Abstract
Aging is not only a challenge for food producers, but also provides a treasure
trove of new opportunities for product development and innovations. We have designed
a prototype model of food consumption of the elderly with the goal of calling the
attention of producers and growers to the specific needs of this growing market
segment. However, the food consumption habits of the elderly cannot be compacted into
a single model, since this specific age group is not homogenous. By designing
hypothetical models we are hoping to facilitate the further research of the issue. In the
near future we want to test and try our general models in practice, involving the
producers as well as the consumers. The models point at the specific needs of aging
populations and their choice of food products based upon reasonable decisions and
focusing on the future. Considerations of the future perspective are an important feature
of this behavior, since it might significantly improve the quality of life and health
awareness of the elderly, their decisions in the field of consumption, and ultimately their