Good nutrition is important for your future, too. Even though you feel great now, things may be happening inside of you that you will not notice for years. For instance, the foods you select now could raise your chances of having a heart attack in the future. On the other hand, making wise food choices can help you prevent some health problems. Careful food choices today may help you avoid getting fragile bones, heart disease, and certain types of cancer in the future. Now is the time to make the best choices you can. Why Do You Eat? Almost everyone at some time has asked, “Why did I eat that?” Like Carlos in Figure 1.4, you most often eat because you are hungry. Perhaps you, like Jada, eat when you get together with friends. Maybe you raid the refrigerator out of boredom as Jordan did. People eat to satisfy physical needs, social needs, and emotional needs. Does This Conversation Sound Familiar? Jada: Why did I eat that pizza at Riley’s house on Sunday? I wasn’t even hungry. All the other kids were having pizza. So, I ate some, too. Carlos: I know why I ate dinner last night. I was starving! Jordan: I wasn’t hungry either when I ate that ice cream last night. I was just looking for something to do. I was so bored. Top to bottom: Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com sherwood/Shutterstock.com Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com Figure 1.4 People eat for a variety of reasons. You may eat for different reasons than your friends do. What is an example of a time you ate for social needs? Adventures in Food and Nutrition Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 8