A Method to Measure Perceptions of Food Among the Elderly

A method to measure food perceptions among the elderly was developed using focus group and Q-sort methodologies. The 78 elderly participants responded favorably to the method which resembled a card game. The strongest perceptions of food as quantified using factor analysis were the expense of the food and the health promoting qualities. Convenience and health promoting qualities of food were positively related to consumption while expense was negatively related to food consumption.