RESUMEN
Introduction: The medical population lacks satisfactory information concerning the views regarding food perception among both male and female adult African Americans with consideration of chronic diseases, highest education level and marital status. The idea has not been fully exploited in research which has provoked the study. This study examines the views of food perception in relation to the health care and wellbeing of individuals. It offers satisfactory data that would in turn bring about the easy understanding of different perceptions concerning food choices, evaluating whether level of education and chronic disease play any role in decision making. It aims to make recommendations of the need for deploying healthier diet practices for better health outcomes. Methodology: The research is a mixed qualitative and quantitative study using both recorded interviews and a demographic questionnaire for data collection. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the demographic questionnaire was transcribed by the investigator according to the volunteer participant's verbalized answers, who were conveniently selected on their scheduled clinic visit day. The participant read and signed the form after hands sanitized containing 70% ethyl alcohol gel. The second part of the study was a telephonic interview, which was recorded, and information transcribed onto an excel worksheet in preparation for analysis. Data was collected and tabulated in an excel worksheet and then uploaded to Statistical Packages and Software Services (SPSS) an IBM application that aided in simplifying data presentation in the form of graphs which made it easier to draw conclusions. Results: There were 65 participants with 48 females and seventeen 17 males, and 56.9% with a college education in the study of which 84.6% were responsible for buying and preparing food. From the research analysis of the collected data, it was discovered that 43.1% of participants admitted to not eating healthy, 23.1% being influenced by maintaining health, 21.5% to being influenced by taste, and 15.4% eating as their medical condition recommends. Conclusion: To promote healthier food choices we need to embrace useful education and motivation strategies to encourage healthy food perception and hence healthy eating. To minimize the risks that may emerge from unhealthy food perceptions, the recommendation is crucial for meaningful collaboration with African Americans to prioritize and implement improved dietary habits and reduce diet-related chronic diseases. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)