research questions examples about food

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120 Food Research Paper Topics

How to choose a topic for food research paper:, fast food research paper topics:.

• The impact of fast food consumption on obesity rates in children
• The influence of fast food advertising on consumer behavior
• The correlation between fast food consumption and cardiovascular diseases
• The role of fast food in the development of type 2 diabetes
• The effects of fast food on mental health and well-being
• The environmental impact of fast food packaging and waste
• Fast food and its contribution to food deserts in urban areas
• The economic implications of the fast food industry on local communities
• Fast food and its association with food addiction and cravings
• The nutritional value and quality of ingredients used in fast food
• The influence of fast food on dietary patterns and nutritional deficiencies
• The role of fast food in the globalization of food culture
• The ethical concerns surrounding fast food production and animal welfare
• The impact of fast food consumption on academic performance in students
• Fast food and its relationship to food insecurity and poverty

Food Insecurity Research Paper Topics:

• The impact of food insecurity on child development
• Food insecurity and its relationship to mental health
• Exploring the causes of food insecurity in urban areas
• The role of food banks in addressing food insecurity
• Food insecurity among college students: prevalence and consequences
• The effects of food insecurity on maternal and infant health
• Food insecurity and its implications for rural communities
• The relationship between food insecurity and obesity
• Food insecurity and its impact on academic performance in children
• The role of government policies in addressing food insecurity
• Food insecurity and its connection to chronic diseases
• The effects of food insecurity on older adults’ health and well-being
• Food insecurity and its influence on food choices and dietary quality
• The role of community gardens in reducing food insecurity
• Food insecurity and its impact on social inequalities and disparities

Organic Food Research Paper Topics:

• The impact of organic farming on soil health and fertility
• The nutritional differences between organic and conventionally grown fruits and vegetables
• The effects of organic farming practices on water quality and conservation
• The potential health benefits of consuming organic dairy products
• The role of organic agriculture in reducing pesticide exposure and its associated health risks
• The economic viability and market trends of organic food production
• The impact of organic farming on biodiversity and ecosystem services
• Consumer perceptions and attitudes towards organic food: A global perspective
• The effectiveness of organic farming in mitigating climate change
• The role of organic farming in promoting sustainable food systems
• Organic versus conventional meat production: A comparison of animal welfare standards
• The impact of organic food consumption on human health and disease prevention
• The challenges and opportunities of organic food certification and labeling
• The role of organic farming in reducing food waste and promoting food security
• The potential environmental and health risks associated with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in organic food production

Food Technology Research Paper Topics:

• The impact of food processing techniques on nutritional value
• The role of food technology in reducing food waste
• The development of sustainable packaging materials for food products
• The use of nanotechnology in food processing and preservation
• The application of artificial intelligence in food quality control
• The potential of 3D printing in personalized nutrition
• The impact of food technology on the sensory properties of food products
• The role of food technology in improving food safety and reducing foodborne illnesses
• The development of novel food ingredients using biotechnology
• The use of blockchain technology in ensuring traceability and transparency in the food supply chain
• The impact of food technology on the shelf life and stability of food products
• The role of food technology in addressing food allergies and intolerances
• The application of robotics in food processing and manufacturing
• The development of functional foods for specific health conditions
• The use of genetic engineering in enhancing crop productivity and nutritional content

Food Safety Research Paper Topics:

• The impact of foodborne illnesses on public health
• The role of government regulations in ensuring food safety
• Food safety practices in the restaurant industry
• The effectiveness of food safety training programs for food handlers
• Food safety risks associated with genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
• The role of food packaging in maintaining food safety
• Food safety concerns in the global food supply chain
• The impact of climate change on food safety and security
• Food safety risks associated with food delivery services
• The role of consumer behavior in ensuring food safety
• Food safety practices in home kitchens
• The impact of food additives and preservatives on food safety
• Food safety risks associated with food allergies and intolerances
• The role of technology in enhancing food safety measures
• Food safety challenges in developing countries

Food History Research Paper Topics:

• The Evolution of Food Preservation Techniques
• The Impact of the Columbian Exchange on Global Cuisine
• The Role of Food in Ancient Egyptian Society
• The Origins and Development of Chocolate as a Culinary Delight
• The Influence of French Cuisine on Modern Gastronomy
• The Cultural Significance of Spices in Medieval Europe
• The History of Food and Nutrition in World War II
• The Impact of Industrialization on Food Production and Consumption
• The Role of Food in Ancient Greek and Roman Rituals and Festivals
• The History of Street Food and its Socioeconomic Impact
• The Origins and Evolution of Sushi in Japanese Cuisine
• The Influence of Immigration on American Food Culture
• The History of Food and Medicine: From Ancient Remedies to Modern Nutraceuticals
• The Role of Food in Colonialism and Cultural Assimilation
• The Evolution of Fast Food and its Impact on Global Health

Food Marketing Research Paper Topics:

• The impact of social media on consumer behavior in the food industry
• The effectiveness of celebrity endorsements in food marketing campaigns
• The influence of packaging design on consumer perception and purchasing decisions
• The role of sensory marketing in food product development and promotion
• The effects of nutritional labeling on consumer choices and health outcomes
• The use of virtual reality and augmented reality in food marketing strategies
• The impact of food advertising on children’s food preferences and consumption patterns
• The role of cultural factors in shaping food marketing strategies and consumer behavior
• The effectiveness of personalized marketing approaches in the food industry
• The influence of food branding and brand loyalty on consumer purchasing behavior
• The role of sustainability and ethical considerations in food marketing practices
• The effects of food pricing strategies on consumer choices and market competition
• The impact of online food delivery platforms on consumer behavior and market dynamics
• The role of food labeling claims and certifications in consumer trust and decision-making
• The effects of food marketing on public health and policy implications

Food Chemistry Research Paper Topics:

• Analysis of food additives and their effects on human health
• Investigating the role of antioxidants in preventing food spoilage
• The chemistry behind flavor development in fermented foods
• Analyzing the chemical composition of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food
• Understanding the chemical reactions involved in food browning and Maillard reaction
• Investigating the chemistry of food preservation methods, such as canning and freezing
• Analyzing the chemical changes in food during cooking and their impact on nutritional value
• The role of enzymes in food processing and their effects on food quality
• Investigating the chemistry of food allergies and intolerances
• Analyzing the chemical composition and health benefits of functional foods
• Understanding the chemistry of food packaging materials and their impact on food safety
• Investigating the chemical changes in food during storage and their effects on shelf life
• Analyzing the chemical composition and nutritional value of organic versus conventionally grown foods
• Investigating the chemistry of food contaminants, such as heavy metals and pesticides

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• 60+ Great food survey questions to ask (+ free templates)

Şeyma Beyazçiçek

The food is an excellent source of pleasure for both eater and the maker . Witnessing the food is approved is such a happy feeling for you! To make them happier and increase the quality of the food, you only need to share survey questions about food.

A good food survey is a helpful tool for you to gain valuable feedback from your target audience, including service, restaurant, etc . Collecting their positive and negative reviews will let you know your strong and weak sides.

If you want to gather feedback about all the thoughts, feelings, and advice about the food, you are at the right place because we have collected the must-ask 60+ great food survey questions to ask and how to create one.  

• What is a food survey?

A food survey is a document that gathers any kind of customer experience that is related to food & drink, service, taste, restaurant, mobile/web apps, packaging, accessibility to the help center, speed, etc . All the feedbacks about these topics are vital for you because they affect the views on your brand.

The definition of a food survey

It is a well-known fact that most unsatisfied customers will stop choosing your business without complaining. This rate even goes as far as 91% and simply illustrates the importance of paying attention to your customer’s feedback before lettering them go.  

Food survey types

Food surveys are divided into some categories according to their contents. For that reason, the food questions of the survey will show differences from type to type. Food survey types can be listed as listed below: 

• Food quality survey
• Food habits survey
• Favorite foods survey
• Fast food survey
• Food survey questions about restaurant
• Food allergy survey
• Food waste survey
• New food product survey
• Food-app questions
• 60+ questions examples for your next food survey

A good food survey shows its difference with its question quality. Finding the proper and right questions for your food survey might be confusing since there are lots of things to rate or learn about your customers. However, we have collected the most useful examples of food survey questions to use in your food survey. 

Look at the excellent questions in the lists given below we’ve collected for you!

Food quality survey questions

Food quality questions ask the general question about the food to test the quality. The quality of the food is what customers make sure about eating healthily and protect them from the dangers of consuming tainted food. Here are your must-ask food quality survey questions:

1. From 1 to 10, how do you rate our food?

2. What do you like about our food the most?

• Healthy Options

3. Which food of ours was the least favored?

4. Do you believe the quality makes us different from others?

5. How are you likely to choose us again?

• Very Likely
• Very Unlikely

6. How are you likely to recommend us to your friends & family?

Food habits survey questions

The food habits of the consumers might answer many questions about their choices and frequencies. Also, you can learn their general habits from the survey responses related to your restaurant. If you want to learn these, have a look at the food habit survey questions:

7. How often do you eat here?

• Once a week
• Twice a week
• Three times a week
• Four times a week

8. Generally, what do you eat here?

9. Generally, what do you drink here? 10. Generally, with whom do you come here?

11. Do you order online or from the restaurant generally?

12. Since when do you choose us?

• Within the last 6 months
• 6 months to 1 year ago
• 1 to 2 years ago
• 2 to 3 years ago
• 3+ years ago

13. Do you like eating different meals?

Favorite food survey questions

Have you ever wondered about your most liked food? You can learn iy by asking your favorite food survey questions to your customers. Learning the most requested food will help you to invest better. For that reason, see the best favorite food survey questions given below:

14. Which dish do you like the most?

15. Which food do you dislike the most?

16. Which drink do you like the most?

17. Which drink do you dislike the most?

18. How often do you eat your favorite food?

• Once a month
• Twice a month
• Once a year

19. Do you recommend your favorite food to others?

20. Do you recommend your favorite drink to the others?

Fast food survey questions

Learning the most requested meals or aspects of fast food is only possible by presenting your customers with fast food survey questions. In order to learn their preferences, advice, or opinions about fast food, ask these most significant fast food survey questions:

21. How often do you eat fast food?

22. Which fast food menu do you order the most?

23. What makes us different from the other fast food chains?

24. What do you pay attention to in fast food the most?

• Quality of ingredients
• Nutritional value
• Speed of delivery

25. Do you find the prices of fast food affordable?

26. Which other fast food chains do you prefer?

• Burger King
• Dunkin' Donuts
• Chick-fil-A
• Other (specify)

27. Do you have any particular fast food preferences?

Food survey questions about the restaurant

Restaurants are vital for your business because it also reflects your brand. Creating a friendly atmosphere is so important because, in the restaurant, people do not only eat their food and leave; they also spend time there. So, the guests’ feedbacks really matter. Take a look at the most significant restaurant survey questions below: 

28. Are you satisfied with the general hygiene in the restaurant?

29. Did you use the toilets?

30. How do you rate the hygiene of the toilets?

• Below Average

31. Was the lighting enough?

32. How do you rate the design of the restaurant?

33. How do you rate the general order of the table?

34. Do you find the place family-friendly?

35. Do you enjoy spending time in the restaurant?

Food allergy survey questions

The guests’ experience with your food in terms of allergic reactions is really important. In order to learn if your food has any reactions or the allergic people can choose your food comfortably, you should definitely ask the food allergy survey questions listed below:

36. Do you have an allergy? 

37. Do you think you might have an allergy?

38. What are you allergic to?

39. Is the thing you are allergic to in our food?

40. While giving orders your food, do our staff pay attention to you about your allergy?

41. Do you have any dietary restrictions?

Food waste survey questions

Food waste is a big problem in the food industry. To decrease food waste, you can present your customers with a feedback survey to learn advice or comments on food waste. If you want to overcome the food waste problem, have a look at the food waste survey questions:

42. Do you think the portions are too big?

43. Do you always finish your meal?

44. Do you always finish your drink?

45. Do you pack the rest of your meal? 46. What do you think we should do to reduce food waste?

New food product survey questions

Presenting your customers with new food or updated version will make your business more lively. Moreover, gathering feedback about their opinions about the new food will enable you to take more confident steps for your following decisions. See the new food product survey questions: 

47. Did you try the new food?

48. How do you rate the new food’s portion?

49. What do you think about the new food?

50. Did you see our new food on social media?

51. Would you recommend our new food to your loved ones?

Food app survey questions

The usability of the survey is quite important. Moreover, you will learn the loved or disliked features of the food app. Apart from the questions, you can ask whether the customer got their food quickly. Check the usability of your app by asking these  food app survey questions:

52. What do you like about the app the most?

• The user-friendly interface
• The wide range of features
• The ability to customize the app
• The helpful customer support
• The frequent updates

53. What do you dislike about the app the most?

• Lack of features
• Poor user interface
• Buggy performance
• Lack of customization
• Difficult to use

54. Do you order on the app easily?

55. Did food arrive quickly?

56. Did you quickly find what you were looking for? 

57. Would you advise the app to your friends?

58. What is the best feature of the food app?

• Easy-to-use interface
• Wide variety of recipes
• Detailed nutritional information
• Meal planning capabilities
• Shopping list feature

59. Did you encounter any errors while ordering?

60. From 1 to 10, how do you rate the app?

• How to create your own food survey online

Once you decide to create your own food survey, the rest is relatively easy thanks to an online survey tool, like forms.app .  Now that you have lots of questions listed above, you can start creating your food survey.

As long as you follow the basic steps given below, you will have an excellent opportunity to gather feedback as you wish. You can design a well-prepared and smart survey if you follow these 3 basic steps:

1. Generate with AI, choose a template, or start from scratch

If you want to take advantage of the latest technology, use forms.app’s AI . Additionally, you can start from scratch if you wish to decide on the whole details. And if you want to save time, you can also choose ready-to-use food survey templates .

Choose how you like to start creating your survey

2. Edit & customize your survey

While deciding on the questions, you can choose multiple or open-ended questions based on your needs. You can edit your food survey as you wish. In this part, let your creativity speak for you! You can use the colors of your brands as the background or use your brand’s logo in the survey however you wish. 

Edit your food survey

3. Share your survey

In the final step, after checking your survey to prevent any mistakes, you can share your food survey on different platforms, including Wha tsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Mail, WordPress, and QR code. 

Share your food survey or embed it on a website

• Final words

To wrap it all up, food surveys are an excellent chance for your business. It can increase the engagement rate and collect data on different advertising opinions. Making your customers happy will make you happier, and this is possible with a good food survey.

So, that’s it: We have covered what a food survey is, shared 60 food survey questions that you can use as it is or customize for your needs, and talked about how you can create your own food questionnaire with free templates. Use the information available here and enjoy collecting data with your own survey.

Şeyma is a content writer at forms.app. She loves art and traveling. She is passionate about reading and writing. Şeyma has expertise in surveys, survey questions, giveaways, statistics, and online forms.

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Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health Guide

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Introduction

What characterizes a good question.

• Well-conceptualized
• Direct and clear
• Includes all components (main concepts)

Why should I formulate a structured research question?

• To point you in a specific direction (narrowing your scope/focus to ask a manageable question)
• To identify the main concepts of your question
• To help build your literature search strategy
• To improve your information retrieval
• To be able to evaluate the usefulness/appropriateness of the information retrieved 

Identifying Key Concepts and Search Terms

Using a framework to develop your research question can help to identify the main concepts of your review topic (see further down the page). Whether you use a framework or not, the goal is to identify the main concepts of your question and the synonyms / similar terms that might be used to describe each of those concepts:

Combining search terms with Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) and parentheses:

Use AND to combine different main concepts of your search: Childhood AND Asthma. Narrows results (see gray overlapping section of Venn diagram). 

Venn diagram of Childhood AND Asthma:

Use OR to include similar terms / synonyms (and sometimes antonyms) for a concept: childhood OR adolescence. Fertility OR infertility. Broadens results (see Venn diagram with all sections shaded in gray). 

Venn diagram of Childhood OR Adolescence: 

Parentheses

When you use synonyms and different concepts, you will need parentheses similar to the order of operations in math. Example: (childhood OR adolescence OR children) AND (asthma OR wheezing). This tells the database that any of the child terms must be in the article along with any of the asthma terms, but an article may not have just a child term or just an asthma term.

Use the Boolean operator NOT with caution. You will miss out on articles that talk about both concepts. For example: Child NOT Adult will miss articles that talk about children and adults, which may mean you don't see a key piece of information about your topic. To find information about children, the safer method is to include Child as a concept (e.g., AND (child OR childhood OR children OR kids)) to your search instead of 'NOTting' out Adults. 

Venn diagram of NOT Adult when you want to see information about children; the center slice could contain relevant information about children that you would miss by using NOT Adult:

Another example from Slippery Rock University Bailey Library using Peanut Butter and Jelly  may further clarify the use of Boolean operators and parentheses. 

Considerations for searching:

It is not always necessary to include all of your main concepts in the search. In some PICO questions, the outcome (O) is implied and does not need to be included. In other cases, any and all outcomes might of interest and so the search strategy can leave this out to keep it open.

Example research question: In seniors with dementia, does a falls prevention program, compared to no falls prevention program, result in decreased falls?

• In the above PICO question, the comparator (C) can be left out of the search strategy as there is no great way to search for "not" having the intervention (in contrast to when there is a placebo or an alternate intervention as a comparison)
• Also, the intervention (I) somewhat implies the outcome (O), so the outcome (decreased falls) can be left out of the search strategy
• The main concepts that should be included in this particular search are: seniors (P1), dementia (P2), and falls prevention (I). Keep in mind though that there are different ways of describing these three concepts and so synonyms / similar terms are important to include in the search as well

Frameworks for Research Questions

Applying a framework when developing a research question can help to identify the key concepts and determine inclusion and exclusion criteria.

• PICo: Population/Participants, phenomenon of Interest, Context
• PICO(S): Patient/Problem, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, (Study design)
• PECO(S):  Patient/Problem, Exposure, Comparison, Outcome, (Study design)
• PESICO: Person, Environment, Stakeholders, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome
• PIPOH: Population, Interventions, Professionals/Patients, Outcome, Healthcare Setting
• PS:  Population, Situation
• SPICE:  Setting, Perspectives, Intervention, Comparison, Evaluation

Example: PICO Questions

Example: SPICE Question

Example from: Booth, A., Noyes, J., Flemming, K., Moore, G., Tunçalp, Ö., & Shakibazadeh, E. (2019). Formulating questions to explore complex interventions within qualitative evidence synthesis . BMJ Global Health, 4(Suppl 1), e001107.

Example: Nutritional Sciences

Search strategy development in the Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health Guide .

Formulating Research Questions

Underdeveloped question: .

What interventions help against vaping in youth?

Refined research question:

What strategies are effective for preventing nicotine vaping in youth?

The content of this page is almost entirely from  Queen's University Library's Public Health Guide .

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160 Excellent Food Research Paper Topics for Students

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Are you a food science or food technology student searching for unique topics for your research paper? If yes, then this blog post is for you. Here, for your convenience, we have shared a list of the best 160 food research paper topics and ideas on various themes related to the subject.

Basically, food is essential for all living things because of the nutritional support it provides. Hence, it is impossible to imagine life without food. Moreover, in the fast-moving digital era, along with the development of technology, food has also taken different forms. In specific, processed food, packaged food, fast food and ready-made food with added preservatives are dominating human life. Due to these advancements in the food industry and the changes in the food style, certain health diseases also affect humans.

As food is one of the basic needs, a lot of research activities are being conducted in the field of food processing, food technology, food science, dairy technology, food safety, nutrition, and dietetics. So, for preparing your food research paper, you can also choose any intriguing topic from any of these domains.

List of Food Research Paper Topics

Whenever you get stuck with what topic to choose for your food research paper or essay, the list of ideas presented below will be more helpful to you. Explore the entire list and pick any food research topic that you feel is appropriate for you.

Food Research Paper Topics on Nutrition

• What are the most important types of nutrition to help body development?
• Bone density and poor nutrition: the correlation
• How affordable are nutritional supplements for poor people?
• The worldwide status of vitamin D nutrition
• Is it safe to use nutritional supplements to help bone density?
• Why is food science important in human nutrition?
• Why are amino acids important to the growth of muscles?
• How do the dietary habits of females affect their overall nutrition?
• An exhaustive definition of nutritional deficiency and the critical diseases malnutrition can cause.
• Nutrition-related health effects of organic foods
• Do dry beans serve proper nutrition and health benefits?
• Is organic milk a significant source of nutrition?
• Increased nutrition regulations on fast food restaurants
• Food preferences and nutrition culture
• Qualitative analysis of natural nutritional supplements.
• Should children be fed more dietary products like milk or less?
• Women and diet around the world.
• What are Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics?
• Discuss the sugar reduction strategies in foods
• Microbial safety evaluation of sugar-reduced foods and beverages
• Discuss the health effects of fermented foods containing added sugars
• Discuss some novel and emerging techniques for the detection of mycotoxins  in foods
• How to remove mycotoxins from foods?
• Psychological issues connected to food

Research Paper Topics on Food Safety

• Food and antimicrobial resistance
• How to eliminate the risk of botulism?
• How to effectively reduce the risk of food allergies?
• Meat and resistance to antimicrobials
• Recommendations for Ensuring Food Safety & Reducing Disease-Causing Mosquitoes
• Food safety and inspection service in your country
• Food safety risk assessment
• The role of government in food safety
• Food safety and health violations at the workplace.
• What consumers must know about Avian Influenza
•  Food and antimicrobial resistance
•  How to reduce the risk of botulism?
•  Health concerns for the use of coffee and caffeine
• Are color additives safe?
• How a community can contribute to ensuring food safety?
• Discuss the phenomena of negative-calorie foods
• Why it is important to ensure food safety for all?

Research Topics on Food Science

• What happens to stored foods?
• Factors that influence the taste of wine
• How to effectively prevent food poisoning?
• The influence of ethanol and pH balance on taste.
• How to influence the psychology of eating?
• What’s wrong with food addiction?
• Production and uses of protein hydrolysates and removal of bittering principles
• A comparative study on the physio-chemical properties of vegetable oils
• The innovative ways to help to fight against Food Waste.
• Toxicity of the aqueous environment
• Why food science is important in human nutrition
• How dietary habits of females affect their overall nutrition
• Influence of Food Science on the Diet of Persons
• Promoting Food Safety

Food Essay Topics

• The effects of fast food on society
• Should fast foods be sold in hospitals?
• An analysis of the socio-economic benefits of the fast-food industry.
• Do we need more fast-food restaurants in society?
• Certain food groups should not be mixed – true or false?
• What are the chronic diseases of lifestyle?
• What are immune-boosting foods?
• Protective fats are found in seeds and nuts.
• Food presentation is a form of art.
• The risks of eating junk food
• The influence of food on America
• Food culture and obesity
• The future of food
• How has technology changed the way we eat?
• How do biofuels impact the food industry?
• Nutrition: Food Containing Calories
• Negative Influence of Fast Foods
• Food Science and Technology of Genetic Modification.
• Fast Food and Obesity Link

Argumentative Food Research Topics

• What is the most salubrious way to cook eggs?
• Are burgers sandwiches?
• The pros and cons of grass-fed beef vs. grain-fed beef.
• Is it possible to make good pizza at home?
• Is a low glycemic index meal for a Neapolitan pizza a suitable choice for diabetes patients?
• The health impacts of vegetarian and vegan diets.
• Oxidative DNA damage in prostate: Can cancer patients consume tomato sauce?
• What is the best way to boil rice?
• Is it easy to become addicted to food quickly?
• Overeating suppresses the immune system.
• Do you think that abortion should be made illegal?
• Do you think that animal testing should be banned?
• Do you think that manufacturers are responsible for the effects of the chemicals used in creating their products?
• Should Hospitals Ban Fast Food Outlets?
• Where should food sauce be stored?

Read here:   Argumentative Essay Topics That You Must Consider

Interesting Food Research Topics

• Are emotions related to consuming chocolates?
• What causes raised acid levels in the body?
• Should a vegetarian take vitamin and mineral supplements?
• The role of tartrazine in foods such as butter and margarine
• Do trans fats, found in many kinds of margarine, lead to cancer?
• The Role of super-food in our health
• Does green tea help burn kilojoules?
• Does an apple a day keep the doctor away?
• Why the humble lentil is considered a superfood?
• The role of sodium in sports drinks
• Coconut oil and Alzheimer’s disease
• The role of honey in healing wounds.
• Food additives: Artificial Sweeteners
• Freshly extracted juices are the ultimate source of live enzymes.
• How does the consumption of sugared soda drinks cause cell aging?
• Is raw juice fasting effective for detoxifying?
• Does poor detoxification lead to inflammation?
• Does garlic help regulate insulin metabolism?
• Is there a link between tartrazine and hyperactivity in children?
• Organic food and healthy eating.
• Our health and fast food from McDonald’s.
• Fast food is a social problem of our time.
•  National cuisine is like healthy competition for fast food.

Amazing Food Research Ideas

• Is Genetically Modified Food Safe for Human Bodies and the Environment?
• The role of plant sterols in treating high cholesterol.
• Is there one optimal diet to suit everyone’s sporting needs?
• Flavonoids – powerful antioxidants that prevent the formation of free radicals.
• Explain the impact of caffeine on health.
• Compare and contrast home-cooked meals and fast food.
• The role of biotechnology and research in fulfilling the nutritional needs of people at a low price.
• The winemaking process.
• Myths of good and bad cholesterol.
• Calcium deficiency and milk
• The effects of sweeteners and sugar on health.
• Is it healthy to skip breakfast?
• Should plastic food packaging be banned?
• Are beans a good substitute for meat proteins?
• Food sensitivities in children.
• Calcium sources for dairy-allergic people.
• What are the advantages of the macrobiotic diet?
• The impacts of a long-term ketogenic diet on health
• What are the healthiest sugar substitutes?
• Low Carb Diet Craze

Trending Food Research Paper Topics

• Millenials: Food Trendmakers
• Write about the production of Organic Food
• Describe the connections between stress, junk foods, and obesity
• Critical analysis of the issues related to fast safety in modern agriculture
• Pizza and London Cheese Cake are the two most favorite foods among Americans: Explain
• Discuss the food items consumed by the people belonging to America’s working class
• Critical analysis of the results and implications of the slow food movement in America
• Explain the importance of meeting Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger for ensuring food safety globally
• Describe the benefits and limitations of using 3D food printers and robotics in the food industry
•  Describe the significance of the digital food management system
• Describe the three most popular food technologies and their use
• Discuss the top ten food technology trends in 2023
• Discuss the benefits and limitations of alternative protein sources and personalized nutrition
• Analyze the use and effectiveness of ‘Restaurant Voice Bots’ in the US-based startup named Orderscape
•  Describe the importance of using eco-friendly materials for the packaging of baby foods
• Discuss the prospects for the development of food industry enterprises using molecular cuisine technology
• Analyze the pros and cons of food tourism in the context of developing nations.

Captivating Food Research Topics

• Evaluate the properties of Oil obtained from Carica Papaya Seeds.
• Discuss the effects of blending cow milk with soy milk and analyze the quality of yogurt.
• Evaluate the vegetable oil refining process and its food value.
• Explain the functional properties of plantain flour.
• Evaluate the nutrient constituents of fresh forages and formulated diets.
• Analyze the impact of nutrition education on the dietary habits of females.
• Analyze the use of composite blends for biscuit making.
• Discuss the storage time effects on the functional properties of Bambara groundnut.
• Write about the additives and preservatives used in food processing and preservation.
• Analyze the physical and chemical properties of soya beans.

Out of the top 150+ food research paper topics suggested in this blog post, pick an ideal topic of your choice. In order to make your work successful, when writing your food research paper, first, prepare an outline and then compose the content by providing the relevant facts and evidence supporting the main points of your topic.

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150+ Food Research Paper Topics Ideas for Students

When writing a research paper on food, there are many angles to explore to choose great research topics about food. You can write argumentative essay topics on food processing methods or search for social media research topics . Moreover, the food industry is advancing, and food styles are changing – another inspiration for an outstanding research topic about food. In other words, if you are looking for your ideal topic for food research , there are many places to look.

How to Choose the “Ideal” Food Research Topics

150+ ideas of experimental research titles about food, research title about food processing.

• Interesting Research Topics on Fast Food

Research Title about Food Industry

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Nevertheless, it can be hard to decipher what characterizes a good example of a thesis title for food. Hence, this article will briefly explain what factors to look for in a research title about food so-to-speak. Then, we will provide up to 150 food topics you can explore.

Personal interest is a vital factor to consider when sourcing the best thesis title about food . If you’re choosing a research title about cookery, you want to ensure it is something you’re interested in. If you’re unsure where your interest lies, you can check out social issues research topics .

Also, the availability of information on the topic of food is important in any research, whether it’s a thesis statement about social media or nutrition topics . Furthermore, choose several food topics to have options if one thesis about food doesn’t work out. Last but not least, ensure your chosen topic about food is neither too broad nor too narrow.

If you are unsure what title about food to work on for your research paper, here we are. Below are some of the best examples of thesis titles or professional thesis writers about food for students and researchers.

• Plant sterols in treating high cholesterol
• Is skipping breakfast healthy?
• Macrobiotic diet: advantages
• Food trendmakers
• Chocolates and emotions: the connection
• Are trans fats carcinogenic?
• Does green tea burn calories?
• Humble lentil: a superfood?

Interesting Research Topics Fast Food

• Fast foods: impact on living organisms
• Food court restaurants
• Misconceptions about fast foods
• Is McDonald’s healthy?
• Fast food: a social problem?
• National cuisine
• Fast food: effect on the liver
• Fast food education
• Students’ nutrition
• Fast food in children’s diet
• Food and 3D virtual reality
• The contemporary hotel industry
• Food and fashion
• Food in different cultures
• Can food be used for cultural identification?
• Trends in food box consumption
• Information innovation in the food industry
• The food industry in developing countries
• Proper nutrition
• History and origin of food traditions
• Can dietary supplements increase bone density?
• Why nutrition science matters
• Organic food: impact on nutrition
• Antimicrobial resistance
• Services ensuring food safety in the US
• Food safety violations in the workplace
• pH balance impacts flavor
• Animal testing should be abolished
• Does overeating suppress the immune system?
• Lifestyle-related chronic diseases
• Food justice
• Government’s involvement in food justice
• Dietary deficiencies
• Spice rack organization
• Nutrients for body development
• Milk for kids: more or less?
• Organic food and health
• Animal-sourced foods: beneficial or dangerous?
• Continental dishes
• Continental dishes vs. Indian spices
• Food factor in national security
• Junk food vs. healthy food
• Environmental food safety
• Safety and control of food colors in the food industry today
• Criteria and scope of food security
• Ensuring food security
• Cooking technology
• Food quality of agricultural raw materials
• Problems and solutions to food safety
• Food security: the theory and methodology
• Recent labeling food innovations
• Health benefits of genetically modified foods
• The vegetarian diet
• Caloric foods
• Fast food affects on health
• Food allergies
• Fast foods: nutritional value
• Food in the 21st century
• The Slow Food movement
• Doughnut’s history
• Food safety: role in gene pool preservation
• Controlling synthetic colors used in food
• Food assessment and control
• Food: its influence on pharmacotherapy’s effectiveness
• Human rights to balanced nutrition
• Quality of food products in urban areas
• Food in rural areas vs. urban areas
• Food security in Uganda
• Food safety: developed vs. developing countries
• Food factor in biopolitics
• Corn starch in baking: the importance
• Bacteria concerns in baking: Clostridium botulinum
• Normal butter vs. brown butter
• Matcha in Japanese pastry
• Sweet in baked desserts
• Effect of flour type on cake quality
• Sugar vs. stevia
• Why so much sugar in packed cakes?
• Carob is use in baking
• Coca-Cola baking: is it safe?
• Cooking schools
• Protein food preservation
• Food preservation techniques
• Vegan vs. non-vegan
• Caffeine in drinks
• Plastic and food quality
• History of carrot cake
• Turmeric: health properties
• Japanese tea ceremonies
• Healthy sugar substitutes
• The popularity of plant-based diet
• Food steaming: history
• CBD-infused foods
• Achieving the umami flavor in cooking
• Climate and diet
• Quick-service restaurants: impact on life expectancy
• Drinking and Judaism
• Chinese tea: a historical analysis
• Meat canning
• Resistance of meat to antimicrobials
• Eliminating botulism
• Reducing food allergies
• Avian influenza
• Vitamin D nutrition: the worldwide status
• Nutritional supplements are available for the poor
• Food science: importance in human nutrition
• Amino acids and muscle growth
• Poor nutrition and bone density
• Women and diet
• Tea vs. coffee
• Is tea addictive?
• Cholesterol: myths
• Sugar vs. sweeteners
• Keto diet: effect on health
• Food sensitivities in children
• African superfoods
• Spirulina: the properties
• Wine in French cuisine
• Garlic and onions
• Stored foods
• Preventing food poisoning
• Food addiction
• How to fight against food waste
• Aqueous environment: the toxicity
• Fast food in hospitals
• The risks associated with junk
• Food culture and obesity
• The link between fast food and obesity
• Burgers: are they sandwiches?
• Food additives
• History of curry
• Freezing dough: impact on quality
• Best pizza Margherita recipe
• Making low-calorie food tasty
• Jamaica and British cuisine
• Picked food in India
• How to eat eggs
• Egg poaching
• Italian pasta: types

From food innovation research titles to food sustainability research topics , there are many areas of the food industry to explore. With the list of topics and tips for choosing a topic provided here, finding your ideal topic should be easier.

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Culinary and Food Research Topics: 100 Tasty Ideas for Students

The world of food is intriguing because of how it permeates every aspect of our life. In today’s fast-paced digital world, processed and fast food have risen to become the dominant options in the culinary scene.

The convenience of these choices is appealing, but they have also raised some health concerns. Therefore, it is crucial to look into food research paper topics. Research in this area is very important for a variety of reasons, including ensuring food safety, understanding the effects of the food industry, and discovering new sources of healthy food.

Here, we explore the varied world of food to provide you with some interesting research paper topics on this fascinating subject.

Food Research Paper Topics on Nutrition

Understanding the effects of food on our health requires extensive research on nutrition-related subjects. Included in the broad category of food research paper topics are issues like food safety, fast food, organic food, and even the food industry.

Exploring this topic via study helps us learn more about healthy food options, food science, and dietary practices. In addition, Edusson writing service can offer professionally written research papers on these subjects, with reliable sources and organized analysis.

• The Role of Dietary Fiber in Preventing Chronic Diseases.
• The Impact of Fast Food Restaurants on Eating Habits and Nutritional Intake Across Age Groups.
• Prevalence and Causes of Food Allergies in the Modern Population.
• Fast Food Intake and the Risk of Obesity and Chronic Diseases.
• Nutritional Education on Food Choices and Dietary Habits.
• Effects of Food Poisoning Outbreaks on Consumer Trust in the Fast Food Industry.
• Factors Influencing Food Safety Practices in Fast Food Establishments.
• Investigating the Impact of Organic Foods on Human Nutrition
• Organic Food Versus Conventionally Grown Food in Terms of Nutritional Value.
• Relationship Between Junk Food Consumption and Mental Health Outcomes.

Research Paper Topics on Food Safety and Quality Control

Topics for food research papers on food safety and quality control are very important for resolving issues in the food industry, as a whole. These discussions dive into food science and other related fields to find solutions to problems with food quality and safety.

A safer food system and greater public health are the direct results of research paper efforts to identify potential risks, and strengthen relevant laws. Listed below are some suggestions for research paper topics on the subjects of Food Safety and Quality Control:

• Investigating the Relationship Between Food Allergies and Food Safety Measures.
• Junk Food Intake on Food Safety Standards.
• Quality Control Systems in the Food Industry.
• The Role of Food Science in Enhancing Food Safety and Quality.
• Nutritional Profile and Safety of Fast Foods.
• Food Safety Regulations on the Fast Food Sector.
• Food Safety Measures and Waste Reduction.
• Food Safety and Quality Control in Preventing Foodborne Illnesses.
• Consumer Perceptions of Organic Foods and Food Safety.
• Food Safety Practices and Food Industry Sustainability.

Culinary Traditions and cultural heritage

Food research paper topics on culinary traditions and cultural heritage include a society’s history, values, and identity via food customs and recipes. Culinary research paper topics are important because they show how food has influenced different civilizations and foster understanding.

Fast food’s health impacts, food science, human nutrition, and overlooked regional cuisines are research paper topics in this area. Explore the paper topics samples below to help spark ideas for your next research paper:

• Culinary Traditions in Preserving Cultural Identity.
• Rediscovering Forgotten Culinary Traditions.
• Traditional Diets and Nutrition.
• Protecting Culinary Traditions and Intangible Cultural Heritage.
• Diaspora Food Traditions: Migrant Food Practices.
• Cultural Appropriation vs. Culinary Appreciation.
• From Antiquity to the Present: A History of Food and Cooking.
• The Impact of Globalization on Culinary Traditions
• Impact of Colonial Powers on Indigenous Food Practices.
• Culinary Traditions and Generational Shifts: Examining Age-Related Food Preferences and Preparation Methods.

Food Systems and Policy

The terms food systems and food policies refer to the intricate webs of relationships and rules that shape the food supply chain from farm to fork. Writing about food topics for research paper is important for a number of reasons. It aids policymakers in their quest for long-term, equitable answers to problems including fast food, junk food, food poisoning, and food science. Investigating food research paper topics in this field can  help us encourage constructive improvements to our food systems.

• Food Systems and Policies in Addressing Food Insecurity and Hunger.
• Organic Food Policies and Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Conservation.
• The Role of Government Regulations in Reducing Food Wastage Throughout the Supply Chain.
• Food Systems and the Promotion of Human Nutrition and Well-Being.
• Suggested Policies to Tackle Food Addiction and the Unhealthy Consumption of Junk Foods.
• Economic Implications of Organic Food Production and Marketing.
• Psychological Factors Contributing to Food Addiction and Its Implications for Policy.
• Possible Policies on Food Technologies on the Quality and Safety of Processed Foods.
• Agricultural Subsidies on Food Security and Sustainability.
• Social and Economic Implications of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in the Food System.

Culinary Innovations

Innovations in the kitchen are major steps forward for the food industry. They feature deviations from conventional cooking in the ways of method, ingredients, and presentation. Researching food related topics in this field is essential for making advances in fast food, the culinary arts, and other related fields. Improved food quality, sustainability, and health are all possible outcomes of selecting a food research paper topic in this field.

Exploring food research paper topics in this field helps us find ways to improve our diets and have more enjoyable dining experiences. Here are some examples of culinary arts research paper topics to get you thinking about your own research topic about food;

• Culinary Innovations and Healthy Fast Foods
• Plant-Based and Vegan Culinary Innovations: A Growing Trend in The Food Industry
• Culinary Innovations on Fast Food Employee Training and Skill Development
• Role of Molecular Gastronomy in Culinary Innovations
• Sustainability and Culinary Innovations: Exploring Eco-Friendly Food Production
• Culinary Innovations in Food Packaging and Preservation
• Role of Food Science in Culinary Innovations: From Molecules to Dishes
• Social and Environmental Implications of Culinary Innovations in Fast Food Industry
• Culinary Innovations in Food Education
• Nutritional Implications of Culinary Innovations in Fast Food Menu Items

Food and psychology, consumer behavior

The interesting relationship between food and our minds is explored in food research topics on psychology and consumer behavior. This research examines mental, emotional, and sensory variables that influence human diets, such as the media’s effect on fast food intake.

Food related research topics in this discipline aim to understand consumer behavior and create effective ways to promote healthier eating choices. The effects of social media on eating habits and the psychology of food cravings are among the many food research paper topics available.

• Fast Food Packaging Design on Consumer Perception and Purchase Behavior.
• Sensory Marketing and Its Influence on Food Choices and Consumer Behavior.
• Psychological Factors that Drive Food Intake During Times of Stress.
• Social Media and Its Influence on Food Choices and Eating Behaviors.
• Food Advertising and Its Effects on Children’s Food Preferences and Consumption Patterns.
• Food Neophobia in Shaping Consumer Attitudes and Behaviors Towards New Food Products.
• Understanding Its Influence on Dietary Choices and Well-Being.
• Food Imagery and Visual Cues in Shaping Consumer Perceptions and Preferences.
• The Effects of Different Labeling Strategies on Consumer Behavior.
• Mood and Emotions in Food-Related Decision-Making and Consumption Behaviors.

Research Topics on Food Science

Among the many things that go under the umbrella of food science topics are nutritional analysis, sensory assessment, and various methods of safety and preservation of food. Improving food quality, addressing new issues, and creating novel solutions all need more study in this field.

If you’re interested in making a significant contribution to the development of food science, consulting a research paper guide might be a great resource for doing so. The following are some examples of potential food science research topics:

• Food Processing Techniques on Nutrient Retention and Bioavailability.
• Exploring the Potential Health Benefits of Functional Foods Fortified with Probiotics.
• Factors Influencing Consumer Acceptance of Genetically Modified (GM) Foods.
• Role of Antioxidants in Preventing Food Deterioration and Extending Product Shelf Life.
• Fast Food Production Practices on Food Safety and Microbial Contamination.
• Potential of Plant-Based Proteins as a Sustainable Alternative to Animal-Based Proteins.
• Nutritional Composition and Health Benefits of Traditional Fermented Foods.
• The Role of Food Additives in the Development of Food Allergies and Intolerances
• Food Storage Conditions and the Formation of Harmful Substances, Such as Acrylamide and Aflatoxins
• Fast Food Packaging Materials and The Migration of Harmful Chemicals Into Food Products

Argumentative Food Research Topics

In the realm of argumentative food research, a wide variety of controversial food topics are examined and argued. This field lays the groundwork for food argumentative essay ideas, allowing us to dive into the nuances of food-related problems and examine their effects on people, the planet, and agriculture.

Delving into argumentative essay topics about food, allows us to learn more about the pros and cons of various dietary options. Our selection of theme ideas might assist, whether you’re looking for fast food argumentative essay topics or more traditional food arguments topics.

• Should Genetically Modified Crops Be Embraced or Banned? Assessing the Implications for Agriculture and Food Security.
• Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and Human Health: Examining the Evidence and Debunking Misconceptions
• Sugar Consumption on Obesity and Chronic Diseases: Is Sugar the Main Culprit?
• Organic vs. Conventional Farming: Evaluating the Environmental and Health Implications
• Benefits and Drawbacks of Meat Consumption: Is a Plant-Based Diet Superior?
• Fast Food Chains and the Global Obesity Epidemic: Is Regulation the Solution?
• Are Food Allergens Safe and Health?
• Is the Western Diet Responsible for The Rise in Chronic Diseases? Investigating the Link Between Diet and Health Conditions.
• Should Food Education Be a Mandatory Part of the School Curriculum? Assessing the Importance of Nutrition Knowledge for Children.
• Is There a Connection Between Food Insecurity and Obesity? Investigating the Paradoxical Relationship and Potential Solutions.

Interesting Food Research Paper Topics for College/University Projects

There is a plethora of interesting food topics available in the realm of food research, making it ideal for use in academic writing. Students that are interested in nutrition, food science, sustainability, and the culinary arts can find many food topics to research to investigate.

To better understand food-related concerns, boost public health, and tackle global difficulties like food security, research topics about food are crucial. Buying research papers for sale might be helpful for students looking for both speed and quality. It helps them save time, gives them access to articles produced by experts, and provides useful information that may direct their own studies.

• Relationship between Dietary Patterns and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors.
• Cultural and Social Significance of Traditional Foods in Different Ethnic Communities.
• Impact of Climate Change on Food Production and Global Food Security.
• Relationship between Food Allergies and the Gut Microbiome.
• School-based Nutrition Interventions on Students’ Dietary Behaviors and Academic Performance.
• Relationship between Food Wastage and Environmental Sustainability.
• Genetic Engineering in Food Production: Benefits, Risks, and Ethical Considerations.
• Potential Health Benefits of Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals.
• Food Additives and Human Health.
• Safety and Efficacy of Novel Food Ingredients and Food Supplements.

Food Sustainability and Waste Reduction

The food industry is an important framework in which to consider the themes of food sustainability and waste reduction. They are concerned with the sustainability of our food system, including its production, distribution, and consumption.

Researching the problems associated with fast food and related themes, such as fast food research topics or fast food essay topics, is crucial. We can reduce food waste, save resources, and build a more resilient food system for future generations if we work together to find new ways to do things and get the word out.

• Analyzing the Role of Technology in Reducing Food Wastage.
• Organic Farming and How It Fosters Reducing Food Wastage.
• Packaging Design and Minimizing Food Wastage.
• Promoting Sustainable Diets for Reducing Environmental Impact.
• The Impact of Food Wastage on Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
• Economic Implications of Food Waste Reduction.
• Potential of Edible Food Packaging Materials.
• Sustainable Approaches to Managing Food Surplus.
• Sustainable Strategies for Reducing Food Loss During Transportation.
• The Efficiency of Composting Systems for Food Management.

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Develop your research question

• Search for your assignment
• Find books and journal articles
• Find evidence (Government and organisation information)
• Standards & guidelines
• Data & statistics
• Finding resources for your assignment
• UniSA Online - BIOL 1054: Foundations of Nutrition and Health – A1
• UniSA Online - HLTH 2035: Human Nutrition

STEP 1: Understand your research objective

Before you start developing your research question, think about your research objectives:

• What are you trying to do? (compare, analyse)
• What do you need to know about the topic?
• What type of research are you doing?
• What types of information/studies do you need? (e.g. randomised controlled trial, case study, guideline, protocol?)
• Does the information need to be current?

Watch the following video (6:26) to get you started:

Key points from the video

• All good academic research starts with a research question.
• A research question is an actual question you want to answer about a particular topic.
• Developing a question helps you focus on an aspect of your topic, which will streamline your research and writing.
• Pick a topic you are interested in.
• Narrow the topic to a particular aspect.
• Brainstorm some questions around your topic aspect.
• Select a question to work with.
• Focus the question by making it more specific. Make sure your question clearly states who, what, when, where, and why.
• A good research question focuses on one issue only and requires analysis.
• Your search for information should be directed by your research question.
• Your thesis or hypothesis should be a direct answer to your research question, summarised into one sentence.

STEP 2: Search before you research

The benefits of doing a background search :

• You can gather more background knowledge on a subject
• explore different aspects of your topic
• identify additional keywords and terminology

STEP 3: Choose a topic

The resources linked below are a good place to start: 

• UpToDate It covers thousands of clinical topics grouped into specialties with links to articles, drugs and drug interaction databases, medical calculators and guidelines.
• An@tomedia This online anatomy resource features images, videos, and slides together with interactive, educational text and quiz questions.
• Anatomy.tv Find 3D anatomical images; functional anatomy animations and videos, and MRI, anatomy, and clinical slides. Test your knowledge through interactive activities and quizzes.

STEP 4: Brainstorm your questions

Now you have explored different aspects of your topic, you may construct more focused questions (you can create a few questions and pick one later).

Learn more: 

• Clear and present questions: formulating questions for evidence based practice (Booth 2006) This article provides an overview of thinking in relation to the theory and practice of formulating answerable research questions.

STEP 5: Pick a question and focus

Once you have a few questions to choose from, pick one and refine it even further.

Are you required to use "PICO"?

• PICO worksheet
• Other frameworks

The PICO framework (or other variations) can be useful for developing an answerable clinical question. 

The example question used in this guide is a PICO question:   How does speech therapy compare to cognitive behavioural therapy in improving speech fluency in adolescents?

Use the interactive PICO worksheet to get started with your question, or you can download the worksheet document.

• Building your question with PICO

Here are some different frameworks you may want to use:

There are a number of PICO variations which can be used for different types of questions, such as qualitative, and background and foreground questions. Visit the Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Guide to learn more:

• Evidence Based Practice guide
• << Previous: Plan your search
• Next: Search for your assignment >>
• Last Updated: Jul 25, 2024 1:28 PM
• URL: https://guides.library.unisa.edu.au/nutritionandfoodscience

The text within this Guide is licensed CC BY 4.0 . Image licenses can be found within the image attributions document on the last page of the Guide. Ask the Library for information about reuse rights for other content within this Guide.

Top Nutrition Research Paper Topics for Students

Table of contents

• 1 Nutrition Research Topics for College Students
• 2 Interesting Nutrition Topics for Research Paper
• 3 Research Topics in Nutrition and Dietetics
• 4 Sports Nutrition Topics for Research
• 5 Nutritional Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic
• 6 Advances in Food Technology and Biotechnology
• 7 Emerging Topics in Nutrition and Health
• 8 Innovations in Food and Dietary Patterns
• 9 Climate Change and Nutrition Research Topics
• 10 Other Popular Nutrition Paper Topics
• 11 Conclusion

Sometimes, coming up with an interesting topic is much more challenging than even writing a 10-page essay. After all, there are so many unique themes you could divulge, and choosing the only one that would suit your needs best can be overwhelming.

To narrow down your list of potential nutrition topics for research, it’s in your best interest to start with broader themes that spark your interest. For example, do you want to know more about how food impacts health and disease? Are you more interested in the psychological and emotional connection to food? Perhaps you’ve always been curious about nutrition and muscle development or weight loss?

Once you have a general direction, you’d like to go in, and finding suitable topics becomes much easier.

But if you’re still struggling with finding inspiration for your next essay, you should check out PapersOwl’s nutrition research paper topic suggestions. We’ve compiled a list of dozens of unique topics that’ll help you finish your assignment.

And if you need more than just suggestions, you can always find nutrition and nursing papers for sale on our platform.

Without further ado, let’s get into some of the best topic ideas!

Nutrition Research Topics for College Students

The following are some of the best nutrition research paper topics for college students who want to learn more about the themes that directly affect them. In case you need assistance with writing any of the following topics, you can order custom research papers and receive authentic, plagiarism-free content written by nutrition experts.

• Stress eating a growing problem among college students
• The cause and effects of Freshman 15
• How healthy foods can help deal with mental health issues
• Sleep and nutrition –how they relate to each other
• How healthy eating impacts a college athlete’s performance
• Is breakfast the most important meal of the day?
• Why women are more likely to suffer from anemia
• Preventing/curing hangovers with smarter food choices
• The impact of social media on students’ dietary choices
• What are superfoods, and can they be beneficial?
• The rising popularity of the paleo diet
• What makes fast food so addictive?
• Most common eating disorders among college students
• Diet and mood – how they’re intertwined
• Can healthy foods improve cognition and brain power?

Interesting Nutrition Topics for Research Paper

If you’d prefer a bit more exciting topic that encourages debate and gets your readers immersed, take a look at the following nutrition research paper topic suggestions.

• Overcoming unhealthy emotional relationship with food
• The intricate relationship between smoking and weight
• How sleep moderates ghrelin and leptin levels
• Cannabinoids as nutritional supplements
• Prevalence of diabetes among college students
• How helpful are gummy vitamins?
• Genetic predispositions for becoming obese
• How parents’ eating habits impact children’s dietary choices
• Preventing eating disorders in teens and young adults
• How the body positivity movement can be harmful to young adults
• In-depth review of US school lunches – what needs to change?
• Preventing chronic diseases with better food choices
• Is overhydration more dangerous than dehydration?
• The impact of social media on women’s body image
• Hormones and nutrition – how are they connected?
• Community health initiatives and their impact on nutrition

Research Topics in Nutrition and Dietetics

Analyzing diets and their impact on our health and fitness is always intriguing. Learn more about nutrition and dietetics with some of the following nutrition research topics:

• Keto diet and risk considerations
• Dietary changes during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Nutrition vs. physical activity for healthy weight management
• Methods for improving physical fitness while limiting calorie intake
• In-depth analysis of yo-yo dieting
• How going vegan impacts health
• Dietary fats – the good and the bad
• The dark side of the juice cleanse
• The role of proteins in weight loss
• How popular diet trends affect your health
• Is intermittent fasting a good way to lose weight?
• In-depth analysis of compulsive eating disorder Pica
• Harmful trends that promote eating disorders
• How to ensure proper nutrient intake on a plant-based diet
• Are vegan foods always healthier?
• Staple food: its role in global nutrition and dietary guidelines

Sports Nutrition Topics for Research

Student-athletes always want to know more about how food and nutrition impact their performance. The following topics can be just as useful to them as they are to med students.

• Prevalence of eating disorders among female athletes
• How plant-based diets impact athletes’ performance
• How much protein you need for optimal muscle development
• The role of BCAA’s in weightlifting performance among seniors
• Is when you eat just as important as what you eat?
• The impact of food choices on muscle recovery
• Maintaining electrolyte balance during endurance training
• The role of creatine in improving athletic performance
• How to safely cut weight ahead of a competition
• Effects of dietary fibers on carbohydrate uptake and absorption
• What athletes need to know about BMI
• Most effective supplements for bone and tendon health in combat athletes
• How caffeine impacts athletic performance
• In-depth analysis of Peri-Workout nutrition for strength athletes
• Examining the effects of low-carb diet trends on athletic performance
• Nutritional contributions to bone health and prevention of osteoporosis

Nutritional Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic

• The role of diet in modulating immune response during COVID-19
• Impact of nutritional status on COVID-19 outcomes
• Dietary interventions to reduce COVID-19-related inflammation
• Changes in physical activity levels due to pandemic restrictions
• Nutritional strategies to support at-home workouts
• Psychological impact of reduced sports activities and nutritional adjustments
• Disruptions in food supply chains during the pandemic
• Adaptations in dietary habits due to food shortages and lockdowns
• Long-term implications of pandemic-induced dietary changes on health
• Vitamin D deficiency: causes, effects, and solutions

Advances in Food Technology and Biotechnology

• Cellular Agriculture: Biotechnology for Sustainable Food
• Innovations in lab-grown meat production
• Environmental benefits of cellular agriculture
• Consumer perceptions and acceptance of cultured meat products
• Application of Nanotechnology in Food Science
• Enhancements in food safety and quality through nanotechnology
• Nanoparticles in food packaging for extended shelf life
• Potential health risks and regulatory challenges of nanotechnology in food
• Sustainable Food Production Through Biotechnology
• Genetic modifications for improved crop yield and nutrition
• Biotechnological approaches to reduce food waste
• Role of biotechnology in addressing global food security
• Healthier alternatives to common high-calorie foods

Emerging Topics in Nutrition and Health

• Potential benefits of cannabinoids in managing chronic diseases
• Use of cannabinoids as nutritional supplements
• Regulatory and safety considerations in cannabinoid use
• Benefits of human milk for preterm infants
• Challenges in breastfeeding preterm babies
• Strategies to enhance the nutritional quality of human milk
• Dietary approaches to promote muscle health across the lifespan
• Role of proteins and supplements in muscle maintenance
• Impact of nutrition on muscle recovery and performance
• Food addiction: understanding and addressing the issue
• The Mediterranean diet: benefits and implementation

Innovations in Food and Dietary Patterns

• Technological advancements in cultured meat production
• Economic and ethical considerations
• Consumer acceptance and market potential
• Health benefits of a predominantly plant-based diet with occasional meat
• Environmental impacts of flexitarian dietary patterns
• Strategies to promote flexitarianism among different populations
• Interactions between diet, gut microbiota, and health
• Personalized nutrition plans based on gut microbiome analysis
• Future prospects for microbiome-targeted dietary interventions
• The ketogenic diet: benefits, risks, and long-term effects

Climate Change and Nutrition Research Topics

• Impact of climate change on global food security
• Sustainable agricultural practices to combat climate change
• Policy frameworks for climate-resilient food systems
• Promoting plant-based diets for environmental sustainability
• Reducing food waste through dietary changes
• Integrating nutrition and sustainability goals in public health policies
• Effects of thermal processing on nutrient retention
• Innovations in food processing to enhance nutritional value
• Consumer education on processed food and health
• The rise of organic food: benefits and challenges

Other Popular Nutrition Paper Topics

Miscellaneous topics can often be some of the most interesting ones, especially since few students ever opt for them. Browse through these ten unique topics and choose the one that suits you best.

Once you’ve found a great topic, writing becomes a much easier task. But if you can’t find the time for your paper, a quick search for services that can “ write my research paper for me ” could be a God-send.

• Infant brain development and nutrition
• How a mother’s dietary choices impact the quality of breastmilk
• Symptoms of malnutrition among children
• Immune system and diet – how they’re connected
• The real science behind GMO food
• The effects of thermal processing on nutrients
• Factors contributing to obesity among young Americans
• Different nutritional needs among different age groups
• Dietary differences between low-income and high-income households
• Foods that boost serotonin levels
• Strategies to prevent eating disorders in adolescents and adults
• Examining the impact of different dietary practices on health
• The importance of dietary fiber in maintaining digestive health
• Effective dietary strategies for managing chronic diseases
• Addressing childhood obesity through better nutrition
• The impact of fast food consumption on public health
• Analyzing health claims on food labels and their accuracy

Food Safety and Packaging Innovations:

• Biodegradable packaging materials composed of natural polysaccharides
• Ensuring safe infant formula and baby food
• Analytical strategies for the determination of microplastics and emerging migrants from packaging in food

Nutritional Strategies for Disease Prevention and Management:

• Ketogenic metabolic therapies in prevention & treatment of non-communicable diseases
• Nutritional strategies and diet-microbiota interaction to improve skeletal muscle function
• Exploring nutrition to mitigate the negative effects of air pollution
• Functional foods for metabolic health
• Nutritional management of patients with inborn errors of metabolism

Gut Health and Microbiota:

• Dietary modulation of gut microbiota-x axis
• Efficacy of probiotic-enriched foods on digestive health and overall well-being
• Effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics on microbiota-gut-brain axis

Bioactive Compounds and Nutraceuticals:

• Food derived bioactive metabolites: Unlocking their potential health benefits and medical potential
• Phenolic compounds in a circular economy: Extraction from industrial by-products and wastes, potential activity and applications
• Advances in sulfated polysaccharides and precision nutrition
• Immune cell metabolism beyond energy supply – An emerging era to showcase novel roles in immune effector functions

Marine and Aquatic Nutrition:

• Processing and utilization of marine food resources
• Quality and flavor changes in aquatic products
• Seaweeds as a promising alternative protein source for the sustainable world

Pediatric and Maternal Nutrition:

• Peptide in promoting lactation and infant development
• Innovative approaches to nutrition counseling in pediatric dietetics – Guidelines, practices, and future directions
• The first 1000 days: Window of opportunity for child health and development

Advances in Dietary Supplements:

• Advancements in dietary supplements: Enhancing sport performance and recovery
• Marine peptides in regulation of bone immunomodulation, bone joint and other bone-related disease

Environmental and Sustainable Nutrition:

• Food system transformation and the realization of the UN sustainable development goals
• Advanced nutritional research driven by artificial intelligence

Processing and Preservation Technologies:

• New developments in low-temperature food preservation technologies: Safety, sustainability, modeling and emerging issues
• Storage and deep-processing of fruit and vegetable products
• Recent advances in quality control technology for fresh fruits and vegetables

Exploring the ways how human bodies work and react has interested people for thousands of years. No wonder there are a lot of engaging dietary and nursing research topics for modern students to choose from. You’ve already got acquainted with 70 of our top nutrition topics for research papers, so gather inspiration from our list and get started with your essay!

If you need further assistance with your writing, PapersOwl’s experts are available 24/7. Contact us, and place your order for custom nutrition papers.

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Research Question Examples 🧑🏻‍🏫

25+ Practical Examples & Ideas To Help You Get Started 

By: Derek Jansen (MBA) | October 2023

A well-crafted research question (or set of questions) sets the stage for a robust study and meaningful insights.  But, if you’re new to research, it’s not always clear what exactly constitutes a good research question. In this post, we’ll provide you with clear examples of quality research questions across various disciplines, so that you can approach your research project with confidence!

Research Question Examples

• Psychology research questions
• Business research questions
• Education research questions
• Healthcare research questions
• Computer science research questions

Examples: Psychology

Let’s start by looking at some examples of research questions that you might encounter within the discipline of psychology.

How does sleep quality affect academic performance in university students?

This question is specific to a population (university students) and looks at a direct relationship between sleep and academic performance, both of which are quantifiable and measurable variables.

What factors contribute to the onset of anxiety disorders in adolescents?

The question narrows down the age group and focuses on identifying multiple contributing factors. There are various ways in which it could be approached from a methodological standpoint, including both qualitatively and quantitatively.

Do mindfulness techniques improve emotional well-being?

This is a focused research question aiming to evaluate the effectiveness of a specific intervention.

How does early childhood trauma impact adult relationships?

This research question targets a clear cause-and-effect relationship over a long timescale, making it focused but comprehensive.

Is there a correlation between screen time and depression in teenagers?

This research question focuses on an in-demand current issue and a specific demographic, allowing for a focused investigation. The key variables are clearly stated within the question and can be measured and analysed (i.e., high feasibility).

Examples: Business/Management

Next, let’s look at some examples of well-articulated research questions within the business and management realm.

How do leadership styles impact employee retention?

This is an example of a strong research question because it directly looks at the effect of one variable (leadership styles) on another (employee retention), allowing from a strongly aligned methodological approach.

What role does corporate social responsibility play in consumer choice?

Current and precise, this research question can reveal how social concerns are influencing buying behaviour by way of a qualitative exploration.

Does remote work increase or decrease productivity in tech companies?

Focused on a particular industry and a hot topic, this research question could yield timely, actionable insights that would have high practical value in the real world.

How do economic downturns affect small businesses in the homebuilding industry?

Vital for policy-making, this highly specific research question aims to uncover the challenges faced by small businesses within a certain industry.

Which employee benefits have the greatest impact on job satisfaction?

By being straightforward and specific, answering this research question could provide tangible insights to employers.

Examples: Education

Next, let’s look at some potential research questions within the education, training and development domain.

How does class size affect students’ academic performance in primary schools?

This example research question targets two clearly defined variables, which can be measured and analysed relatively easily.

Do online courses result in better retention of material than traditional courses?

Timely, specific and focused, answering this research question can help inform educational policy and personal choices about learning formats.

What impact do US public school lunches have on student health?

Targeting a specific, well-defined context, the research could lead to direct changes in public health policies.

To what degree does parental involvement improve academic outcomes in secondary education in the Midwest?

This research question focuses on a specific context (secondary education in the Midwest) and has clearly defined constructs.

What are the negative effects of standardised tests on student learning within Oklahoma primary schools?

This research question has a clear focus (negative outcomes) and is narrowed into a very specific context.

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Examples: Healthcare

Shifting to a different field, let’s look at some examples of research questions within the healthcare space.

What are the most effective treatments for chronic back pain amongst UK senior males?

Specific and solution-oriented, this research question focuses on clear variables and a well-defined context (senior males within the UK).

How do different healthcare policies affect patient satisfaction in public hospitals in South Africa?

This question is has clearly defined variables and is narrowly focused in terms of context.

Which factors contribute to obesity rates in urban areas within California?

This question is focused yet broad, aiming to reveal several contributing factors for targeted interventions.

Does telemedicine provide the same perceived quality of care as in-person visits for diabetes patients?

Ideal for a qualitative study, this research question explores a single construct (perceived quality of care) within a well-defined sample (diabetes patients).

Which lifestyle factors have the greatest affect on the risk of heart disease?

This research question aims to uncover modifiable factors, offering preventive health recommendations.

Examples: Computer Science

Last but certainly not least, let’s look at a few examples of research questions within the computer science world.

What are the perceived risks of cloud-based storage systems?

Highly relevant in our digital age, this research question would align well with a qualitative interview approach to better understand what users feel the key risks of cloud storage are.

Which factors affect the energy efficiency of data centres in Ohio?

With a clear focus, this research question lays a firm foundation for a quantitative study.

How do TikTok algorithms impact user behaviour amongst new graduates?

While this research question is more open-ended, it could form the basis for a qualitative investigation.

What are the perceived risk and benefits of open-source software software within the web design industry?

Practical and straightforward, the results could guide both developers and end-users in their choices.

Remember, these are just examples…

In this post, we’ve tried to provide a wide range of research question examples to help you get a feel for what research questions look like in practice. That said, it’s important to remember that these are just examples and don’t necessarily equate to good research topics . If you’re still trying to find a topic, check out our topic megalist for inspiration.

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3 Research Questions Could Hold the Key to Sustainable Eating

When it comes to healthy eating, there’s a lot we already know.

Just take a look at the scientific report issued by the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee , the group of scientific experts behind the newly released 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans . At 835 pages, the report spans a rigorous review of current research on dozens of topics, from whether eating peanuts early in life reduces the likelihood of peanut allergies (it probably does), to how much added sugar we can eat and still maintain a healthy diet ( way less than what we’re eating now ). It also outlines the broad contours of a healthy diet, which has changed little from past editions of the Dietary Guidelines : it’s typically higher in vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, low- or non-fat dairy, lean meat and poultry, seafood, nuts, and unsalted vegetable oils, and lower in red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened foods and drinks, and refined grains.

But food is more than just nutrition. We also know that food can affect the health of many people before it even reaches our plates. For example, pollution caused by fertilizer runoff from farms have left communities without access to safe drinking water, while many of the people who produce our food don’t earn enough to afford healthy diets themselves. So, is it possible to eat in ways that promote health and produce better outcomes for our collective wellbeing, livelihoods, and natural resources? And what would it take to get us there?

These are complex questions, but critical ones—and if the federal government made it a national priority to answer them, we might have a chance at avoiding otherwise devastating consequences.

That’s why leading experts and scientific bodies, including the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee , are increasingly calling attention to the importance of research on sustainable diets . Though there is no official record of how much federal funding is currently supporting this field, funding for nutrition research across the board has remained stagnant for decades . Research funding at the intersection of food and agriculture issues, in particular, is decidedly inadequate to address the magnitude of the public health challenges before us, including climate change, threats to food security, and persistent poverty and health disparities.

Many, including UCS, are working to change that by advocating for greater government investment in sustainable diets research. Here are three of the most pressing questions that research can answer to enable more sustainable eating for all.

1. When it comes to healthy and environmentally sustainable diets, what exactly is on the menu?

Research on healthy and environmentally sustainable diets has seen extraordinary growth in recent years. According to UCS research , nearly 100 new scholarly articles were published on this topic between 2015 and 2019, including 22 articles focused specifically on US diets. For reference, that’s more than four times the number of articles published on the same topic between 2000 and 2015—in about a quarter of the time.

Much of this research agrees that, in general, healthy diets that are higher in plant-based foods and lower in animal-based foods are more environmentally sustainable—meaning they are often associated with reduced energy and land use, as well as less air and water pollution.

This is an important finding that enables us to take the first steps toward more sustainable diets—and each step is critical, given the urgency and magnitude of dual public health and climate crises. Indeed, a number of other countries already have acted on existing knowledge to incorporate sustainability into national dietary guidance .

But the more we know, the faster (and further) we can move forward.

For example, we need to better understand the impacts of all different kinds of dietary shifts that could improve health and sustainability, and the most effective ways to encourage such shifts at the individual, institutional, and societal levels . We also need to better understand how a wide variety of sustainable diets align with diverse cultures and culinary traditions . Both of these areas of research will be crucial to informing practical public health interventions and policy recommendations that can help all people make meaningful changes.

There are also challenges with available data and models. Many studies on sustainable diets rely on models called Life Cycle Assessments , which help estimate the cumulative environmental impacts of the foods we eat. For example, how much energy is required to process, package, and transport a pound of beef from the farm to the grocery store? How much land, water, and energy was required to raise the cattle? While a Life Cycle Assessment is useful in providing general estimates, it’s often based on averages that don’t account for key differences in production methods, for example, or regions. More data—and more diverse data sources—could make this an even more powerful and practical tool.

These and other outstanding research gaps prompted the Interagency Committee on Human Nutrition Research (ICHNR), an interdisciplinary group of leaders across key federal agencies, to identify sustainable diets as a research priority in the creation of its 2016-2021 National Nutrition Research Roadmap. And though interest in this topic continues to grow, there is evidence that federal funding remains woefully inadequate to support independent research on sustainable diets and food systems.

2. How could more socially and economically sustainable food systems support healthy eating?

While environmental sustainability receives a lot of attention, a truly sustainable diet also takes into account the social and economic conditions that can threaten our health, wellbeing, and the future of our food supply.

Among these considerations are the persistent health and economic disparities embedded in the current US food system, which disproportionately affect Black, Indigenous, and other resilient communities of color who have faced decades of racist and discriminatory practices and policies. Even before the pandemic, the people working throughout the US food system —nearly 40 percent of whom are people of color—experienced greater poverty, poorer healthcare access, and higher occupational health hazards relative to the general population. Many of these same populations are also most vulnerable to the environmental consequences of unsustainable food systems, such as climate change, water pollution, and other environmental impacts. The irony should not be lost on anyone that many Indigenous populations have for generations produced food in harmony with ecological systems—a way of living that, in the US and elsewhere, was deeply and violently disrupted by colonization and genocide.

Pervasive exploitation in the food chain can function to make certain foods cheap, while also preventing workers from being able to afford healthy diets themselves. And unfortunately, this isn’t a challenge unique to workers in the food chain. Many US households are already struggling to afford a healthy —let alone sustainable—diet.

So how can research help?

For one, there are an increasing number of studies that are putting dollar signs on healthier and more sustainable diets. Understanding what these diets might cost consumers, and what segments of the population might be unable to afford them, is an important first step in creating policy and programs that can bring healthier and more sustainable eating into reach for more people. Existing research on programs and initiatives such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (also known as SNAP), cash assistance programs, or minimum wage increases will also be useful in identifying the best ways to increase consumer purchasing power, particularly among low-income households. Perhaps most importantly, effective community-based participatory research can support community efforts to resist and address the root causes of social and economic disparities, including racism and exploitative economic systems. Organizations like the HEAL Food Alliance , a multi-racial coalition building a national movement to transform food and farming systems, should be looked to as experts and leaders in shaping the goals and objectives of research that will impact the communities they represent.

3. What are the synergies and tradeoffs when you value both public health and sustainability?

Not every food choice that supports health will support sustainability, and vice versa. In fact, as our research shows , if the US population shifted from our current diet to a healthier diet, greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, and water use could actually increase. This is due in part to the fact that many fruits and vegetables—which most of us don’t eat nearly enough of—are produced in ways that require a lot of water and energy.

Another commonly cited example is the conflict between US dietary recommendations for fish and shellfish and the ability of fisheries to meet this demand in a sustainable way—an issue highlighted by experts in a National Academies of Science workshop and the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee .

None of this is to say that we should abandon our efforts to eat healthfully. Rather, it’s to say that we need to do some problem-solving if we want to eat in ways that are healthy and sustainable for people and the planet, and research can play a key role in helping us get there.

Solving the sustainable food Rubik’s cube

It was more than thirty years ago that federal policy established the first specific directives for prioritizing nutrition research, yet its funding has  remained stagnant for decades  and coordination across federal agencies remains inconsistent. Meanwhile, many complex factors are fueling the public health challenges embedded in the US food system: rates of diet-related disease and health disparities continue to climb, the degradation of soil and other natural resources has grown more dire, many workers are still underpaid and unsafe, and climate change is now a reality that looms large in our daily lives.

It’s time for the next generation of nutrition research. To fill these gaps in research and provide information we need to make the best possible policy decisions, we must invest in research that is systems-oriented and can help identify healthy diets that deliver the best possible social, economic, and environmental benefits for all populations. Such research must span disciplines, take leadership from communities most affected by health disparities and environmental injustices, and at its core focus on tackling root causes of the greatest threats facing the food system, including the systemic exploitation of people and finite resources.

President Biden’s administration has no shortage of opportunities to prioritize this area of research, which sits at the nexus of some of its foremost policy priorities . US Department of Agriculture Secretary Vilsack is well positioned to play a powerful role in lifting up and improving coordination of nutrition research needs, particularly as he works to rebuild capacity in the department’s research arms. And Congress, for its part, can leverage legislative opportunities such as appropriations and the potential reauthorization of child nutrition programs to ensure that funding is finally available to answer these and other critical nutrition research questions.

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Dietetics & Nutrition

How to develop a question, developing a project, research process video tutorial.

• Get Background Info
• Find High-Quality Websites
• Find Evidence (Articles)
• Evaluate Evidence
• Summarize Evidence
• Organize Your Research
• Cite Your Sources
• The PICO Format Simple tool to help focus your research question on a specific issue (from the Evidence Analysis Manual)
• Template for Asking PICO(T) Questions handout This template can help you figure out how parts of your research question fit into the PICO(T) format.
• Tips for Writing a Good PICO What is a bad PICO vs a good PICO? From Meyer, M.N. (2017). Evidence-based practice: Success of practice change depends on the question. In T.L. Christenbery, ed., Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing: Foundations, Skills, and Roles. Springer: New York, NY.
• Question Formulation Template Factors to consider when developing a research question (from the Evidence Analysis Manual)

• SRM Project Planner This tool is designed to guide you through your research project. First, think about what stage you're at in your research. If you've already gotten started, click on the stage below that best describes where you are. If you're just starting out, it might be helpful to read more about why we do research before getting started.

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• Last Updated: Jul 27, 2023 12:03 PM
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• Writing Strong Research Questions | Criteria & Examples

Writing Strong Research Questions | Criteria & Examples

Published on October 26, 2022 by Shona McCombes . Revised on November 21, 2023.

A research question pinpoints exactly what you want to find out in your work. A good research question is essential to guide your research paper , dissertation , or thesis .

All research questions should be:

• Focused on a single problem or issue
• Researchable using primary and/or secondary sources
• Feasible to answer within the timeframe and practical constraints
• Specific enough to answer thoroughly
• Complex enough to develop the answer over the space of a paper or thesis
• Relevant to your field of study and/or society more broadly

Table of contents

How to write a research question, what makes a strong research question, using sub-questions to strengthen your main research question, research questions quiz, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about research questions.

You can follow these steps to develop a strong research question:

• Choose your topic
• Do some preliminary reading about the current state of the field
• Narrow your focus to a specific niche
• Identify the research problem that you will address

The way you frame your question depends on what your research aims to achieve. The table below shows some examples of how you might formulate questions for different purposes.

Using your research problem to develop your research question

Note that while most research questions can be answered with various types of research , the way you frame your question should help determine your choices.

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Research questions anchor your whole project, so it’s important to spend some time refining them. The criteria below can help you evaluate the strength of your research question.

Focused and researchable

Feasible and specific

Complex and arguable

Relevant and original

Chances are that your main research question likely can’t be answered all at once. That’s why sub-questions are important: they allow you to answer your main question in a step-by-step manner.

Good sub-questions should be:

• Less complex than the main question
• Focused only on 1 type of research
• Presented in a logical order

Here are a few examples of descriptive and framing questions:

• Descriptive: According to current government arguments, how should a European bank tax be implemented?
• Descriptive: Which countries have a bank tax/levy on financial transactions?
• Framing: How should a bank tax/levy on financial transactions look at a European level?

Keep in mind that sub-questions are by no means mandatory. They should only be asked if you need the findings to answer your main question. If your main question is simple enough to stand on its own, it’s okay to skip the sub-question part. As a rule of thumb, the more complex your subject, the more sub-questions you’ll need.

Try to limit yourself to 4 or 5 sub-questions, maximum. If you feel you need more than this, it may be indication that your main research question is not sufficiently specific. In this case, it’s is better to revisit your problem statement and try to tighten your main question up.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Methodology

• Sampling methods
• Simple random sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Cluster sampling
• Likert scales
• Reproducibility

 Statistics

• Null hypothesis
• Statistical power
• Probability distribution
• Effect size
• Poisson distribution

Research bias

• Optimism bias
• Cognitive bias
• Implicit bias
• Hawthorne effect
• Anchoring bias
• Explicit bias

The way you present your research problem in your introduction varies depending on the nature of your research paper . A research paper that presents a sustained argument will usually encapsulate this argument in a thesis statement .

A research paper designed to present the results of empirical research tends to present a research question that it seeks to answer. It may also include a hypothesis —a prediction that will be confirmed or disproved by your research.

As you cannot possibly read every source related to your topic, it’s important to evaluate sources to assess their relevance. Use preliminary evaluation to determine whether a source is worth examining in more depth.

This involves:

• Reading abstracts , prefaces, introductions , and conclusions
• Looking at the table of contents to determine the scope of the work
• Consulting the index for key terms or the names of important scholars

A research hypothesis is your proposed answer to your research question. The research hypothesis usually includes an explanation (“ x affects y because …”).

A statistical hypothesis, on the other hand, is a mathematical statement about a population parameter. Statistical hypotheses always come in pairs: the null and alternative hypotheses . In a well-designed study , the statistical hypotheses correspond logically to the research hypothesis.

Formulating a main research question can be a difficult task. Overall, your question should contribute to solving the problem that you have defined in your problem statement .

However, it should also fulfill criteria in three main areas:

• Researchability
• Feasibility and specificity
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A Qualitative Study of Factors Influencing Food Choices and Food Sources Among Adults Aged 50 Years and Older During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

Patrick j. brady.

1 Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Natoshia M. Askelson

2 Department of Community and Behavioral Health, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa

3 University of Iowa Public Policy Center, Iowa City, Iowa

Helaina Thompson

Sarah kersten, haley hopkins.

4 Iowa Department of Public Health, Des Moines, Iowa

Sato Ashida

Faryle nothwehr, brandi janssen.

5 Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa

David Frisvold

6 Department of Economics, Tippie College of Business, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic affected food availability and accessibility for many older adults, especially those experiencing food insecurity. Food citizenship is a theoretical framework that encourages the use of alternate over industrial food sources and can characterize where foods are acquired and how food choices are made.

The purpose of this study is to explore how Iowans aged 50 years and older made choices about what foods to acquire and where to acquire foods during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic using food citizenship as a theoretical framework.

We used in-depth interviews with Iowans aged 50 years and older (N = 60).

Participants

We recruited respondents through Area Agencies on Aging, food banks, and food pantries. Individuals who contacted the research team, were aged 50 years and older, and spoke English were eligible. Half of the sample screened as food insecure.

Statistical analysis

We conducted a thematic analysis to identify recurring themes.

Food costs, personal preferences, and the healthfulness of food were cited as the most influential factors. Respondents said that the pandemic had not changed how they make choices, but increased prices had made costs more salient. Respondents primarily got their food from industrial food retailers, government programs, or food pantries. More than half of the respondents also acquired food from an alternate food source, such as a farmers’ market. Reasons for not using alternate food sources included cost and transportation barriers.

Conclusions

It is essential to ensure that older adults have access to affordable, healthy foods, especially during crises such as the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Alternate food sources provided supplementary, healthy food for many respondents, but there are opportunities to expand the use of these food sources. Incentivizing the use of alternate food sources through government programs and connecting the emergency food system to local producers could increase the consumption of healthy food.

Research Snapshot

Research Question: How has the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic influenced the food choices and food sources of adults aged 50 years and older?

Key Findings: Food prices, personal preferences, and a food’s healthfulness were the primary factors driving choices. Although respondents said the pandemic had not changed the factors motivating their choices, they mentioned that food prices had become particularly relevant. Similarly, food sources did not change, and respondents used retailers in the industrial food system, government programs, or food pantries as their primary food source. Many respondents supplemented their diets with foods from the alternate food system, mainly farmers’ markets.

Older adults who experience food insecurity generally consume a poor diet 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 and are at increased risk for malnutrition. 4 , 6 Older adults who experience food insecurity also have an increased chronic disease burden compared with those who are food secure. 7 Barriers such as poor access to 8 , 9 and high costs of 10 , 11 healthy and sustainably grown food make it difficult to consume a heath-promoting diet. Because of this, government programs and emergency food services offer support to individuals experiencing food insecurity, 12 , 13 , 14 but these services may not be available to all who need them and are underutilized by older adults. 15 , 16 , 17

Food citizenship is a food movement and theoretical framework that has been used to address poor diet and food insecurity by enabling access to healthy, sustainably produced foods. 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 Whereas the food citizenship framework has been more fully described elsewhere, 21 rights and responsibilities are key concepts within food citizenship that should be considered here. Food citizenship is based on the fundamental and inalienable right to access healthy, nutritious foods produced in a just and sustainable way. 21 Based on this right, all members of the food system have responsibilities around food production, distribution, procurement, preparation, and consumption behaviors. 21 For food producers, distributors, and retailers, there is a responsibility to provide whole and truthful information about their foods and to increase equitable access to healthy, nutritious foods. 21 For individual consumers, food citizenship states that they have a responsibility to consider how their food-related behaviors and choices influence themselves and others. 21 By enabling all to practice the right to food and satisfying these responsibilities, we can improve our food system as well as individual dietary intake, health, and well-being.

It is important to reflect on why older adults choose the foods they do. Older adults have been shown to make food choices based on personal beliefs and preference as well as outside factors such as costs, 22 and these choices differ based on socioeconomic status 23 or food security status. 24 Furthermore, changing physiological and social circumstances associated with aging influence food choices. 25 Although food choices among older adults have been studied, 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 they have not been examined using food citizenship, which emphasizes a wide range of responsibilities associated with food choices that often were not considered in previous studies.

One manner in which older adults could engage with their responsibilities around food is utilizing the alternate food system. Alternate food systems often focus on local production and consumption and include food sources outside the industrial food systems such as farmers’ markets, gardens, or community-supported agriculture. This is in contrast to industrial food systems, which are those that are characterized by large-scale operations, often featuring vertical integration and concentration of power, and where the focus is efficiency and increasing profit. 26 , 27 In addition, the emergency food system exists as a safety net to provide food to those in need at no cost, and consists of meal sites, food pantries, food banks, and food rescue programs. 14 These systems are not independent; that is, a producer may sell food directly to consumers as part of the alternate food system but also have products in a grocery store as part of the industrial food system. Furthermore, emergency food systems rely on donations from large, multinational corporations but also receive food from local producers. However, by characterizing different food sources based on their focus and practices (eg, small-scale, local productions vs multinational, vertically integrated production), researchers can broadly understand from what type of institutions or organizations individuals are acquiring their foods. It is important to examine why older adults do or do not use certain food sources and understand what barriers may exist for individuals with food security, such as food costs or transportation. 28 , 29 This is especially true given the increased rates of food insecurity during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. 30 , 31 , 32

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many barriers to consuming healthy food items have been exacerbated, but little is known about how these barriers influenced food choices or where older adults acquired food. When there are disruptions to the food supply chain or changes in factors that influence food choices, such as price, individuals may respond by seeking to acquire food from new or different sources. This study aimed to answer two general research questions about adults who were approaching older age and older adults. First, we were interested in understanding what factors influenced food choices during the COVID-19 pandemic among adults aged 50 years and older and how these factors align with food citizenship. Second, we were interested in how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced where adults aged 50 years and older get their food and how their food sources align with food citizenship.

This study was part of a larger project conducted in collaboration with the Iowa Department of Public Health’s Supplemental Nutrition Program Education (SNAP-Ed) program and the Iowa Food Bank Association. The goal of the larger project was to increase produce consumption among older Iowans with food insecurity through food bank services.

Study Population, Recruitment, and Sample Size

The population was English-speaking adults aged 50 years and older who were living in Iowa. Iowa’s overall demographic profile can be found elsewhere. 33 We initially chose our population as individuals aged 50 years and older to capture the perspectives of those in near-retirement age as well as older adults, who we define based on the age-eligibility guidelines for Older American Act Nutrition Programs (ie, those older than age 60 years). Although we originally intended to use quota sampling to facilitate comparisons based on age, gender, and rural status, due to limitations introduced by the COVID-19 pandemic, we used a convenience sample. We chose to do this to collect timely data from as many individuals as possible during the data collection period so our results could potentially inform actions aimed to lessen food hardship among Iowans aged 50 years and older. Recruitment occurred between June and November 2020. During our first round of recruitment, we distributed a flyer through the congregate or home-delivered meal programs at four Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) in Iowa. These four agencies cover 61 of Iowa’s 99 counties. Some individuals who did not participate in the AAA meal programs contacted us after hearing about the study through word of mouth. For the second round of recruitment, the flyer was distributed by three food banks to their partner agencies and mobile pantry programs. The flyer included details about the study and asked interested parties to contact the research team either by telephone or e-mail. This study was approved by the institutional review board at the University of Iowa.

Because this was a preliminary, qualitative study, the number of participants was guided by the aims of the study and the responses of the participants, specifically, the collection of new, meaningful information throughout the data collection. After conducting 46 interviews in our first round of recruitment, we had reached saturation. 34 , 35 However, we did not have many respondents from the 50- to 59-year old age group, from historically marginalized populations, from the northeastern and western regions of the state, and from those living in more rural areas. From the second round of recruitment, we conducted an additional 14 interviews for a total of 60 interviews. We had participants from 15 counties of which six are considered metropolitan and nine of which are considered nonmetropolitan according to 2013 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes. 36 Each of the state’s four congressional districts (which correspond to the Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest of the state) were represented in the sample. Although the second round of recruited participants added diversity to our sample, there were no major differences in the responses between the rounds.

Data Collection Tools

We used in-depth interviews to gather the thoughts, experiences, and perspectives of adults aged 50 years and older. We developed an interview guide to explore where respondents were obtaining their food, why they were obtaining food from those places, and how they chose which foods to get (see Figure 1 , available at www.jandonline.org ). Following 10 pilot interviews, the interview guide was updated by reordering the sequence of the questions, eliminating original stems and replacing them with probes, and rewording questions to be more specific. An example of rewording a question was asking about how choices were made for selecting specific types of food vs generally (eg, “Last time you got fruit, how did you choose which fruits you were going to get?” vs “How do you make choices about what food you get?”). The interview guide asks about two general time periods, before the COVID-19 pandemic began and since the pandemic started because we were interested in exploring changes in these topics influenced by the pandemic.

We also collected demographic information (age, gender, Hispanic ethnicity, race, educational attainment, and monthly income), their living situation (the type of housing, whether they rent or own, and if they lived alone), and the use of food assistance programs and services (eg, SNAP, Older Americans Act nutrition programs, and food pantries/banks). We used a two-item food insecurity screening questionnaire 37 that has been validated in the general US population and for older adults 38 to identify individuals who had experienced food insecurity during the past year.

Data Collection and Management

The data collection team consisted of three interviewers (authors P.J.B., H.T., and S.K.) trained in conducting interviews with older adults. After a potential study participant contacted us to schedule an interview, we verified they were older than age 50 years, obtained verbal consent, and either carried out the interview or scheduled it for a later date. The first 10 interviews served as a pilot and were completed by the first author. Because the changes to the interview guide were minor, the 10 interviews used as a pilot were included in the analysis. Following the pilot interviews, the remaining interviews were split between the three research team members. All interviews were completed over the telephone and were audiorecorded. Participants were compensated with a $25 gift card following the interview. A typical interview lasted approximately 30 minutes, but some lasted longer than an hour. The interviews occurred between June and November 2020. The audio files were transcribed by a third-party transcription service. In the limited cases where participants did not want to be audiorecorded (n = 3) or the audio files were corrupted (n = 1), detailed notes were used instead of an interview transcript. We uploaded the de-identified and cleaned transcripts to the Dedoose software program. 39

Analytic Approach

We used a thematic analysis approach to code each transcript. 40 We developed a codebook using a deductive approach based on the aim of this study, the research questions, and the initial reading of the transcripts. After developing a draft codebook, each member of the research team coded three interviews independently. We then combined the coded interviews and met to discuss code applications and to refine the draft codebook. We finalized the codebook by reaching a consensus on code definitions and rules for code applications. Each member of the research team then independently coded a selection of the remaining transcripts. We reviewed the coded transcripts, met to discuss the code applications, and reached a final consensus. Following the initial coding, the first author categorized the factors that influence food choices as factors outside individual control (eg, food prices or food availability), factors related to responsibilities for themselves (eg, personal health or taste preferences), and factors related to responsibilities to others (eg, supporting farmers or environmental sustainability). We then compared responses between respondents who were food secure and food insecure to identify group differences. We had originally intended to compare emergent themes between adults in each age group to explore differences in experiences by age category (50 to 59 vs 60 to 69 vs ≥70 years) in addition to comparisons between respondents reporting food security and food insecurity, but this was not possible given the number of participants in the age 50 to 59 years category. We also did not observe differences in emergent themes between respondents in the age 60 to 69 years and age 70 years and older groups. Therefore, we do not discuss differences in emergent themes between age categories.

Demographic Characteristics

Respondents’ demographic characteristics are shown in the Table . The sample was mostly older, women, and White. We did not have any respondents who identified as Hispanic or Latino. The vast majority of the respondents were not employed and had completed a high school education or equivalent. Most of the respondents earned <$1,500 per month, lived alone, rented their residence, and lived in an apartment. Half of the sample screened as experiencing food insecurity in the past year. Half the respondents were participating in SNAP at the time of the interview and about two-thirds of the respondents described using a food pantry or food bank during the pandemic.

Demographic characteristics of respondents (N = 60) in an interview study about food-related behaviors and factors contributing to food choices among Iowans aged 50 years and older conducted between June and November 2020

Food Choices during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Overall themes and quotes regarding food choices during the COVID-19 pandemic are shown in Figure 2 and discussed in more detail below. The majority of respondents cited food costs, personal preferences, and health concerns or the food’s healthfulness as the major factors driving food decisions. The respondents frequently discussed balancing these factors; respondents often said they considered their preferences, health, and outside factors such as price together when selecting foods. The pandemic did not seem to introduce new influences on the respondents’ dietary choices, except when they were able to acquire more expensive food items that they would normally not purchase due to pandemic-related efforts to address unmet food needs. Some respondents highlighted factors such as price and healthfulness of foods that have become more relevant. For example, due to increased health risks due to the pandemic, some respondents described trying to eat healthier to strengthen their immune system. Food insecure respondents described prices as the major factor driving their food choices more often and more intensely compared with those who did not experience food insecurity. Respondents with food security were more likely to cite personal preferences. There were no other evident differences in responses based on food security status.

Figure 2

Themes related to food choices emerging from an interview study about food-related behaviors and factors contributing to food choices among Iowans aged 50 years and older conducted between June and November 2020.

Respondents most often discussed that food prices ultimately determined their food choices, regardless of the source of food or other factors they may consider ( Figure 2 ; Theme: Food costs). The respondents noted that this was true prior to the pandemic, but that increased food prices during the pandemic had changed what foods they chose or the quantity of foods they purchased ( Figure 2 ; Theme: Food costs). Respondents often noted that foods from alternate food sources were more expensive than at industrial retailers, but respondents also considered these foods to be healthier ( Figure 2 ; Themes: Food costs and Support for local food). Because price was often the major factor driving food choices and a barrier to selecting certain foods, there is an unmet responsibility under food citizenship in ensuring individual’s food choices are not constrained by systemic factors. Other outside factors influencing food choices were not necessarily framed in reference to outside responsibilities that one would consider as a food citizen even when they were emphasized as important by the respondents. One example of this is seasonality. Although some respondents mentioned picking produce according to the season, it was due to price and food quality and not a responsibility toward environmental sustainability ( Figure 2 ; Theme: Food costs, Subtheme: Seasonality), which would be an important concern under food citizenship. In addition, many of the respondents discussed choosing foods for their shelf life or to prevent food waste, but this was out of economic concerns ( Figure 2 ; Theme: Food costs, Subtheme: Shelf-life).

Many respondents reported that their food choices were influenced by the foods they like to consume and how those foods would influence their health ( Figure 2 ; Themes: Healthfulness and Personal Preferences). Because autonomy of choice is a key concept in food citizenship, it is important for individuals to have access to the foods they would like to consume. Despite this, many respondents experienced cost barriers to purchasing foods they would prefer to eat, such as with foods that were perceived to be healthier ( Figure 2 ; Theme: Food costs). Respondents who discussed the health benefits of certain foods influencing their choices cited both chronic conditions (eg, low sodium for hypertension) and to support an overall healthy lifestyle ( Figure 2 ; Theme: Healthfulness). Food citizenship emphasizes a responsibility to one’s own health, therefore considering individual health in food choices is consistent with food citizenship.

A few respondents mentioned the availability of food items as a challenge ( Figure 2 ; Theme: Availability and Accessibility), but most of the respondents did not describe foods being out of stock or unavailable. In fact, a number of respondents described increased accessibility since the pandemic started, due to increased SNAP benefits, participation in other government programs, or receiving food from a food pantry or food bank ( Figure 2 ; Theme: Availability and Accessibility). Despite the increased accessibility of foods and the ability to choose a wider variety of foods, respondents focused on maximizing their individual benefit, whether that was around price, taste, or health, rather than considering how their food choices influence others or larger systems.

None of the respondents cited outside factors (eg, for environmental sustainability, supporting local producers, other economic benefits to the community) as their primary reason for purchasing food items, but a few respondents did specifically mention these as influencing their food choices. Some respondent mentioned supporting their local food economy ( Figure 2 ; Theme: Support for local food), which is integral to food citizenship. They also discussed how the decision to acquire food from alternate food sources and support local producers was influenced both by increased costs compared to industrial food retailers and responsibilities for protecting individual health through healthier dietary intake ( Figure 2 ; Theme: Support for local food).

Food Sources during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Overall themes and quotes regarding food sources during the COVID-19 pandemic are shown in Figure 3 and discussed in more detail below. All respondents used an industrial food retailer (ie, grocery store, supermarket, or dollar store), government program (in this case, the Commodities Supplemental Food Program or Older Americans Act Nutrition Services), or a food pantry/bank as their primary source of food ( Figure 3 ; Theme: Main food sources). These were often the places that the respondent had acquired food from before the pandemic, but in some cases, respondents moved from one grocery or super store to another for various reasons such as price, offering delivery services, or out of concerns for safety related to COVID-19 ( Figure 3 ; Themes: Main food sources and COVID–19-related barriers to accessing food sources). A few respondents indicated that retailers in the industrial food system were not enforcing safety precautions such as social distancing and mask wearing while others were implementing these precautions ( Figure 3 ; Theme: COVID–19-related barriers to accessing food sources).

Figure 3

Themes related to food sources and use of alternate food sources emerging from an interview study about food-related behaviors and factors contributing to food choices among Iowans aged 50 years and older conducted between June and November 2020. a COVID = coronavirus disease 2019.

More than half of respondents also acquired food from an alternate food source, but this often was not out of a desire to support the local food economy, but instead due to personal preferences ( Figure 3 ; Theme: Alternate food sources) and having financial support ( Figure 3 ; Theme: Alternate food sources, Subtheme: Financial support). The majority of respondents using alternate food sources discussed using farmers’ markets, while a few said that they had their own gardens. The respondents who shopped at farmers’ markets cited the foods’ taste and health profile as reasons for shopping there ( Figure 3 ; Theme: Alternate food sources). In addition, many who attended the farmers’ markets received Senior Farmers’ Nutrition Program (SFMNP) vouchers from their AAA, which reduced price barriers to accessing these food sources ( Figure 3 ; Theme: Alternate food sources, Subtheme: Financial support). Some stated that they would spend their own money at farmers’ markets, whereas others would only use the SFMNP vouchers. Some respondents also started growing their own food in response to the pandemic, whether that was due to worries over food shortages or increasing food prices ( Figure 3 ; Theme: Alternate food sources).

The use of alternate food sources did not differ between respondents who did and did not experience food insecurity, but rather depended on the availability and accessibility of these food sources, financial support to purchase foods from local vendors, and personal preference. Even though there did not appear to be a major factor influencing the use of alternate food sources, the prices of foods were cited by some respondents who were experiencing food insecurity as a reason to not shop at alternate food sources ( Figure 3 ; Theme: Alternate food sources, Subtheme: Accessibility of alternate food sources). In addition, some respondents reported transportation barriers preventing them from using farmers markets ( Figure 2 ; Theme: Alternate food sources, Subtheme: Accessibility of alternate food sources). Similar to retailers in the industrial food system, a few respondents indicated that farmers’ markets were not enforcing safety precautions while others were ( Figure 3 ; Theme: COVID–19-related barriers to accessing food sources). These barriers indicate that there are unfulfilled responsibilities around ensuring alternate food sources are accessible for all. Some respondents who use food pantries discussed how these emergency food providers connected them with locally produced foods ( Figure 3 ; Theme: Alternate food sources, Subtheme: Accessibility of alternate food sources), increasing access to food from the alternate food system.

When examining where the respondents got their food and why through the lens of food citizenship, it is clear these respondents were not actively participating as food citizens, but often due to structural barriers such as physical and financial access. The majority of the respondents who used alternate food sources stated that they only used them because they had financial support to do so. There were a few examples of individuals being connected to local food sources through new programs as a result of the pandemic, which indicates that local producers and emergency food providers were acting on their responsibility to provide access to healthy, nutritious food to all. It was also clear that some retailers, both in the industrial and alternate food systems, were not acting responsibly in regard to the safety of their customers and precautions around the spread of COVID-19. Overall, it does not appear that the respondents moved toward acquiring food from alternate food sources in response to the pandemic. Despite this, farmers’ markets, gardens, and locally produced foods received through the emergency food system were an important source of healthy foods during this time.

This study explored the factors leading to food choices and food sources among Iowans aged 50 years and older during the COVID-19 pandemic using food citizenship as a theoretical framework. These results show that factors such as personal preference, health, and price were consistent determinants of food choices before and during the pandemic and that food acquisition behaviors did not change substantially. Although the pandemic did not cause the issues the respondents described, it exacerbated already existing vulnerabilities regarding food access and security and highlighted various structural and societal barriers to consuming healthy and preferable foods. In addition, the responses to this crisis, such as strengthening SNAP and expanding access to emergency food resources, provide insight on potential paths forward to improve food security and access. It will be critical for practitioners in nutrition, dietetics, public health, and public policy to learn from these times to build a foundation where all people and communities have access to healthy, preferable food.

Food choices among respondents were primarily based on material and personal factors, which is consistent with previous literature, 10 , 11 , 24 , 25 but largely did not consider wider social responsibilities, such as to consume ethically produced and distributed food. Food citizenship is defined by a right to access healthy nutritious foods and a responsibility to promote justice and equity through individual and collective actions. 21 These results show that the actions prescribed under this movement may not be feasible for adults aged 50 years and older given unmet societal responsibilities creating barriers to accessing healthy, nutritious foods produced in a just manner.

Whereas respondents’ sources of food remained fairly consistent during the COVID-19 pandemic, some respondents described increased barriers to accessing healthy food due to increase food prices, whereas others said responses to the pandemic, like increasing SNAP benefits, improved their access. It is clear from these results that Iowans aged 50 years and older, especially those who were experiencing food insecurity, were not actively acting as food citizens when making their food choices. Food prices and personal preference were most often described as what motivated food choices, which agrees with previous qualitative research identifying similar factors, such as taste, monetary, and health considerations. 24 The respondents material situation and personal needs may have been more pressing than loftier motivations described under food citizenship because no respondents cited responsibilities to others or the greater good as their primary reason for choosing food. Despite this, some respondents noted these responsibilities as an additional consideration, indicating that certain responsibilities described under food citizenship may be more salient in this population in the case that current factors such as price that overwhelmingly influenced food choices were addressed. Conceivably, these more immediate needs will have to be met to enable older adults to consider wider, societal obligations they have when choosing their foods, especially in the context of a global pandemic. Dietitians, other food and nutrition practitioners, and health care professionals working in clinical and community settings should aim to address these immediate needs by connecting patients experiencing food insecurity with resources such SNAP and emergency food providers, including aiding in navigating the administrative hurdles to accessing these services.

Food prices are a major influence on food choices and a barrier to healthy eating for food insecure individuals, 10 , 11 and the respondents indicated that rising food prices were a concern. Although COVID-19 may not have been the sole reason for changes in food prices, the respondents here perceived it as the reason for changes in food prices and often discussed how higher food prices had influenced their food choices during this time, particularly for meat and produce. Respondents also described panic buying resulting in less availability of low-cost items, forcing them to choose more expensive options. The respondents described this effect being blunted or eliminated in cases where the increase in SNAP benefits countered the increase in cost. It was clear from the respondents that the increase SNAP benefits were viewed as immensely beneficial and that previous benefits levels were inadequate to support a healthy diet. This study provides initial evidence suggesting that some of the policies enacted in response to the pandemic were effective in improving food security and dietary intake. There is limited information on the influence of the pandemic and accompanying food assistance and economic supports on diet quality of older adults. These results indicate that at least for some, dietary intake may have improved due to policy and nongovernmental responses to the pandemic, and future research is needed to quantify the influence of these policy interventions on food security and dietary intake.

Respondents’ use of multiple food sources agrees with the previous literature showing that households rely on a number of sources for food, including grocery stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, and restaurants, 41 , 42 and that spending at alternate food sources is much lower than at other sources. 43 Alternate food sources provided access to fresh produce, which was perceived by the respondents as healthier and of higher quality compared with foods from industrial food retailers. These perceptions are supported by previous research on consumer perceptions of food from farmers’ markets. 44 , 45 , 46 They also offered the opportunity to obtain foods in season, which were noted as an important factor in food choices by respondents in this study. In previous studies, receiving food from alternate food sources was beneficial to older adults’ fruit and vegetable consumption 47 and diet quality, 48 and because acquiring foods from alternate food sources also has broader societal benefits, 49 facilitating the use of alternate food sources is a vital strategy to improve our food system. Nutrition and dietetics practitioners can facilitative the transition toward consuming more foods from the alternate food system by linking clinical or community services to alternate food systems. For example, in SNAP-Ed nutrition education and produce prescription programs or by connecting patients to resources that increase accessibility to these foods, such as emergency food providers who work with local producers and the SFMNP.

In a few cases, respondents were connected to local food sources through initiatives in the emergency food system. Previous interventions addressing food insecurity using food citizenship have aimed to distribute locally produced foods to low-income individuals through government food programs 19 and nonprofits. 20 Respondents in this study also described benefits from efforts that increased access to locally produced foods, including through food pantries and government programs. Nutrition and dietetics practitioners and health care providers should work with providers in the emergency food system to connect them to local food resource and promote these foods to their clients. Integrating food recovery and redistribution efforts with emergency food systems and incentivizing the purchase of locally produced foods through government programs can provide local produce to individuals who may not be able to afford to shop in the alternate food system, 50 aligns with the goals of food citizenship, 21 and has the potential to improve dietary intake and health for vulnerable households who rely on food pantries to acquire food.

A number of respondents said they were trying to eat healthier food in response to the pandemic, often citing the benefits food has on one’s immune response. The healthfulness of food has been identified as an influential factor motivating food choices in older adults. 25 Furthermore, some respondents discussed being able to eat healthier foods because of increased benefits, participation in government programs, or access to emergency food systems, which were available in response to the pandemic. These results suggest that if foods produced in more just and environmentally sustainable ways were affordable and accessible at comparable levels to food from the industrial food system, it is likely that these respondents would prefer, purchase, and consume them. Nutrition and dietetics practitioners can increase healthy food consumption among adults aged 50 years and older and benefit society by leveraging their desire to eat healthy foods while connecting them to the resources required to access, prepare, and consume foods produced in just and environmentally sustainable ways.

For those who did not use alternate food sources, the barriers to use were also reflected in the previous literature and included factors discussed by the respondents, such as cost and transportation barriers. 31 , 32 Despite these barriers, we believe there are multiple opportunities to improve older adults’ diet through facilitating connections to the alternate food system. This could be done by brining foods from the alternative food system into nutrition education programs, leveraging perceived healthfulness of foods from the alternative food system to reduce intake of ultraprocessed foods, connecting participants to financial support (such as the SMFNP), for acquiring foods from the alternate food system, and connecting the alternate food and emergency food systems. It should also be noted that this study was conducted when alternate food sources were widely available (ie, summer and fall), and the seasonality of these food sources is also likely to be a barrier to using alternate food sources at other times of the year. Additional barriers were introduced by the pandemic, specifically in the case where providers and customers were not following safety precautions (eg, wearing masks and social distancing). Efforts should be made to ensure that older adults are able to safely shop in any outlet because it is a societal responsibility to ensure that all individuals are able to safely access the food retailers of their choice.

Limitations

The recruitment strategy for this study introduces a few limitations. First, because of limitations associated with conducting research during a pandemic with a vulnerable population, we chose to use a convenience sample for this study, which resulted in a sample that was mostly women, and we did not have any respondents who identified as Hispanic. We also recruited the majority of the sample through AAAs. This is likely why we saw such a large proportion of the sample receiving vouchers for the SFMNP because AAAs distribute the SFMNP vouchers in Iowa. A smaller group of our sample was recruited through the food banking system, which increased the geographic, racial, and age diversity of our sample. Because of where we recruited participants, we largely interviewed individuals who were already connected to either an AAA or a food bank, and therefore we do not include the perspective of individuals who are not connected to either a government or nonprofit support system. In other words, this sample likely did not include the most marginalized individuals of any demographic group included in the sample, which should be considered when interpreting these results. Because we had reached saturation, indicating that increasing the sample size would not add new, meaningful data and our results would not change, it is important to consider how the limitations of the recruitment strategy affect who was included in this study. These limitations could be addressed in future research by recruiting outside of food assistance programs and services, using more purposeful selection criteria, and using quota sampling; for example, requiring a certain proportion of the sample is not receiving emergency food or participating in government food assistance. In addition, we were not able to examine differences in emergent themes between respondents in the 50 to 59 ages groups vs other age categories, which are likely given then different circumstances of those in this age group compared with those older than age 60 years. Further research is needed on how changes in food choices and sources differed by age category. Finally, the recruitment strategy relied on participants reaching out to schedule an interview, which would introduce self-selection bias because those who are willing to reach out likely differ from those who are not in some ways. For example, our sample was heavily women, which may be due to self-selection of female-identifying individuals into the sample vs male-identifying individuals.

This study used in-depth interviews with Iowans aged 50 years and older to explore factors influencing food choices and food sources during the COVID-19 pandemic. The factors that determined food choices among respondents were mostly outside of individual control (food prices) and/or related to responsibilities toward one’s self (eg, personal preferences or for health reasons) rather than for responsibilities to the greater good. Acquiring foods from alternate food sources has individual dietary benefits and collective benefits, such as promoting environmental sustainability. Dietitians and food and nutrition practitioners should work to connect eligible clients aged 50 years and older to resources that provide material resources (eg, SNAP) and increase accessibility to alternate food sources (eg, SFMNP and emergency food providers) while providing the knowledge and skills needed to prepare and consume those foods to promote the consumption of these foods. By promoting and incentivizing the use of alternate food sources and consumption of locally produced foods, there is the opportunity to meet the nutrition needs of older adults and improve population health while working toward a more sustainable and just food system.

Acknowledgement

The authors thank Doris Montgomery, MS, RDN, LDN and the Iowa Food Bank Association for advice and assistance. The authors also thank the interview participants for the time and effort they provided.

Biographies

P. Brady is a postdoctoral fellow, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis.

N. Askelson is an associate professor, Department of Community and Behavioral Health, University of Iowa College of Public Health, and a research fellow, University of Iowa Public Policy Center, Iowa City.

H. Thompson are research assistants, and S. Ashida and F. Nothwehr are associate professors, Department of Community and Behavioral Health, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City.

S. Kersten are research assistants, are associate professors, Department of Community and Behavioral Health, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City.

S. Ashida are associate professors, Department of Community and Behavioral Health, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City.

F. Nothwehr are associate professors, Department of Community and Behavioral Health, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City.

H. Hopkins is a community health consultant, Iowa Department of Public Health, Des Moines.

B. Janssen is a clinical associate professor, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City.

D. Frisvold is an associate professor, Department of Economics, Tippie College of Business, and a senior research fellow, University of Iowa Public Policy Center, Iowa City.

Supplementary materials: Figure 1 is available at www.jandonline.org

STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

FUNDING/SUPPORT This study was supported by the USDepartment of Agriculture Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and it was developed by the Iowa Department of Public Health and the University of Iowa in partnership with the Iowa Department of Human Services (Iowa Nutrition Network Food Bank Project, grant no. 5880NU29). The first author is supported by Award no. T32DK083250 from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official view of the NIDDK or National Institutes of Health.

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS All authors meet the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors criteria for authorship. P. Brady, N. Askelson, H. Thompson, S. Kersten, H. Hopkins, S. Ashida, B. Janssen, F. Nothwehr, and D. Frisvold, made substantial contributions to the conception and design of the study. P. Brady, H. Thompson, S. Kersten, and H. Hopkins contributed to the acquisition of the data. P. Brady, N. Askelson, H. Thompson, S. Kersten, S. Ashida, B. Janssen, F. Nothwehr, and D. Frisvold, contributed to the analysis and interpretation of the data. P. Brady, N. Askelson, S. Ashida, B. Janssen, F. Nothwehr, and D. Frisvold, wrote the first draft. All authors revised subsequent drafts and gave final approval of the work.

Supplementary Materials

Older adult interview guide.

10 Sample survey questions for a tasty new food product

Creating a successful food product depends on crucial market insights. Check out these sample survey questions for a new food product to get you started.

What is a new food product survey?

New food product survey questions, what information do you need to develop a successful food product, survey question examples for new food products , what are you bringing to the table next.

Whenever you try to build something new, it’s best done together, right? 

In your food product development process, you don’t just say ‘bon appétit’ when you market a new product and put it in front of your ideal customer. What if they don’t care for it at all?

Take a step back. Try to create something together .

How? No need to invite a bunch of hungry customers to your production facility and let them play with ingredients. With a new food product survey, you can perfectly gauge what they’re hungry for and create a product that’s a match made in heaven. 

We’re following up our recent guide on market research for product development with some practical examples of survey questions you can use. This article will focus specifically on food products, but make sure to also take a peek if you’re stuck on another type of product — we’re sure you’ll find some inspiration either way.

How exactly can you use a survey to create a new food product? It’s not like your customers know what resources and ideas you have. 

It’s all about timing. Once you’ve come out of the woods of the initial ideation phase and are playing with different options, it’s time to ask the public. You’ll be building on options that you’ve verified to be viable in that initial stage, based on your market research, of course. 

At the same time, you’ll use the survey to scratch away any ideas that your customer base doesn’t like, leaving you with a most-desirable product.

So essentially, a food product survey isn’t a build-your-perfect-snack survey for your customers. It’s a tool that will help you determine which options that you’ve already played with are most likely to form a recipe for success.

Regardless of if you’re sending out a survey vs a questionnaire , you’ll need to ask the right questions, or find out how to write good survey questions . These are some of the best:

1. What are you trying to solve by using our product?

2. What are you missing in food product category X ?

3. If you could substitute one of the flavours we sell, which one would it be and what for?

4. what foods do you like to combine product x with, 5. if you could adapt one thing in product x, which would be the first thing, 6. if you could magnify one aspect of our product, what would it be, 7. how would you like to put product x to some other use, 8. if you could eliminate something from your diet, what would it be.

9. What food habits would you like to replace, and with what?

10. How well do you think the idea for this particular product fits our brand?

Get reliable insights into your target customers

Check our list of the top market research providers to make sure you choose the right tool for your goals

A new food product survey shouldn’t be a carte blanche with all the options your food scientists can create. You make it more specific and tie it to, ideally, one objective.

Before we get into the list, here are some of the most exciting direct-to-consumer food brands to whet your appetite. And insightful new product research isn’t limited to food products—here are some successful brands who’ve tested beverage branding ideas with consumer research.

What are you trying to achieve from the survey? 

Let’s look at some of the factors that play a role in food products.

• Taste: salted caramel, cheesy onion… you name it. What taste are your customers missing in the shelves from your brand — and others?
• Size: would your customers like to have a travel-sized version of some of their favourite foods — or would they like a bag of crisps that’s larger than life?
• Nutrition: how well does a certain product fit into the lifestyle and goals of your customers? What are they missing that would get them to reach those goals faster?
• Occasion: when is the product being consumed? For what moment does a consumer need something extra?

You can’t ask your customers to fill in all the blanks. You should use the survey to fill in the blanks you can’t just assume. Let’s say your market research has shown that there’s a considerable demand for one-person portions of healthy vegan meals, for the microwave. That ticks the boxes for size, nutrition and occasion. 

But you’re missing an important element: taste. This is what you can find out in your survey. 

What information do you need to develop a successful product?

It depends on who you ask. 

Product managers tend to say “go” if a product concept does not look bad; researchers want to say “stop” unless it looks good. Jay E. Klompmaker, G. David Hughes & Russell I. Haley, Test Marketing in New Product Development

There’s a difference between a product reaching certain requirements, and it being set up for success. Product managers want to launch a successful product. Researchers want to prevent expensive failed launches.

Of course, you’ll need both, but a new product survey and ad copy testing should be used for product managers — to reach for excellence and step away from the status quo. The bare minimum that your product needs to succeed needs to be established before you launch a survey. What you’ll get from the survey is almost literally the icing on the cake of your new product.

So, what information do you need to develop a successful product?

Find out what customers are missing in the supermarket. What flavours they could not stop buying if they exist. What products they haven’t been buying because of their dietary restrictions. 

Or gather information that will help you create a product that is unique in some way. Go beyond learning what products your customers already love — use that only as your baseline. 

Organic Valley has used Attest go find out what flavours to introduce next – and what to name them.

“We were able to identify the top three flavors that we then wanted to bring into the pilot labs. But while our primary insight was around flavors, we also got back a secondary unanticipated insight around how the consumers were clustered around the naming of products as well. 

It wasn’t just around choosing the right flavor but it was choosing the right flavor in the context of a broader name. To get specific, one of the options was ‘spicy tomato salsa egg bites’ and the consumers said it reminded them of the Mexican dish huevos rancheros. And so then we were able to test ‘spicy tomato salsa egg bites’ versus ‘Mexican egg bites with rancheros salsa’.”

Did that get you hungry? Read the full Organic Valley case study .  

You came for questions, and that’s what we’ll give you. We’ve gathered some practical examples of what you could ask in a new food product development survey, or when you’re ready to create a food brand . 

SCAMPER survey questions for new food product development

Before we dive into the questions, we want to explain the concept question 3 to 9 are based on. Ever heard of scamper? It’s an acronym — which is the name of a checklist designed to boost creative thinking. It basically takes an existing product, and lets you modify it in a more structured way than just saying: have your way with it. 

Now, how do you use these questions and more specifically, the answers? The hope is that there will be some consensus in the answers. For instance, for Modify/Magnify, you’ll get a lot of similar answers from your customer base. Or 90% wants to eliminate the same thing from a product — let’s say sugar. 

With that in mind, here are the questions!

This brings us back to the jobs-to-be-done part of any product, and for food products, this shouldn’t be overlooked. Are people searching for something that spices things up in the kitchen, that adds to their nutrition or that’s for comfort or a quick snack?

Knowing this for sure, without assuming, will help you to position your product accordingly. Here’s list of examples for jobs-to-be-done you can present in the survey:

• Build Muscle
• Manage my cholesterol
• Satisfy Hunger
• Lose weight
• Improve brain function
• Strengthen bones
• Sleep better
• Improve digestion

See how you can get intel about your audience with Attest

Make smarter decisions for your brand with reliable quantitative and qualitative consumer insights from Attest

2. What are you missing in food product category X

There’s no doubt about it: veganism is no longer a trend. But if you or any of your friends are vegan, you know how frustrating it can be to find the right snacks for movie night. Because yes, there’s such a thing as too many Oreos!

So, let’s say you’ve narrowed it down to the following:

• Diet: vegan-friendly. No, vegan-loving.
• Occasion: film night! Snacks that go great with thrillers and High School Musical.
• Size: perfect to share, even with non-vegan friends

And taste…? With the survey, you could tap into what people who went vegan are missing the most from the snack aisle. Is it more urgent to create vegan cheese-flavoured crisps, or vegan M&M’s?

Here you can list all the flavours you’re currently selling, and give a list of options that you’ve been considering. 

Maybe your customers have found a golden combination of products you haven’t thought of when creating the product. Think peanut butter and jelly, or the ever-controversial pineapple on pizza. 

You can either guide your respondents here by giving them a list of options — after all, you know what is actually possible. Think sizes, price, packaging. Or let them dream out loud by giving them the room for all ideas.

Bigger portions? A stronger flavour? More serving suggestions? Find out what your customers can’t get enough of and double down on that.

Would you like an ice cream that is suitable for breakfast? A slice of pizza that you can take as a snack without having to carry an entire box? Find out how your customers are really using certain products, or how they would like to use them if the packaging or portion was suitable for it. 

Get more inspo for your research from our concept testing survey template !

This might sound useless in new product development, but in the bigger picture — which a survey should reveal — this could be very useful information. Maybe you’re looking to create a new breakfast product, but you want it to fit into someone’s dietary restrictions. So, should you focus on gluten-free options? This question will help you find out. 

9. What food habits would you like to replace , and with what?

Here you can again give your respondents two lists to choose from: one with common food habits, and one with healthier — or at least different ones. Like question 8, this type of question will help you see the bigger picture and also helps with positioning.

We’re certain that with all their resources, Red Bull and Coca-Cola could create spectacular tea. But it would probably not catch on, because that’s just not what their brand stands for. So, in your product development survey, do take a moment to see if your brand-new idea actually fits your brand, to prevent a marketing disaster.

Is your food business always testing new flavours and ideas and do you want to bring those products to market with more certainty of success, and more speed? Then Attest is the place to start. Have a look at our free new product development survey templates and make them all yours to gather actionable data.

Fu0026amp;B Digest – Wellness foods issue

In the latest edition of our Fu0026amp;B Digest, we’ve digested data from 1,000 UK consumers to discover trends and opportunities in this growing sector.

Customer Research Lead 

Nick joined Attest in 2021, with more than 10 years' experience in market research and consumer insights on both agency and brand sides. As part of the Customer Research Team team, Nick takes a hands-on role supporting customers uncover insights and opportunities for growth.

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457 Food Essay Topics & Research Questions to Write about

Are you looking for good topics about food? Luckily, there are so many food topics you can research! You can focus on food safety, the link between nutrition and health, food insecurity, national cuisines, food waste in supply chains, food processing technologies, and many more. Check this list of the most exciting food research questions and titles!

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• Fast Food Nation: Annotated Bibliography Zepeda’s Bad Choices in Our Food System book explores how the food system, including relevant policies in the US, influences consumer food choices.
• Food Habits and Acculturation of Immigrants With immigration waves and globalization, people from foreign countries integrate within the host culture, which is a process called acculturation.
• Scientific Approach to Food Safety at Home The paper states that a scientific approach to handling, preparing, and storing food that explains how to prevent sickness is known as food safety.
• The Food Quality Impact on Economy and Health The problem of food quality and its impact on the economy and health of not only one country but the whole world cannot be overemphasized.
• Food Insecurity’s Causes and Implications Food insecurity is a complex problem that affects the economy, demography, ecology, and many other areas of development of states and their societies.
• Effects of Climate Variability on Water Resources, Food Security, and Human Health Evaluating the effects of climate variability on water, food, and health will help identify the areas for improvement and offer solutions to current environmental challenges.
• Food and Water Security Management The purpose of this article is to evaluate the current methodologies for addressing food and water security issues and propose sustainable solutions based on scholarly evidence.
• Food Safety Sanitation Requirements for a Child’s Health To maintain optimal diet and nutrition for a child’s health and welfare, emphasis must be made on sanitary criteria for food safety, storage, preparation, and food presentation.
• Proper Food Rotation Overview This paper will focus on the benefits of proper rotation and the consequences of effectively rotating foods, including its health implications.
• Sustainable Agriculture Against Food Insecurity The paper argues sustainable agriculture is one way to reduce food insecurity without harming the planet because the number of resources is currently decreasing.
• The Importance of Nutritional Labeling on Packaged Food It is essential to embrace nutritional labeling on packaged food, as they are meant to educate consumers about the products and their content.

If you need a good idea for your argumentative essay, check out some food related topics to debate:

• Should fast food be regulated?
• Should GMO labeling be mandatory?
• Is there a need for stricter regulation of food advertising?
• The link between processed food and obesity.
• The role of meat consumption in climate change.
• The pros and cons in functional foods.
• Can cities become self-sufficient in food production?
• Why should we promote Meatless Mondays?
• Are food additives and preservatives evil?
• The impact of food packaging on plastic pollution.
• How Do Fried Foods Affect Nutrition for Young Adults? An annotated bibliography on the topic how fried foods affect nutrition for young adults, the effect of television, the effect of dietary patterns on young adults’ health.
• Food Voice of the Bangladeshi Rice forms the core of the Bangladeshi eating patterns. It is consumed in large quantities across the country, being the base for many traditional dishes.
• The Use of Low Fat Food This short essay will demonstrate that many of the foods we are eating today are in reality not that low in fat as they claim.
• Healthy Fast Foods: Sector Analysis Health consciousness is fast becoming an important trend in the fast-food restaurant industry. The paper concerns sector analysis on profitability in the said marketplace.
• Food Waste Reduction Strategy The Strategy aims to raise society’s awareness and bring the food value back to reduce the volume of food waste generated.
• Proposal for Providing Healthier Food Choices for Elementary Students This paper describes the necessity of having a properly balanced diet, and execute healthy exercising patterns in our routines, along with our children.
• Time and Food: Chrononutrition & Night Eating This paper examines the relationship between time and nutrition, involving chrono-nutrition and night shift eating, as well as the health outcomes of metabolic and public health.
• Chick-fil-A Inc.’s Entry into Qatari Food Industry The report presents three elements (political, economic, and legal) of PESTEL for Chick-fil-A to use in its decision to expand in the Qatari fast food industry.
• Food Additives: Dangers and Health Impact Research shows that synthetic food additives have a negative human health and consumer dissatisfaction effect which calls for stricter regulation of their use in products.
• Supply Chain Management in the Food Industry Designing a proper supply chain in the environment of the global economy is a challenging task for a number of reasons; the numerous risks that need to be dealt with being the key one.
• Financial Projections for Entrepreneurship in Food Industry Running a restaurant, especially in the area known for its high competition rates among the local food production companies, particularly, the fast food industries, is not an easy task.
• Taiwanese Culture, Foods, and Tourism This paper provides a brief overview of Taiwan, including its location, culture, food, and tourism industry and its significant economic impact on the country.
• Code of Ethics in Food Tracks Business A transformation in the way that food is prepared and enjoyed can be seen in the vast development in the prominence of food trucks.
• Cause and Effect of Genetically Modified Food The paper states that better testing should be done on GMOs. It would lead to avoiding catastrophic health issues caused by these foods.
• Food Insecurity in the United States Food insecurity is one of the most pressing global problems that is also relevant for the United States today.
• Food and Agriculture of Ancient Greece The concepts of agriculture and cuisine both have a deep connection to Greek history, culture, development, and social trends.
• Trade Peculiarities in Food and Agriculture Food trading is a peculiar area, as food is the basis for surviving the population. The one who controls food production and trading routes, also controls all populations.
• Discussion of Freedman’s Article “How Junk Food Can End Obesity” David Freedman, in article “How Junk Food Can End Obesity”, talks about various misconceptions regarding healthy food that are common in society.
• A Qualitative Study of Independent Fast-Food Vendors Near Secondary Schools “A qualitative study of independent fast-food vendors near secondary schools” primarily sought to explore and navigate the barriers toward offering healthier menu options.
• Indian Cuisine: Food and Socio-Cultural Aspects of Eating Many social and cultural aspects of Indian cuisine are different from American foods. In Indian culture, eating is a significant social occasion.
• A Typical American Dinner Plate: Origins of Food A plate with tater tots (fried potatoes), chicken wings, spinach soup, and a piece of watermelon for dessert would qualify as ideal in any American household.
• Firefly Burger Fast Food Marketing Plan The project aims to examine the internal and external environments that affect the success of Firefly restaurant and the need for changing its marketing strategy.
• Nitrates and Nitrites in Food Nitrates are nontoxic compounds however when converted to nitrites in human bodies they can cause cyanosis, weakness, and a rapid pulse, coma, and cancer.
• Food in Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” The readers of Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” cannot overlook the fact that the motif of food consumption does resurface throughout the play’s entirety.
• The Trends of Natural and Organic Foods Organic food is primarily intended to appeal to financially well-off people who can afford to spend more money on food in exchange for its perceived superior quality.
• The Importance of Sustainable Development in the Food Retail Sector The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are discussed from the perspective of their relevance to the Canadian business in general and the food retail sector in particular.
• Food Company Managing Business Activities The company’s primary output consists of numerous dishes and drinks. The firm has a set of requirements that are used to determine if products meet the standards.
• Food Innovation: Ayran Yogurt in the Scandinavian Market This study researches the suitability of Ayran yogurt product and how to introduce it as a healthy alternative to soft drinks in the Scandinavian market.
• Genetically Modified Food Safety and Benefits Today’s world faces a problem of the shortage of food supplies to feed its growing population. The adoption of GM foods can solve the problem of food shortage in several ways.
• Pet Food Product Marketing Strategy This paper outlines the marketing strategies that will be used for launching my pet food product: SWOT analysis, target market, market needs, and other market strategies.
• Pizza as One of the Most Famous Food in London The most revolutionary thing about pizza is that it combines three key ingredients to become one of the tastiest foods to date. This dish utilizes our London-made bread.
• Food Waste Management Importance The world is gradually losing its beauty and is constantly coming under pressure from different problems every other day.
• Availability of Healthy Food Food security and accessibility are now seen as ensuring that all members of society have physical and economic access to food that is safe.
• Food Sustainability Assessment Food sustainability is the ability to produce enough food to meet the current population’s needs without damaging the resources that future generations will need to survive.
• The Age of “Nutritionism”: In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan Michael Pollan, an investigative journalist, wrote the book In Defense of Food to educate on what humans should consume to be healthy.
• The Food Insecurity Issue and Methods of Solving The paper discusses the issue of food insecurity and methods of how this problem can be solved. Some people do not have access to healthy food.
• Food Processing: Principles and Controversies Food processing is a currently applied trend to turn fresh food into different food products through such methods as washing, pasteurizing, freezing, cooking, or packaging.
• Foreign Market Entry of Electronic Food Delivery Service in Nigeria The purpose of this report is to discuss and analyze the establishment of an electronic, online-based food delivery service in Nigeria.
• Discussion of Food Safety Issues The paper discusses food tampering and bioterrorism are those issues that can result in fundamental problems in food safety area.
• Whole Foods Company’s Product Marketing in France Whole Foods can use different promotion strategies as it will be new to France. To make their product appealing to customers, they can offer coupons.

Do you want to write a paper on the latest advancements in food science and technology? Here are some current food-related research topics to discuss:

• Potential health benefits of plant-based diets.
• Nanotechnology in food packaging.
• The application of 3D printing in the food industry.
• The benefits of bioprocessing of food waste.
• The impact of fermented foods on gut health.
• Current techniques for clean meat production.
• Food traceability: why does it matter?
• Alternative sweeteners as a sugar reduction strategy.
• Emerging trends in food packaging materials.
• The use of robotics in the food industry.
• Healthier Cookie Version: The Challenges to the Food Industry A meal can enhance a healthy body development and, if not well censored, can result in health-related problems such as high blood pressure.
• Food, Health and Environment Relations This essay briefly explores the role played by EHPs in ensuring food safety and quality, the regulatory framework in place as well as risk and proportionality in food quality.
• Food and Wine Pairing Menu Considering the amount of sugars, acids, or tannins in wine might help to achieve a specific taste or sensation via its unique combination with food.
• The Impact of Food Choices on the Economy and Environment I decided to research two food products: salmon fillet and orange juice. I will utilize the data collected to reflect upon how food choices can impact the economy and environment.
• Schieffelin: Rainforest Environment and the Kaluli Food Production The author spends so much time discussing the Kaluli environment to demonstrate the surrounding, as it provides an understanding of the people and the main events.
• Competition in the Australian Food Industry: Case Analysis This article focuses on an analysis of the performance of Weight Watchers Comapny and Paradise Food Industries to identify the de facto leader in the health food market.
• Climate Change and Its Potential Impact on Agriculture and Food Supply The global food supply chain has been greatly affected by the impact of global climate change. There are, however, benefits as well as drawbacks to crop production.
• Product Design in Food Industry: A McDonald’s Case Article Critique In “Product Design in Food Industry – A McDonald’s Case,” authors consider McDonald’s recent launch of new products along with some of the aspects of its production process and innovativeness.
• Chick-fil-A Fast-Food Network Brand Analysis Based on customer demographic data, the paper analyzes the Chick-fil-A fast-food network and compares some data to compile an accurate picture of people’s preferences.
• Healthy Food Access for Poor People Through numerous studies, it is evident that the secret to good health lies in balancing of diet in peoples’ meals.
• Eco-Friendly Packaging Design for Food and Drinks The paper will focus on the issues of eco-friendly packaging. The topic will be narrowed to the food industry, i.e. food and beverage production.
• Food Policy Action and Food Security Legislation Food Policy Action was created from efforts of the US food policy leaders for holding legislators accountable for those votes that have a direct impact on the food industry.
• Fast Food Harmful Effects on Children This paper states that the exposure of children to fast food early on has an adverse effect on them, resulting in the need to prevent the sale of fast food in schools.
• Food Diversion as a Type-2 Diabetes Treatment This research paper examines its potential use for the treatment of type-2 diabetes in patients within the previously stipulated BMI range.
• Slow Food Movement in USA The Slow Food movement started in the middle of 1980s by C. Petrini as a protest against the fast food industry and the call for returning to the traditional healthy eating habits.
• What the Slow Food Movement Is Doing to Help the World With Food Insecurities The paper enlightens people on the origins of the Slow Food movement and how it has affected modern food, health care, and environmental sustainability.
• The Food Insecurity Action Center The Food Insecurity Action Center is a non-profit organization that aims to address the problem of food insecurity among students with negative school lunch balances.
• Sustainable Food Production: Cooking Chicken Breast Chicken breast is a versatile and nutritious cut of meat that can be cooked using dry heat methods such as roasting, grilling, or sautéing.
• Ecological Consumption in Terms of Food The paper focuses on food and its relation to ecology, precisely, how eating types of food can harm the ecosystem while others can help sustain the ecosystem’s health.
• Global Trade: Food Price Indexes and Data Collection Global trade is a rather beneficial aspect of the economy. It provides people with extra job opportunities and exposes people to previously unknown brands.
• Canada’s Food Guide Discussion Food recommendations are more important than ever, as customers struggle with varying levels of effectiveness in making nutritional judgments in today’s internet-based environment.
• The American Diet Influenced by Fast Food Ads McDonald’s is the largest provider of food services worldwide. It is one of the most well-known and reputable companies in the world, with a multi-level marketing campaign.
• The Meat Inspection and Food Safety Issues The safety of the food that people consume must be carefully checked before it hits the shelves. However, the inspection only checks some pieces of meat that enter the stores.
• Food Deserts’ Impact on Children Food deserts are an alarming issue of concern, especially for school-going children. This is because a lack of healthy food affects children both physically and mentally.
• Food Deserts Control in the United States Food access is a major contributor to food deserts and is viewed as a consequence of several factors such as physical closeness to food supplies.
• The Salmonella Bacterium as a Food Borne Illness Pathogen This paper will explore these aspects of the salmonella bacterium, which can negatively affect the human body.
• The Omnivore’s Dilemma Regarding Sources of Food This experimental work states that the omnivore’s dilemma is connected to having too many options while finding a lack of wise consumption guidance.
• Improper Food Handling Practices in Kansas City Restaurant Having many difficulties curbing the handling of improper food practices in Kansas City restaurants, they have come up with the program of training.
• Food Ingredients: Molecular Reactions The meal comprised vitamins, which could be found in onions and tomatoes; lipids, which are unsaturated fats; carbohydrates, which could be found in rice.
• Food Preparation in Upper Paleolithic Ohalo II The article makes an effort to examine the spatial distribution of fourteen plant taxa uncovered following the excavation of the Ohalo II Upper Paleolithic site in Israel.
• Agriculture, Water, and Food Security in Tanzania This paper evaluates the strategies applicable to the development and further maintenance of agriculture, water, and food security in Tanzania.
• Food, Inc., Produced by Kenner Review Upon its release, the documentary Food, Inc., produced by Kenner (2008), profoundly impacted society, showing the true realities of food production.
• Jewish Dietary Patterns: Kosher Food and New Meat This paper summarizes the article “What did it feel like to be a Jew?” by Mermelstein and discusses Jewish dietary laws regarding kosher food and new meat products.
• Improper Food Handling Practices in Kansas City Food safety is an essential factor in boosting the well-being of consumers on account of preventing poisoning and foodborne illnesses.
• Factors Influencing Food Choices and Their Impact on Health Many people have access to various food options, while some are limited to the highly available and affordable unhealthy food choices.
• The Lack of Food Safety in Kansas City, Missouri Food safety is crucial in storing, preparing, and handling food in restaurants and other establishments where meals and refreshments can be ordered.
• The Food Truck Business Models Development This paper examines the following models for the food truck business: operating model, value model, service model, experience model, cost model, and revenue model.
• Food Poisoning Caused by Staphylococcus Aureus This paper discusses various factors associated with S. aureus, including its morphology and arrangement, symptoms and diagnosis, incubation period, and prevention.
• Effects of Food-Medication Interplay on Recovery This paper examines the effects of food-medication interplay on recovery, the action that should have been taken, and the impact of gender on the situation.
• Powerade Food Myth Buster: Investigating Health Claims Powerade makes a statement on the bottle that it helps replenish four electrolytes lost in sweat. Powerade food myth buster aims to investigate its health claims from ingredients.

If you’re looking for persuasive topics about food to talk about, here are some suggestions for you:

• The benefits of eating organic foods.
• Fast food advertising to children should be banned.
• Food waste reduction is everyone’s responsibility.
• The importance of clear and informative food labels.
• The need for stricter regulation of junk food sales in schools.
• Why should the government impose a soda tax?
• The role of food companies in addressing childhood obesity.
• The impact of social media on eating behaviors.
• Home cooking is essential for health and family bonding.
• The role of food companies in addressing food allergies.
• The Reaction to the “Food, Inc.” Documentary
• Food Insecurity Health Issue: How to Mitigate It
• Hazard Analysis in Food Safety
• The Challenges in Food Supply Chain During COVID-19
• Nike, Whole Foods, and Mcdonald’s: The Use of Information Systems
• Food Behaviors Among Mexicans and South Americans
• Food Industry: The Safety Issues
• Food-Borne Salmonella Epidemiologic Triad
• Food Insecurity in New York City
• Agriculture-Led Food Crops and Cash Crops in Tanzania
• The “Food Inc.” Documentary by Robert Kenner
• Food Security: Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine
• Indian Culture and Food Supply
• Buffalo Skies Aki Forest Food Sovereignty Pilot Project
• Amazon and Whole Foods Merger
• Protecting Ourselves from Food Article by Sherman & Flaxman
• Food Deserts and Related Challenges
• The Baby Food Shortage: Public Service Announcement
• Examining Solutions for Mitigating the Food and Water Security Issue
• Junk Food Taxation in the United States
• Restricting the Volume of Sale of Fast Foods and Genetically Modified Foods
• Agriculture and Food Safety in the United States
• The Issue of Food and Water Security
• Expanding Access to Food Interview Plan
• The Consumer Attitude Towards Buying Organic Food in Hong Kong
• Liability of Death from Food Poisoning
• Food Labeling Affecting Sustainable Food Choices
• Behavioral Reasoning Perspectives on Organic Food Purchase
• Analysis of Freeman’s Promotion of Junk Food
• Morals and Using Animals for Food
• Food and Cultural Appropriation Article by Cheung
• Fast Food Addiction: Comparison of Articles
• Solutions for Food and Water Security Issue
• Evaluation of Articles on Food and Water Security
• Food Administration on Sustainable Palm Oil
• Food Cost Issues in the Hospital
• Issues of Obesity and Food Addiction
• Global Societal Issue: Food and Water Security
• Addressing Food Insecurity in Wyandotte County
• Chinese Food in the United States
• Fortified and Aromatic Wines and Accompanying Food
• “Can You Be Addicted to Food?”: A New Problem Faced by North Americans
• The Connection Between Food Allergies and Gut Microbiome
• Food Facility Design: Sustainable Kitchen for Delight Restaurant
• Successful Institutional Food Management & Delivery Systems
• Food and Water Security as Globalization Issues
• Fast-Food Expansion Strategy for Indian Market
• Digitization in Improving the Food Supply Chain
• The Discrepancies in Unhealthy Food Advertising: Hispanic and Black Consumers
• The Biofuel and Food Industry Connection
• Climate Change and Food Production Cycle
• “Societal Control” Over Food and Weight Gain
• Food Deprivation in the United States
• “Fast Food Nation”: The Development of the Food Industry in the USA
• The Connection Between Food Choices, Identity, and Nationalism
• Healthy Food for Learning Achievements in School
• Introduction to Food: Macromolecules Analysis
• Discussion of Food Foraging History
• Aspects of Food Insecurity
• Botulism Prevention and Food Security Approaches
• Should Food Manufacturers Label All GMOs?
• “Food Stamped” and Its Main Shortcomings
• Discussion of Food Security Technologies
• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Globalization
• Food Allergies and Eating Disorders
• Supply Chain Strategy for the Foods and Drinks Sector
• Organic Food Purchases Among Customers of Different Ages
• Food Deserts and Their Impact on Local Communities
• Introduction and Politics of Food Discussion
• Food Security: Global Health Issue Comparison
• Are Food Manufactures Killing Us?
• A Community Mobile Food Truck to Serve Disadvantaged Children’s Needs
• Whole Foods: An Organizational Needs Analysis
• White-Collar Crimes: Unsafe Food
• The Class About Nutrition to Real Life Situations When Making Food Choices
• Food and Beverage Plan: The COVID-19 Pandemic Influence
• Impacts of Climate Change on Agriculture and Food
• Food Supplements in Preventing Long-Term Illnesses
• Personal Response About the Documentary “Food Inc.”
• A Plan for Receiving and Handling of Food Products Based on HACCP
• Logistics Network of the Food and Beverage Production Industry
• Quality of Food Served to Children
• Fast Food Restaurants in the US
• Fast-Food Marketing and Children’s Fast-Food Consumption
• Genetically Modified Foods: How Safe are they?
• The Home Food Environment and Obesity-Promoting Eating Behaviours
• Fast Food and Health Relations
• The Effects of Food on ADHD
• Genetically Modified Organisms in Human Food
• Eating Fast Food and Obesity Correlation Analysis
• Nursing: Issue of Obesity, Impact of Food
• When Food Costs More Than It Is Supposed To
• Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act Amendment
• American Food Industry in the “Food, Inc.” Movie
• Ban on Genetically Modified Foods
• Obesity Treatment – More Than Food
• Fast-Food Industry’s Influences on Children
• Nurse-Led Program on Food Safety Problem
• Halal Food in Other Religions
• Neighborhood Deprivation and Exposure to Fast Food in a Large Rural Area
• Bacteria That Cause Food Toxicity
• “The Food Matters” by James Colquhoun
• “The Future of Food” produced by Catherine Lynn Butler
• Comfort Food as a Quarantine Trend
• The Process of Food Poisoning in General
• A 3-Day Diet Analysis With the USDA Food Pyramid
• Food Consumption: Enjoyment and Ethics
• Reducing Food Packaging Litter in Ireland
• Food Insecurity Assessment in Miami
• TQM, Six Sigma and Product Liability in Perishable Food Industry
• Food Labeling and Concordia University’s Food Sphere
• Food and Family in the Hispanic Culture
• The Downtown Rideau Area: Food Segway Tours
• The History of Soul Food Cuisine in the United States
• The Words on Your Plate: Analysis of the Food Words
• Expanding Ultima Foods in China
• The Actual and Budgeted Food Costs
• Escherichia Coli Infection: Preventing Food Borne Illness
• National Food Policy Guaranteeing Healthy Food Marketing
• Impact of COVID-19 on People’s Livelihoods, Their Health and Our Food Systems
• First in Show Pet Foods: Case Analysis
• Food Festival Event for Westboro Residents
• Analysis of Nutrition and Food Studies
• Modeling Sustainable Food Systems
• Soul Food: An Original American Art Form
• Macronutrients Consumption: The Best Food Sources
• Fast Food Chain Locations, Non-Chain Restaurants and Bars
• Statistics on Food Disorders in the US and Puerto Rico
• Teens ‘Especially Vulnerable’ to Junk Food Advertising
• The Importance of Variability in the Food Industry
• “Women, Food, and Learning” by Claudia Setzer
• Food Additives Use in Agriculture in the United States
• Advantages of Using Genetically Modified Foods
• The Origins of the Soul Food and Barbeque in the USA
• Food and Sustainable Environmental Issues in Campus
• 2019 Brooklyn Crush Wine & Artisanal Food Festival
• America Express Charity Food Overview
• Visual Communication. Natural Food Packaging Colors
• Food, Body, and Weight Issues Exploration and Family Dynamics in Ireland
• Is Fast Food Really Harmful and Can It Be Healthy?
• The Current American Food Situation Influenced by the Immigrant Farmers
• Traditional Lakota Food: Buffalo
• Organic Foods Issue of “In Defense of Food” by Michael Pollan
• Negative Impact of Soil Erosion on the World`s Food Supply
• Food Safety in the Commercial Industry
• Working in a Food Pantry
• Testing Food Service Employees: Policy Assessment
• How Tesco a Leading Food Retailer Globally
• How the Fast Food Industry Has Changed the Environment and the Health of American Society?
• Food Safety Issues and Standards
• “Chinese Restaurant Food” : The Article Review
• Genetic Engineering in Food and Freshwater Issues
• Food Habits and Dietary Practices: Honey as Food
• Food and Drug Administration History
• Eric Schlosser’s “Fast Food Nation”
• White Thinking Hat Fast Food: Overview
• “Fast Food Nation” the Book by Eric Schlosser
• Genetically Modified Food as a Current Issue
• The Fast Food Restaurants History in the United States
• Fast Food Nation: Business Analysis
• Fast Foods Lead to Fast Death: Informative Speech
• Delectability of Foods Within the Context of Children
• Concerns Regarding Genetically Modified Food
• Obesity Caused by Fast-Food as a Nursing Practice Issue
• Food and Drug Administration – Regulatory Agency
• Do Marketers Condition Us to Buy More Junk Food?
• Bologna-Surface Bacterial Analysis: Bacterial Contamination on Two Food Contact Surfaces
• The Case of Salesforce and Wegmans Food Market
• Food Insecurity Intervention and Its Effectiveness
• Business Within Society: Food Truck
• Proposal for Lowering the Intake of High-Calorie Food
• Organizational Design Factors in the Food Industry
• Granite City Food & Brewery Company’s Analysis
• Global Food Security: UN Speech
• Sociology of Food and Eating
• Food & Beverage Companies’ Input to Global Food Consumption
• McDonald’s Fast-Food Restaurant’s Analysis
• “The Future of Food” Documentary
• Australian Consumers Strategies to Reduce Food Waste
• Fast-Food Restaurant’s Capacity Increasing Options
• Waste, Food and Transportation: Sustainable Development
• Food Stamps: Rationale for Tightened Conditions
• Granite City Food & Brewery Company’s Environment
• Granite City Food & Brewery Company’s Market Capitalization
• Food Labeling Changes in the United States
• Biofoam: The Snack Food That’s Packing America
• Global Food Supplies, Overpopulation and Pollution
• Start Up Company: Genetically Modified Foods in China
• Costly Healthy Food and State Policies
• Granite City Food & Brewery Company’s Value Chain
• Nature’s Best Pet Food Brand’s Target Market
• Food Choices in Food Deserts: Sociological Analysis
• Healthy and Nutritious Food for Young Children
• Food Chain: Ricotta Cheese Production
• Food in Reducing Risks and Improving Health
• Childhood Obesity Causes: Junk Food and Video Games
• Food and Drug Administration Fast-Track Approval
• Dietary Laws and Food Products for Health
• Fast Food as a Cause of Obesity in the US and World
• Local Food Venture and Its Operations Management
• How Canadian Government Could Improve Food Safety?
• Labeling Food With Genetically Modified Organisms
• Ethical Eating in Daily Food Practices
• Healthy Food in U.S. Schools
• Drug-Drug and Food-Drug Interactions
• Food Producing Company and Its Key Processes
• Saddle Creek Corporation: Food Company Analysis
• IES Lean Systems Ltd. in the Food Industry
• Food Ads Ban for Childhood Obesity Prevention
• World Hunger and Food Distribution as Global Issue
• Whole Foods Market’s Strategic Position and Goals
• Packaging in Marketing, Food Safety, Environment
• Food: National Identity and Cultural Difference
• Food for the Working-class Americans
• Fast Food and Obesity Link – Nutrition
• In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan
• Nutrition: Causes and Effects of Fast Food
• Food Science and Technology of Genetic Modification
• Food Across Cultures: Asida (Jamza) Meal Project
• Food in the 20th Centure
• Food Safety and Information Bulletin
• Nutrition, Healthy Food Choice, and Nutritional Value of Fast Foods
• Nutrition and Food Security within the Aboriginal and Remote Communities of Australia
• Food Allergies and Obesity
• Genetically Modified Foods and Their Impact on Human Health
• Nutrition: Foods Containing Calories

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StudyCorgi. (2021, September 9). 457 Food Essay Topics & Research Questions to Write about. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/food-essay-topics/

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StudyCorgi . 2021. "457 Food Essay Topics & Research Questions to Write about." September 9, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/food-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Food were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on June 22, 2024 .

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30+ Food Quality Survey Questions to Ask Your Customers

Pragadeesh Natarajan

Last Updated: 23 May 2024

Table Of Contents

• Food quality survey questions
• Restaurant survey questions

Do you want to evaluate the quality of your food? Need some sample food quality survey questions to come up with your own?

The best way to improve the quality of your food is to ask your customers for feedback.

And what better way to gather feedback than surveying your customers?

In this article, we’ve curated a list of the best food quality survey questions you can ask your customers to evaluate the quality of the food you serve at your restaurant.

As a bonus, we’ve also listed the best restaurant survey questions you should ask your customers to measure their overall satisfaction with your food and their experience so far.

Most importantly, We’ve also added a Free Food Quality Survey Template , which is used by brands worldwide, which you can start using for free to collect feedback from customers.

Sign up with your mail and customize the survey how you want in just a few minutes, and you’re ready to circulate it.

Try our food quality survey to test the conversational experience!

Preview Template

Here’s what more we’ll cover in this article:

• Food Quality Survey Questions to Evaluate Food Quality
• Restaurant Survey Questions

30+ Food Quality Survey Questions to Ask for Actionable Feedback

Here are 30+ food survey questions you can ask your customers:

• What did you think about our food?
• How would you rate the quality of our food?
• Was the food served hot?
• Did the menu have a good variety of items?
• Was the food tasty and flavorful?
• What premium options or ingredients would you like us to offer?
• Was the food served fresh?
• Do you receive the same quality with every meal?
• Do we offer enough upscale or premium ingredients?
• Was the quality of the food excellent?
• {Restaurant name} uses little to no processed foods and artificial ingredients.
• {Restaurant name} uses fresh herbs and spices to add flavor to food.
• On a scale of 1-10, how good is the look, feel, and smell of our ingredients?
• {Restaurant name} cooks with natural products and ingredients?
• How good is our restaurant’s culinary expertise?
• Are proper preparation standards followed?
• What did you like best about our menu?
• What did you dislike about our menu?
• Are there any drinks you’d like to see on our menu?
• Did you find anything missing from the menu?
• How would you rate the menu selection?
• How would you rate the value of the food?
• Were you pleased with our drink offerings?
• How would you rate the portion size?
• How would you rate the value of the beverages?
• Is there anything about our food you would improve, and if so, what?
• Is there anything about our beverages you would improve, and if so, what?
• How would you rate the presentation of the meal?
• Do you find our menu has something for everyone?
• How would you rate the range of options on our menu?
• If you have a dietary restriction, were you accommodated well today?
• Is there anything else you would like to tell us about the quality of our food?

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30+ Restaurant Survey Questions to Ask Your Customers

Here are 30+ questions to ask in your restaurant surveys:

• Was this your first time visiting our restaurant?
• How often do you dine at our restaurant?
• Do you find our restaurant family-friendly?
• Are our operating hours convenient for you?
• How far did you travel to visit us today?
• If {new process or product} was an option, would you try it out?
• Was the staff friendly and welcoming?
• How long did it take for you to be greeted upon arrival?
• Who was your server today?
• What was the speed of the service?
• Did your waiter recommend any of our menu specials?
• How would you rate your server’s knowledge of the menu?
• If there were any issues, did your server handle them well?
• How would you rate our service?
• Were all of the restaurant staff wearing masks?
• How would you rate the atmosphere in terms of temperature, sound level, etc.?
• Was the music volume to your liking?
• Was hand sanitizer provided?
• How comfortable did you find the seating?
• How would you rate the reservation process?
• If you ordered online, how quickly did your food arrive?
• If you ordered online, did the food appear and taste fresh when it arrived?
• Was your food at the right temperature when it arrived?
• How would you rate the food packaging?
• Which online platform did you use to order food from our restaurant?
• Did our restaurant meet your standard of cleanliness and hygiene?
• What do you think about our restaurant’s ambiance and environment?
• What was your favorite part of your experience at our restaurant?
• Are you a member of our loyalty program?
• How did you find out about our restaurant?
• Did you use any of our discounts or special offers?
• How likely would you be to return to our restaurant?
• What was the least favorite part of your experience at our restaurant?
• How likely would you be to recommend our restaurant to your family and friends?
• How could we serve you better in the future?
• Is there anything we can do to motivate you to visit us more often?
• Do you have any other general feedback for us?

Final thoughts

If you’re a restaurant owner, you need to know what your customers truly think about the food you serve at your restaurant. Improving the quality of the food you provide is one of the best ways to grow your restaurant, and a survey for food is an excellent tool for that.

Are you a restaurant owner looking to conduct a food quality survey and evaluate the quality of your food? SurveySparrow provides you with everything you need to create your very own food quality survey that matches your brand.

It provides you with a simple drag-and-drop interface and premade template that anyone can use to create a food quality survey in minutes.

Most of your customers will complete your food survey as they would be pleased to take food surveys that are conversational in nature, and are quite different from the long, boring forms you’ve seen on the internet.

If you’re looking to boost your survey responses and create pleasant experiences, take the conversational way and try SurveySparrow today!

Have you got any questions about creating a food quality survey? Any interesting tips or hacks for creating effective food quality surveys? Let us know in the comment section below.

Looking for a survey tool that makes it easy and effective to conduct interactive and conversational food quality surveys? Wondering whether SurveySparrow is the right fit for creating and sharing your food quality surveys? Reach out to us for a free, personalized demo!

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A woman harvests home-grown lettuce. sanjeri / Getty Images

By Sarah Reinhardt

When it comes to healthy eating, there’s a lot we already know.

Just take a look at the scientific report issued by the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee , the group of scientific experts behind the newly released 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans . At 835 pages, the report spans a rigorous review of current research on dozens of topics, from whether eating peanuts early in life reduces the likelihood of peanut allergies (it probably does), to how much added sugar we can eat and still maintain a healthy diet ( way less than what we’re eating now ). It also outlines the broad contours of a healthy diet, which has changed little from past editions of the Dietary Guidelines : it’s typically higher in vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, low- or non-fat dairy, lean meat and poultry, seafood, nuts, and unsalted vegetable oils, and lower in red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened foods and drinks, and refined grains.

But food is more than just nutrition. We also know that food can affect the health of many people before it even reaches our plates. For example, pollution caused by fertilizer runoff from farms have left communities without access to safe drinking water, while many of the people who produce our food don’t earn enough to afford healthy diets themselves. So, is it possible to eat in ways that promote health and produce better outcomes for our collective wellbeing, livelihoods, and natural resources? And what would it take to get us there?

These are complex questions, but critical ones—and if the federal government made it a national priority to answer them, we might have a chance at avoiding otherwise devastating consequences.

That’s why leading experts and scientific bodies, including the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee , are increasingly calling attention to the importance of research on sustainable diets . Though there is no official record of how much federal funding is currently supporting this field, funding for nutrition research across the board has remained stagnant for decades . Research funding at the intersection of food and agriculture issues, in particular, is decidedly inadequate to address the magnitude of the public health challenges before us, including climate change, threats to food security, and persistent poverty and health disparities.

Many, including UCS, are working to change that by advocating for greater government investment in sustainable diets research. Here are three of the most pressing questions that research can answer to enable more sustainable eating for all.

1. When it comes to healthy and environmentally sustainable diets, what exactly is on the menu?

Research on healthy and environmentally sustainable diets has seen extraordinary growth in recent years. According to UCS research , nearly 100 new scholarly articles were published on this topic between 2015 and 2019, including 22 articles focused specifically on US diets. For reference, that’s more than four times the number of articles published on the same topic between 2000 and 2015—in about a quarter of the time.

Much of this research agrees that, in general, healthy diets that are higher in plant-based foods and lower in animal-based foods are more environmentally sustainable—meaning they are often associated with reduced energy and land use, as well as less air and water pollution.

This is an important finding that enables us to take the first steps toward more sustainable diets—and each step is critical, given the urgency and magnitude of dual public health and climate crises. Indeed, a number of other countries already have acted on existing knowledge to incorporate sustainability into national dietary guidance .

But the more we know, the faster (and further) we can move forward.

For example, we need to better understand the impacts of all different kinds of dietary shifts that could improve health and sustainability, and the most effective ways to encourage such shifts at the individual, institutional, and societal levels . We also need to better understand how a wide variety of sustainable diets align with diverse cultures and culinary traditions . Both of these areas of research will be crucial to informing practical public health interventions and policy recommendations that can help all people make meaningful changes.

There are also challenges with available data and models. Many studies on sustainable diets rely on models called Life Cycle Assessments , which help estimate the cumulative environmental impacts of the foods we eat. For example, how much energy is required to process, package, and transport a pound of beef from the farm to the grocery store? How much land, water, and energy was required to raise the cattle? While a Life Cycle Assessment is useful in providing general estimates, it’s often based on averages that don’t account for key differences in production methods, for example, or regions. More data—and more diverse data sources—could make this an even more powerful and practical tool.

These and other outstanding research gaps prompted the Interagency Committee on Human Nutrition Research (ICHNR), an interdisciplinary group of leaders across key federal agencies, to identify sustainable diets as a research priority in the creation of its 2016-2021 National Nutrition Research Roadmap. And though interest in this topic continues to grow, there is evidence that federal funding remains woefully inadequate to support independent research on sustainable diets and food systems.

2. How could more socially and economically sustainable food systems support healthy eating?

While environmental sustainability receives a lot of attention, a truly sustainable diet also takes into account the social and economic conditions that can threaten our health, wellbeing, and the future of our food supply.

Among these considerations are the persistent health and economic disparities embedded in the current US food system, which disproportionately affect Black, Indigenous, and other resilient communities of color who have faced decades of racist and discriminatory practices and policies. Even before the pandemic, the people working throughout the US food system —nearly 40 percent of whom are people of color—experienced greater poverty, poorer healthcare access, and higher occupational health hazards relative to the general population. Many of these same populations are also most vulnerable to the environmental consequences of unsustainable food systems, such as climate change, water pollution, and other environmental impacts. The irony should not be lost on anyone that many Indigenous populations have for generations produced food in harmony with ecological systems—a way of living that, in the US and elsewhere, was deeply and violently disrupted by colonization and genocide.

Pervasive exploitation in the food chain can function to make certain foods cheap, while also preventing workers from being able to afford healthy diets themselves. And unfortunately, this isn’t a challenge unique to workers in the food chain. Many US households are already struggling to afford a healthy —let alone sustainable—diet.

So how can research help?

For one, there are an increasing number of studies that are putting dollar signs on healthier and more sustainable diets. Understanding what these diets might cost consumers, and what segments of the population might be unable to afford them, is an important first step in creating policy and programs that can bring healthier and more sustainable eating into reach for more people. Existing research on programs and initiatives such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (also known as SNAP), cash assistance programs, or minimum wage increases will also be useful in identifying the best ways to increase consumer purchasing power, particularly among low-income households. Perhaps most importantly, effective community-based participatory research can support community efforts to resist and address the root causes of social and economic disparities, including racism and exploitative economic systems. Organizations like the HEAL Food Alliance , a multi-racial coalition building a national movement to transform food and farming systems, should be looked to as experts and leaders in shaping the goals and objectives of research that will impact the communities they represent.

3. What are the synergies and tradeoffs when you value both public health and sustainability?

Not every food choice that supports health will support sustainability, and vice versa. In fact, as our research shows , if the US population shifted from our current diet to a healthier diet, greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, and water use could actually increase. This is due in part to the fact that many fruits and vegetables—which most of us don’t eat nearly enough of—are produced in ways that require a lot of water and energy.

Another commonly cited example is the conflict between US dietary recommendations for fish and shellfish and the ability of fisheries to meet this demand in a sustainable way—an issue highlighted by experts in a National Academies of Science workshop and the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee .

None of this is to say that we should abandon our efforts to eat healthfully. Rather, it’s to say that we need to do some problem-solving if we want to eat in ways that are healthy and sustainable for people and the planet, and research can play a key role in helping us get there.

Solving the sustainable food Rubik’s cube

It was more than thirty years ago that federal policy established the first specific directives for prioritizing nutrition research, yet its funding has remained stagnant for decades and coordination across federal agencies remains inconsistent. Meanwhile, many complex factors are fueling the public health challenges embedded in the US food system: rates of diet-related disease and health disparities continue to climb, the degradation of soil and other natural resources has grown more dire, many workers are still underpaid and unsafe, and climate change is now a reality that looms large in our daily lives.

It’s time for the next generation of nutrition research. To fill these gaps in research and provide information we need to make the best possible policy decisions, we must invest in research that is systems-oriented and can help identify healthy diets that deliver the best possible social, economic, and environmental benefits for all populations. Such research must span disciplines, take leadership from communities most affected by health disparities and environmental injustices, and at its core focus on tackling root causes of the greatest threats facing the food system, including the systemic exploitation of people and finite resources.

President Biden’s administration has no shortage of opportunities to prioritize this area of research, which sits at the nexus of some of its foremost policy priorities . US Department of Agriculture Secretary Vilsack is well positioned to play a powerful role in lifting up and improving coordination of nutrition research needs, particularly as he works to rebuild capacity in the department’s research arms. And Congress, for its part, can leverage legislative opportunities such as appropriations and the potential reauthorization of child nutrition programs to ensure that funding is finally available to answer these and other critical nutrition research questions.

Reposted with permission from Union of Concerned Scientists.

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Examples of Good and Bad Research Questions

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Written by  Scribendi

So, you've got a research grant in your sights or you've been admitted to your school of choice, and you now have to write up a proposal for the work you want to perform. You know your topic, have done some reading, and you've got a nice quiet place where nobody will bother you while you try to decide where you'll go from here. The question looms:     

What Is a Research Question?

Your research question will be your focus, the sentence you refer to when you need to remember why you're researching. It will encapsulate what drives you and be something your field needs an answer for but doesn't have yet. 

Whether it seeks to describe a phenomenon, compare things, or show how one variable influences another, a research question always does the same thing: it guides research that will be judged based on how well it addresses the question.

So, what makes a research question good or bad? This article will provide examples of good and bad research questions and use them to illustrate both of their common characteristics so that you can evaluate your research question and improve it to suit your needs.

How to Choose a Research Question

At the start of your research paper, you might be wondering, "What is a good research question?"

A good research question focuses on one researchable problem relevant to your subject area.

To write a research paper , first make sure you have a strong, relevant topic. Then, conduct some preliminary research around that topic. It's important to complete these two initial steps because your research question will be formulated based on this research.

With this in mind, let's review the steps that help us write good research questions.

1. Select a Relevant Topic

When selecting a topic to form a good research question, it helps to start broad. What topics interest you most? It helps when you care about the topic you're researching!

Have you seen a movie recently that you enjoyed? How about a news story? If you can't think of anything, research different topics on Google to see which ones intrigue you the most and can apply to your assignment.

Also, before settling on a research topic, make sure it's relevant to your subject area or to society as a whole. This is an important aspect of developing your research question, because, in general, your research should add value to existing knowledge .

2. Thoroughly Research the Topic

Now that you've chosen a broad but relevant topic for your paper, research it thoroughly to see which avenues you might want to explore further.

For example, let's say you decide on the broad topic of search engines. During this research phase, try skimming through sources that are unbiased, current, and relevant, such as academic journals or sources in your university library.

Check out: 21 Legit Research Databases for Free Articles in 2022

Pay close attention to the subtopics that come up during research, such as the following: Which search engines are the most commonly used? Why do some search engines dominate specific regions? How do they really work or affect the research of scientists and scholars?

Be on the lookout for any gaps or limitations in the research. Identifying the groups or demographics that are most affected by your topic is also helpful, in case that's relevant to your work.

3. Narrow Your Topic to a Single Point

Now that you've spent some time researching your broad topic, it's time to narrow it down to one specific subject. A topic like search engines is much too broad to develop a research paper around. What specifically about search engines could you explore?

When refining your topic, be careful not to be either too narrow or too broad. You can ask yourself the following questions during this phase:

Can I cover this topic within the scope of my paper, or would it require longer, heavier research? (In this case, you'd need to be more specific.)

Conversely, is there not enough research about my topic to write a paper? (In this case, you'd need to be broader.)

Keep these things in mind as you narrow down your topic. You can always expand your topic later if you have the time and research materials.

4. Identify a Problem Related to Your Topic

When narrowing down your topic, it helps to identify a single issue or problem on which to base your research. Ask open-ended questions, such as why is this topic important to you or others? Essentially, have you identified the answer to "so what"?

For example, after asking these questions about our search engine topic, we might focus only on the issue of how search engines affect research in a specific field. Or, more specifically, how search engine algorithms manipulate search results and prevent us from finding the critical research we need.

Asking these "so what" questions will help us brainstorm examples of research questions we can ask in our field of study.

5. Turn Your Problem into a Question

Now that you have your main issue or problem, it's time to write your research question. Do this by reviewing your topic's big problem and formulating a question that your research will answer.

For example, ask, "so what?" about your search engine topic. You might realize that the bigger issue is that you, as a researcher, aren't getting the relevant information you need from search engines.

How can we use this information to develop a research question? We might phrase the research question as follows:

"What effect does the Google search engine algorithm have on online research conducted in the field of neuroscience?"

Note how specific we were with the type of search engine, the field of study, and the research method. It's also important to remember that your research question should not have an easy yes or no answer. It should be a question with a complex answer that can be discovered through research and analysis.

Perfect Your Paper

Hire an expert academic editor , or get a free sample, how to find good research topics for your research.

It can be fun to browse a myriad of research topics for your paper, but there are a few important things to keep in mind.

First, make sure you've understood your assignment. You don't want to pick a topic that's not relevant to the assignment goal. Your instructor can offer good topic suggestions as well, so if you get stuck, ask them!

Next, try to search for a broad topic that interests you. Starting broad gives you more options to work with. Some research topic examples include infectious diseases, European history, and smartphones .

Then, after some research, narrow your topic to something specific by extracting a single element from that subject. This could be a current issue on that topic, a major question circulating around that topic, or a specific region or group of people affected by that topic.

It's important that your research topic is focused. Focus lets you clearly demonstrate your understanding of the topic with enough details and examples to fit the scope of your project.

For example, if Jane Austen is your research topic, that might be too broad for a five-page paper! However, you could narrow it down to a single book by Austen or a specific perspective.

To keep your research topic focused, try creating a mind map. This is where you put your broad topic in a circle and create a few circles around it with similar ideas that you uncovered during your research. 

Mind maps can help you visualize the connections between topics and subtopics. This could help you simplify the process of eliminating broad or uninteresting topics or help you identify new relationships between topics that you didn't previously notice. 

Keeping your research topic focused will help you when it comes to writing your research question!

2. Researchable

A researchable question should have enough available sources to fill the scope of your project without being overwhelming. If you find that the research is never-ending, you're going to be very disappointed at the end of your paper—because you won't be able to fit everything in! If you are in this fix, your research question is still too broad.

Search for your research topic's keywords in trusted sources such as journals, research databases , or dissertations in your university library. Then, assess whether the research you're finding is feasible and realistic to use.

If there's too much material out there, narrow down your topic by industry, region, or demographic. Conversely, if you don't find enough research on your topic, you'll need to go broader. Try choosing two works by two different authors instead of one, or try choosing three poems by a single author instead of one.

3. Reasonable

Make sure that the topic for your research question is a reasonable one to pursue. This means it's something that can be completed within your timeframe and offers a new perspective on the research.

Research topics often end up being summaries of a topic, but that's not the goal. You're looking for a way to add something relevant and new to the topic you're exploring. To do so, here are two ways to uncover strong, reasonable research topics as you conduct your preliminary research:

Check the ends of journal articles for sections with questions for further discussion. These make great research topics because they haven't been explored!

Check the sources of articles in your research. What points are they bringing up? Is there anything new worth exploring? Sometimes, you can use sources to expand your research and more effectively narrow your topic.

4. Specific

For your research topic to stand on its own, it should be specific. This means that it shouldn't be easily mistaken for another topic that's already been written about.

If you are writing about a topic that has been written about, such as consumer trust, it should be distinct from everything that's been written about consumer trust so far.

There is already a lot of research done on consumer trust in specific products or services in the US. Your research topic could focus on consumer trust in products and services in a different region, such as a developing country.

If your research feels similar to existing articles, make sure to drive home the differences.

Whether it's developed for a thesis or another assignment, a good research topic question should be complex enough to let you expand on it within the scope of your paper.

For example, let's say you took our advice on researching a topic you were interested in, and that topic was a new Bridezilla reality show. But when you began to research it, you couldn't find enough information on it, or worse, you couldn't find anything scholarly.

In short, Bridezilla reality shows aren't complex enough to build your paper on. Instead of broadening the topic to all reality TV shows, which might be too overwhelming, you might consider choosing a topic about wedding reality TV shows specifically.

This would open you up to more research that could be complex enough to write a paper on without being too overwhelming or narrow.

6. Relevant

Because research papers aim to contribute to existing research that's already been explored, the relevance of your topic within your subject area can't be understated.

Your research topic should be relevant enough to advance understanding in a specific area of study and build on what's already been researched. It shouldn't duplicate research or try to add to it in an irrelevant way.

For example, you wouldn't choose a research topic like malaria transmission in Northern Siberia if the mosquito that transmits malaria lives in Africa. This research topic simply isn't relevant to the typical location where malaria is transmitted, and the research could be considered a waste of resources.

Do Research Questions Differ between the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Hard Sciences?

The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge. 

–Thomas Berger

First, a bit of clarification: While there are constants among research questions, no matter what you're writing about, you will use different standards for the humanities and social sciences than for hard sciences, such as chemistry. The former depends on subjectivity and the perspective of the researcher, while the latter requires answers that must be empirically tested and replicable.

For instance, if you research Charles Dickens' writing influences, you will have to explain your stance and observations to the reader before supporting them with evidence. If you research improvements in superconductivity in room-temperature material, the reader will not only need to understand and believe you but also duplicate your work to confirm that you are correct.

Do Research Questions Differ between the Different Types of Research?

Research questions help you clarify the path your research will take. They are answered in your research paper and usually stated in the introduction.

There are two main types of research—qualitative and quantitative. 

If you're conducting quantitative research, it means you're collecting numerical, quantifiable data that can be measured, such as statistical information.

Qualitative research aims to understand experiences or phenomena, so you're collecting and analyzing non-numerical data, such as case studies or surveys.

The structure and content of your research question will change depending on the type of research you're doing. However, the definition and goal of a research question remains the same: a specific, relevant, and focused inquiry that your research answers.

Below, we'll explore research question examples for different types of research.

Comparative Research

Comparative research questions are designed to determine whether two or more groups differ based on a dependent variable. These questions allow researchers to uncover similarities and differences between the groups tested.

Because they compare two groups with a dependent variable, comparative research questions usually start with "What is the difference in…"

A strong comparative research question example might be the following:

"What is the difference in the daily caloric intake of American men and women?" ( Source .)

In the above example, the dependent variable is daily caloric intake and the two groups are American men and women.

A poor comparative research example might not aim to explore the differences between two groups or it could be too easily answered, as in the following example:

"Does daily caloric intake affect American men and women?"

Always ensure that your comparative research question is focused on a comparison between two groups based on a dependent variable.

Descriptive Research

Descriptive research questions help you gather data about measurable variables. Typically, researchers asking descriptive research questions aim to explain how, why, or what.

These research questions tend to start with the following:

What percentage?

How likely?

What proportion?

For example, a good descriptive research question might be as follows:

"What percentage of college students have felt depressed in the last year?" ( Source .)

A poor descriptive research question wouldn't be as precise. This might be something similar to the following:

"What percentage of teenagers felt sad in the last year?"

The above question is too vague, and the data would be overwhelming, given the number of teenagers in the world. Keep in mind that specificity is key when it comes to research questions!

Correlational Research

Correlational research measures the statistical relationship between two variables, with no influence from any other variable. The idea is to observe the way these variables interact with one another. If one changes, how is the other affected?

When it comes to writing a correlational research question, remember that it's all about relationships. Your research would encompass the relational effects of one variable on the other.

For example, having an education (variable one) might positively or negatively correlate with the rate of crime (variable two) in a specific city. An example research question for this might be written as follows:

"Is there a significant negative correlation between education level and crime rate in Los Angeles?"

A bad correlational research question might not use relationships at all. In fact, correlational research questions are often confused with causal research questions, which imply cause and effect. For example:

"How does the education level in Los Angeles influence the crime rate?"

The above question wouldn't be a good correlational research question because the relationship between Los Angeles and the crime rate is already inherent in the question—we are already assuming the education level in Los Angeles affects the crime rate in some way.

Be sure to use the right format if you're writing a correlational research question.

How to Avoid a Bad Question

Ask the right questions, and the answers will always reveal themselves. 

–Oprah Winfrey

If finding the right research question was easy, doing research would be much simpler. However, research does not provide useful information if the questions have easy answers (because the questions are too simple, narrow, or general) or answers that cannot be reached at all (because the questions have no possible answer, are too costly to answer, or are too broad in scope).

For a research question to meet scientific standards, its answer cannot consist solely of opinion (even if the opinion is popular or logically reasoned) and cannot simply be a description of known information.

However, an analysis of what currently exists can be valuable, provided that there is enough information to produce a useful analysis. If a scientific research question offers results that cannot be tested, measured, or duplicated, it is ineffective.

Bad Research Question Examples

Here are examples of bad research questions with brief explanations of what makes them ineffective for the purpose of research.

"What's red and bad for your teeth?"

This question has an easy, definitive answer (a brick), is too vague (What shade of red? How bad?), and isn't productive.

"Do violent video games cause players to act violently?"

This question also requires a definitive answer (yes or no), does not invite critical analysis, and allows opinion to influence or provide the answer.

"How many people were playing balalaikas while living in Moscow on July 8, 2019?"

This question cannot be answered without expending excessive amounts of time, money, and resources. It is also far too specific. Finally, it doesn't seek new insight or information, only a number that has no conceivable purpose.

How to Write a Research Question

The quality of a question is not judged by its complexity but by the complexity of thinking it provokes. 

–Joseph O'Connor

What makes a good research question? A good research question topic is clear and focused. If the reader has to waste time wondering what you mean, you haven't phrased it effectively.

It also needs to be interesting and relevant, encouraging the reader to come along with you as you explain how you reached an answer. 

Finally, once you explain your answer, there should be room for astute or interested readers to use your question as a basis to conduct their own research. If there is nothing for you to say in your conclusion beyond "that's the truth," then you're setting up your research to be challenged.

Good Research Question Examples

Here are some examples of good research questions. Take a look at the reasoning behind their effectiveness.

"What are the long-term effects of using activated charcoal in place of generic toothpaste for routine dental care?"

This question is specific enough to prevent digressions, invites measurable results, and concerns information that is both useful and interesting. Testing could be conducted in a reasonable time frame, without excessive cost, and would allow other researchers to follow up, regardless of the outcome.

"Why do North American parents feel that violent video game content has a negative influence on their children?"

While this does carry an assumption, backing up that assumption with observable proof will allow for analysis of the question, provide insight on a significant subject, and give readers something to build on in future research. 

It also discusses a topic that is recognizably relevant. (In 2022, at least. If you are reading this article in the future, there might already be an answer to this question that requires further analysis or testing!)

"To what extent has Alexey Arkhipovsky's 2013 album, Insomnia , influenced gender identification in Russian culture?"

While it's tightly focused, this question also presents an assumption (that the music influenced gender identification) and seeks to prove or disprove it. This allows for the possibilities that the music had no influence at all or had a demonstrable impact.

Answering the question will involve explaining the context and using many sources so that the reader can follow the logic and be convinced of the author's findings. The results (be they positive or negative) will also open the door to countless other studies.

How to Turn a Bad Research Question into a Good One

If something is wrong, fix it if you can. But train yourself not to worry. Worry never fixes anything.

–Ernest Hemingway

How do you turn something that won't help your research into something that will? Start by taking a step back and asking what you are expected to produce. While there are any number of fascinating subjects out there, a grant paying you to examine income disparity in Japan is not going to warrant an in-depth discussion of South American farming pollution. 

Use these expectations to frame your initial topic and the subject that your research should be about, and then conduct preliminary research into that subject. If you spot a knowledge gap while researching, make a note of it, and add it to your list of possible questions.

If you already have a question that is relevant to your topic but has flaws, identify the issues and see if they can be addressed. In addition, if your question is too broad, try to narrow it down enough to make your research feasible.

Especially in the sciences, if your research question will not produce results that can be replicated, determine how you can change it so a reader can look at what you've done and go about repeating your actions so they can see that you are right.

Moreover, if you would need 20 years to produce results, consider whether there is a way to tighten things up to produce more immediate results. This could justify future research that will eventually reach that lofty goal.

If all else fails, you can use the flawed question as a subtopic and try to find a better question that fits your goals and expectations.

Parting Advice

When you have your early work edited, don't be surprised if you are told that your research question requires revision. Quite often, results or the lack thereof can force a researcher to shift their focus and examine a less significant topic—or a different facet of a known issue—because testing did not produce the expected result. 

If that happens, take heart. You now have the tools to assess your question, find its flaws, and repair them so that you can complete your research with confidence and publish something you know your audience will read with fascination.

Of course, if you receive affirmation that your research question is strong or are polishing your work before submitting it to a publisher, you might just need a final proofread to ensure that your confidence is well placed. Then, you can start pursuing something new that the world does not yet know (but will know) once you have your research question down.

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How do people choose what food to buy? Answers depend on what you ask – so we built a research tool for African countries

PhD candidate, Department of Consumer and Food Sciences, University of Pretoria

Disclosure statement

Nomzamo N. Dlamini receives funding from: The National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF) and the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program.

University of Pretoria provides funding as a partner of The Conversation AFRICA.

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You’re in a shop or market and you’re buying food for the next day. How do you choose what to buy? Does it depend on how much you can spend, on what’s the healthiest, the most attractively packaged? Understanding this is an important part of food product development as well as consumer education and diet interventions for better public health.

Researchers all over the world use tools such as questionnaires to study what motivates people’s food choices. However, most of these questionnaires were developed in the global north using insights from people living in those contexts. The food choice determinants of people in emerging economies like South Africa, where a large percentage of the population live below the national poverty line , may not be fully captured by these instruments.

So, as a researcher in consumer food science working on a PhD about the factors driving food choice in an emerging economy, I set out, with my supervisors , to develop a questionnaire suitable for use in this context.

A more relevant research tool can provide a more accurate understanding of the factors driving people’s food choices. This could inform necessary changes in a country like South Africa, where diseases related to diet or lifestyle, like hypertension, are among the leading causes of death .

To gather insights on the factors driving food choice in this context, we conducted focus group discussions with urban people from low, middle and high income backgrounds. Each discussion included between four and six people – a small group, to make sure participants had ample opportunity to contribute.

Read more: Diet and nutrition: how well Tanzanians eat depends largely on where they live

Focus group discussions can reveal diverse views and insights from people with different habits, beliefs, attitudes and experiences. This method allowed us to collect detailed data and to encourage interaction among participants, which could uncover more insights.

We collected hundreds of statements about people’s reasons for eating or purchasing certain food. Then we built surveys, which we sent out to wider groups of people online and analysed statistically.

From this we obtained a seven-factor food choice questionnaire with 31 statements. The factors were: 1) Healthy eating constraints, 2) Emotional eating, 3) Meat appeal, 4) Frugality (being money savvy), 5) Quality seeking, 6) Cooking constraints and 7) Weather.

The findings

Several of these factors were unique; they don’t appear in conventional food choice questionnaires. For instance, those questionnaires don’t ask about constraints to healthy eating (like “I find it hard to change poor food habits”); instead they tend to feature health-positive questions (like “It’s important to me that the food I eat on a typical day is nutritious”).

Read more: Poor South African households can't afford nutritious food – what can be done

Another example is the importance of eating meat. Although unusual compared to other food choice instruments, the presence of a distinct meat-related factor is appropriate and fitting in this context. For many Africans, eating meat is aspirational and an important part of culture and socialisation . Everyday meals and special occasions are also planned and built around meat.

In contrast, people in developed countries like Australia, Canada, Belgium, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Singapore are adjusting to eating less meat and it may lose its significance in these countries.

Read more: 1 in 10 Americans say they don't eat meat – a growing share of the population

Sustainability matters

Eating less meat has been identified as a way to make the global food system more sustainable.

But just because our participants considered meat an important part of their preferred diets does not mean that they don’t think about sustainability. They were strongly averse to wasting food, partly because their resources were limited. This is likely true for the general South African population.

Sub-Saharan Africa produces less post-harvest waste than Europe and the Americas, and the least household food waste when compared to Europe, the Americas and Asia. This shows that the behaviours contributing to sustainability vary by geographical area.

Surprisingly, despite weather being a driver of food choice in this study, it has not been reflected in any other food choice measurement output. It is not typically asked or featured as a food choice driver.

Compared to developed countries, there is often much less infrastructure in South Africa to protect people from temperature extremes during the warm and cold seasons. Thus, it is more probable that people in South Africa would rely more on food to either cool down or keep warm. This explains why weather was a significant food choice driver among our respondents.

Why this matters

We have produced an alternative food choice questionnaire for use in emerging economies: a food choice questionnaire for Africans, by Africans.

This questionnaire is nuanced and can be used by researchers in such contexts to understand the factors driving food choice.

For instance, governments could use the questionnaire to collect data about the barriers to healthy eating, then prepare specific, evidence-based messaging to educate people or to inform policies related to the food environment.

Read more: Street food keeps Johannesburg going - but working conditions of vendors are unhealthy

The questionnaire could also be used for diet intervention strategies specific to certain demographic groups and inform the development of new food products.

We have not stopped at developing the questionnaire. We’ve also conducted a follow-up, cross-cultural study as part of the InnoFood Africa project . The questionnaire has been administered to urban dwellers in seven countries (South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, France, Finland and Norway). Analysis of the data will begin soon.

• South Africa
• Healthy eating
• Food packaging
• Food choices
• Emotional eating
• Saving money
• food markets

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