidance or limitation of unhealthy foods and is highly reflective of cultural influences (e.g., fresh vs. processed foods, diet types, etc.). Results also demonstrate a strong presence of what to eat rather than “how” to eat, which enables us to create goals that can build doer identities and to sustain healthy eating. Limitations include a correlational design, limited sample pool, and western culture ideals; themes may not be generalizable to all. Future researchers could examine whether healthy eater identities lead to healthy eating behaviors using experimental designs such as food diaries and real-time food consumption data collection. Researchers could also measure how people are being healthy eaters not just what makes them a healthy eater.
Comments
Is Madeline Bersch a presenter? Not listed in poster index, listed in abstracts (but no text saying a co-author = not a presenter)