Discuss evolutionary explanations of eating behaviour (6 marks)

Eating habits and food preferences are said to have come from our ancestors and adapted in our environment of evolutionary adaptation (EEA). Are ancestors were hunter-gatherers who were constantly battling against starvation, which lead to a preference for high calorie and easily available food. This ensured that they would be able to hunt for the next meal and have sufficient fat reserves for lean times.Evidence to support the importance of calories in early diets comes from Gibson and Wardle, they found in a sample of 4 to 5-year Old children, a preference for high calorie fruit and vegetables was demonstrated (e.g. potatoes and bananas) over sweeter and more familiar one. Hence, they had evolved a preference for calorie rich foods.However, although many food preferences can be traced back to adaptive pressures in the EEA not all traits which are beneficial today e.g. low cholesterol foods, would have evolved because it benefited our ancestors. Moreover, many things that were essential to our ancestors are harmful in modern environments, such as high saturated fats.