Analysis of how food is represented in domestic TV nutrition programs

The media have an impact on nutrition culture and eating habits, but there does not seem to be a well-codified, coherent, and strategic program for the content of media nutrition programs in Iran. Lack of oversight of media productions and content is a big issue that can damage the culture of the audience and society. The purpose of this study is to investigate the current situation and how the content of television nutrition programs and their role in culture is.The research method is based on the qualitative content analysis approach. Data are recorded and collected, implemented, reduced, deduced, and analyzed based on the method of Mayring. Three programs from Persian language networks were selected as sample. The purposeful sampling method is selected.The results showed 6 categories of culture manifestation in TV food programs, cooking, nutrition sociology, luxury status, leisure, and the appearance and construction of programs along with their subcategories in food TV programs were displayed. It was found that the status of food TV programs includes: modeling and representing culture, showing luxury, the presence of religion in the field of food, ignoring social classes and the lack of visual effects.Television plays an important role in transmitting values, changing attitudes and behaviors, and guiding the lifestyle and culture of society. Food can change the thinking, habits, values of societies. It is necessary for healthy food programs in the media to preserve the identity of the Iranian food culture to have sufficient and accurate monitoring of the programs.