Food play: A novel research methodology for visceral geographers and health researchers

Abstract

This paper reinforces the value of visceral geographic approaches to health research as a method 'beyond talking'. The paper establishes and sets out an integrative embodied multi-sensory research methodology-food play. Researchers across the social sciences and sciences are exploring the limits of logo and researcher centric research methods and exploring peoples sensory experience of themselves and the wider world using participatory, patient-centred, multi-sensory, visceral and biosocial geographic approaches. With reference to the growing interest in visceral approaches to research in geography, and sensory research in neurology, anthropology and embodied cognition in psychology, we argue that the presence and pungency of food uniquely animates research, and for our research, provided highly individualised insight into the lived experience of living long term with eating difficulties, allowing visceral difference to emerge and be expressed. We illustrate our approach with reference to a six-year research project, Resources for Living, co-produced with survivors of head and neck cancer and underpinned by a series of food play workshops to address post-treatment and chronic difficulties with food and eating.

An Exploration of Nutritional Education within the Holiday Activities and Food Programme in England

“…Often, families participated in these experiences together, as well as alongside holiday club staff and other families who also attended. Importantly, face-to-face sessions additionally allowed for families to become immersed in multi-sensory experiences with food, including tasting, smelling, and touching often unfamiliar ingredients, which prior research has demonstrated to be successful in other contexts [ 25 , 26 ]. Multi-sensory exposure has been found to increase children’s willingness to try and taste vegetables [ 27 ], and similarly, HAF leads highlighted that these multi-sensory sessions were extremely engaging, and perceived participation to enhance families’ willingness to try the foods involved.…”

Effects of Leadership Styles on Quality of Health Services

“…The design is theory-based and is created by gathering, analyzing, and presenting the data. Hence, the design enabled the researcher to provide insights into the reasons for the research while allowing for the answering of the research question [17]. A major advantage that justi es the choice of descriptive research design is that the participants were investigated in their natural environment.…”

Visceral geographic insight through a ‘source to senses’ approach to food flavour

“…The reflective process used by the Altered Eating Research Network’s ‘food play’ methodology (Burges Watson et al, 2019) may be one approach through which to reflect on the biosociality of food and eating and to encourage new food associations. Food play is defined as a ‘hands-on experience of food preparation, sharing and “tasting opportunities” (where tasting is not essential to involvement) in a commensal setting where the research focus is co-produced with participants’ (2019: 140).…”