Social-Cultural Processes and Urban Affordances for Healthy and Sustainable Food Consumption

Abstract

In this paper, we provide an overview of research highlighting the relation between cultural processes, social norms, and food choices, discussing the implication of these findings for the promotion of more sustainable lifestyles. Our aim is to outline how environmental psychological research on urban affordances, through the specific concepts of restorative environments and walkability, could complement these findings to better understand human health, wellbeing and quality of life. We highlight how social norms and cultural processes are linked to food choices, and we discuss the possible health-related outcomes of cultural differences in food practices as well as their relation to acculturation and globalization processes. We also discuss the concepts of restorative environments and walkability as positive urban affordances, their relation to human wellbeing, and the possible link with cultural processes and sustainable lifestyles. Finally, we outline issues for future research and areas for policy-making and interventions on the links between cultural processes, healthy and sustainable food consumption and urban affordances, for the pursuit of public health, wellbeing and environmental sustainability.

Environmentally Sustainable Food Consumption: A Review and Research Agenda From a Goal-Directed Perspective

“…Food preferences, choices and habits occupy a central role in human cultures and food consumption goes far beyond its functional role as a means to survive. Food habits are notoriously hard to change as they are a central aspect of people’s lifestyles ( Sonestedt et al, 2005 ; Flaherty et al, 2018 ) and their socio-cultural environment ( Wright et al, 2001 ; Carrus et al, 2018 ; Cairns, 2019 ). Food choices are also subject to marketing efforts of food companies that have caused changes in dietary norms, in food and drink category preferences (at population level) and in the cultural values underpinning food behaviors ( Cairns, 2019 ).…”

Impact of Place Identity, Self-Efficacy and Anxiety State on the Relationship Between Coastal Flooding Risk Perception and the Willingness to Cope

“…Also Raymond et al (2017) suggests that “place attachments and place meanings are slow to evolve” which in turn prevent behaviors to evolve (including protective behaviors). In that sense, the affordance theory could “complement (these) slower forms of social construction” and could play a role for supporting behavior changes ( Raymond et al, 2017 ; Carrus et al, 2018 ). Thus, to develop an approach based on a direct perception of possible behaviors or opportunities in the environment should be a good way to support change and to promote adapted protective behaviors in coastal areas.…”

Well-Designed Food Governance as Psychological Mechanism of Consumer Perceptions in the Context of Tourism Poverty Alleviation

“…Overall, evidence-based policy initiatives based on education and cultural interventions are critical for tourism poverty alleviation and sustainable consumption. Although China's consumption practices are largely market-driven, Western perceptions of reducing health and environmental consequences of consumption are education and prevention programs (Carrus et al, 2018 ). Certainly, China can draw lessons from the West for evidence-based policy options for its intervention against environmental and health problems of consumption.…”