There are many factors that you might not consider when thinking about your nutrition. All of these factors affect your nutrition. They affect how you eat, where you eat, how much you eat, why you eat, whether or not you eat, and how much your body needs to eat.
Your home. If you live in a small apartment with limited kitchen space, you probably won't cook as much, and you may be more likely to rely on meals prepared out of your home. If you live in a home with a large kitchen, preparing your own meals becomes easier.
Your daily schedule. Some people have a similar schedule from day to day. This allows for a routine for eating. Some people's schedule does not have any meal or snack breaks at all. That can lead to going a long time without eating.
Your family responsibilities. People who care for family members often prioritize others' preferences when cooking meals. Caring for children or family members who are elderly or have disabilities is a responsibility that takes up a lot of time and allows less time for self care.
Your sleep hygiene. Your circadian rhythm affects metabolic hormones. People with poor sleep tend to have higher weights, and overnight workers have higher metabolic risks.
Your stress levels. Some people eat out of stress, and some people don't eat when they are stressed. Additionally, chronic stress can lead to higher cortisol levels, which is linked to weight gain.
Your hobbies. Hobbies can be sedentary, such as playing video games, active such as sports, or somewhere in between, such as woodworking. This affects how much physical activity you get throughout the day.
Your occupation. Is your job active or sedentary? An active job such as warehouse work means you need more nutrition and calories to get through the day. A desk job, which is more sedentary, means you do not need extra calories.
Your main method of transportation. If you commute in a car, you'll be spending more time sitting. If you commute on public transit, you'll have some walking in your day to get to the public transit. If your commute is via walking or biking, you'll have some exercise built into your day every day.
It can be helpful to consider the non-food factors that affect your nutrition. For most people, at least some of these factors are modifiable. With some lifestyle changes, your nutrition can be improved.
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