Podcast Episode 182: Harnessing the Psychology of Food – Jack Bobo

Why Smart People Make Bad Food Choices: The Invisible Influences that Guide Our Thinking

Consumers know more about health and nutrition than ever before. They have access to healthier food choices. Food and menu labeling are readily available. Despite all this, consumers have never been more obese. Nobody knew anything about nutrition in 1960 and yet few were overweight or obese. The people haven’t changed, the food environment has.

If we want to address obesity in America we need to change our food environment. We can begin to do this ourselves by reshaping our personal food environment to make the right choice the easy choice, such as using smaller plates, placing snacks out of sight, and using right-sized cups (7 ounces) for juice and sweetened beverages. There are also ways we can begin to reshape our external food environment so that it no longer works against us, but instead works to make healthier choices easier choices.

From superfoods to clean eating, we are seduced by marketing pitches that inevitably fail to deliver lasting results.”

Jack Bobo, MS, JD

Jack Bobo is the author of the book ‘Why smart people make bad food choices – the invisible influences that guide our thinking.’ He is also the CEO of Futurity, a food foresight company that advises companies, foundations and governments on emerging food trends and consumer attitudes and behaviors related to the future of food. Recognized by Scientific American in 2015 as one of the 100 most influential people in biotechnology, Jack is a global thought leader who has delivered more than 500 speeches in 50 countries. He previously served as the Chief Communications Officer and Senior Vice President for Global Policy and Government Affairs at Intrexon Corporation. Prior to joining Intrexon Jack worked at the U.S. Department of State for thirteen years as a senior advisor for global food policy. An attorney with a scientific background, Jack received from Indiana University a J.D., M.S. in Environmental Science, B.S. in biology and B.A. in psychology and chemistry.

Resources:

Jack’s book: Why Smart People Make Bad Food Choices: The Invisible Influences that Guide Our Thinking

Jack Bobo: Website | Blog Series | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn

Resources:

The Future of Food: Post-Pandemic – Podcast Episode #146 with Jack Bobo

The Future of Food: Science, Policy & Values – Podcast Episode #132 with Jack Bobo

The Surprising Truth About Sustainable Agriculture – Podcast Episode #43 with Jack Bobo

The Freakonomics of Food – Podcast Episode #84 with Jayson Lusk

Communicating Science in a Modern Media Environment – Podcast Episode #100 with Dietram Scheufele

Critical Thinking & Behavior Change – Podcast Episode #108 with Jason Riis

About the Dirty Dozen: Produce and Pesticides in Perspective – Podcast Episode #97 with Teresa Thorne

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Music by Dave Birk

Produced by JAG in Detroit Podcasts

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