Home food production, meaning, and family cohesion/adaptability

Abstract

Empirical relationship between concepts from two important bodies of family literature are examined: home production from resource management, and cohesion and adaptability from literature on family relationships. Applying an input – output–throughput family systems perspective, indirect association of resource and demand variables and direct association of home food production variables were examined with respect to family cohesion and adaptability. Multivariant correlations of home food production frequency with family cohesion and family adaptability were statistically significant and positive. This positive relationship was further strengthened among respondents who reported home food production activity as being meaningful to their family.

Is It a Pleasure to Eat Together? Theoretical Reflections on Conviviality and the Mediterranean Diet

“…The term encompasses any form of shared eating from a formal dinner, a festive gathering to an ordinary family meal (Sobal & Nelson ). Eating together has gained sociological interest particularly in its capacity to solidify social groups and reinforce cultural identities (Murcott , Mennell et al , Beutler & Lai , Mestdag , Blake et al ). This idea is reflected in the UNESCO definition of the Mediterranean Diet; the diet is deemed to be ‘a moment for social exchange and communication…an affirmation of family group or community identity’ (UNESCO a).…”