Making the Most of Less

Abstract

Rising food prices and changes in the world economy currently affect not only low-income populations, but also relatively privileged population groups. On the basis of a qualitative interview study this article investigates how Danish households with different income levels, educational levels and household composition experience and cope with constraints on their household food budgets. The analysis draws on Zygmunt Bauman's framework of thought, centering especially on differences in "touristic" and "vagabondic" paths to better utilization of purchased food products and adaptation to new tastes and markets. The study participants' experiences and practices in the face of buying constraints range from the empowering stimulus of self-development, creativity and engagement with global environmental challenges to loss of food-related life quality and feelings of inadequacy.

Social and economic dimensions of food sustainability – a background paper for the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations

“…Attempts to provide nutritional advice, based on the optimisation of dietary intake, need to take account of social differences and cultural variations amongst consumers. For example, the consumption of fresh vegetables and fruit may be desirable in terms of their nutrient content, but to consumers facing economic hardship, they may be seen as unaffordable because of cost or risk of waste (50).…”