Food in the family. Bringing young people back in

Abstract

This article analyzes eating and beliefs about family meals in the qualitative interview narratives of 30 “at-risk” gang-involved young women in the San Francisco Bay Area. We begin our examination of consumption practices with a study of households and identify three major types–extended, single-parent and blended. Within these households, food purchasing and consumption activities are varied, and in many cases, our respondents rely upon extended family members and non-kin relations for support. In examining eating within the family, we identify two sets of practices and meanings: eating alone, and eating with others. Eating alone is symbolic of independence from one’s family of origin, or is the result of familial conflict at the dinner table; however, it does not necessarily change our respondents’ eating patterns. Eating with others in the family remains important, and many of the young women value family meals, although there are significant obstacles to eating regularly with the entire nuclear family. Many of these young women play an important role in the purchasing and preparation of food for family members as well. This paper highlights the importance of understanding family eating practices from the perspective of young people in the family, whose contribution to family ingestive practices has tended to be underestimated in much of available research literature.

Adolescent food literacy programmes: A review of the literature

“…Despite these challenges, adolescents represent a crucial target group in which to improve food literacy because of the potential to influence family, peers, and short‐ and long‐term health. While adolescence is acknowledged as a time of independence, this age group does place value on family and household meals as having both social and emotional significance . There is also recognition of the role adolescents may play in influencing, purchasing and preparing meals in households .…”

Organic food as a healthy lifestyle: A phenomenological psychological analysis

“…In addition, according to Croll, Neumark-Sztainer, and Story (2001), young people associate healthy food with fruit and vegetables, eaten in a situation “such as home” (p. 195) or together with the family. Hunt et al (2011) found that young people value family meals and that they like to be activated and involved in food-related activities; at the same time, they use food to create a life separate from their families, by trying to come to terms with their identity, security, and independence. Hunt et al (2011) also stated that even if there are situations in which family relationships are experienced as problematic, cooking and eating at home have positive significance in the lives of young people, indicating that there is a certain sense of congruency with constituent 2, especially in relation to significant others early in life (e.g., the family).…”

“…In general, a person's identity, in relation to his or her choice of diet, can be seen as being dependent on early experiences of food, in terms of trajectories, such as persistent thoughts, feelings, strategies, and actions (Bisogni, Jastran, Shen, & Devine, 2005; Devine, 2005; Devine, Connors, Bisogni, & Sobal, 1998). This makes the young adult's choice of a particular diet a way to connect and to belong to a certain social group as well (Fischler, 1988; Hunt, Fazio, MacKenzie, & Moloney, 2011). Therefore, choosing a lifestyle based upon an organic diet could suggest an opportunity to establish a sense of stability for the young adult, in terms of identity and belonging.…”

The family meal as an ideal: Children’s perceptions of foodwork and commensality in everyday life and feasts

“…| 179 bs_bs_banner PERSSON OSOWSKI and MATTSSON SYDNER has shown that a higher frequency of family meals is associated with children being of normal weight, having healthier diets and eating patterns, and a decreased likelihood of disordered eating (Hammons & Fiese, 2011). On the other hand, family meals have also been described as a declining event and as a contributor to dietary problems (Hunt, Fazio, MacKenzie, & Moloney, 2011). Here, social class plays a part.…”