The economics of nutrition planning

Economic theory suggests that consumers act to maximize their utility subject to constraints on their income and time. An individual's actions in the market (demand) generally reflect preferences based on his or her perception of utility, or welfare. Economic research has indicated that consumers purchase food, not nutrients, and that public programs and decisions concerning nutrition which have ignored consumer preferences have often been ineffective and heavily criticized. Approaches which integrate consumer demand and nutrition planning may be more successful in achieving national and institutional goals.