ABSTRACT
This chapter presents several current trends to explore how Americans eat for pleasure and wellbeing. It explores the key considerations in understanding food pleasure and wellbeing, paying careful attention to food and eating in the US. The chapter discusses modeling approaches and how obesity and overeating can be integrated into a behavioral model. It describes the special considerations necessary to understanding childhood food behavior, including reasons for targeting policies at childhood food consumption and common pitfalls. The chapter explains important considerations in understanding American food pleasure and wellbeing that change with income and how low-income Americans may experience food consumption differently than those with higher incomes and more wealth. It also explores phenomena and behavior that are of particular interest given the current policy climate and challenges. Food preferences and wellbeing often look different in low-income American households than among those with higher incomes and greater wealth.
