The cooking and eating experiences of Australian families with children, living in private, inner-city, high-rise apartments

ABSTRACT

More Australian families are choosing to live in private, inner-city, high-rise apartments. To date, the cooking and eating experiences of such families, and how their practices are shaped by the design of these apartments, have not been investigated. As children’s health status can benefit from participating in family meals, this study aimed to explore the cooking and eating experiences of apartment-dwelling families in two Australian capital cities. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling and data was collected using photo-elicitation interviews. The experiences of seven mothers aged between 31 and 44 years were explored via two data sources: photographs and semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis revealed three themes: family values related to cooking and eating; adapting to the space and design constraints of small apartments; and compromising values due to these constraints. While open plan kitchen and dining layouts were found to facilitate children’s involvement in cooking, a lack of space and other design constraints of apartment living forced families to compromise their cooking and eating values. The findings substantiate calls for family-friendly apartment design guidelines, and for these to specifically consider what is needed to support families with the health-promoting practices of home cooking and eating.

KEYWORDS:

• Apartment design
• children
• inner-city
• cooking
• eating

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to all the participants who were involved in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Katherine Dunn

Katherine Dunn is a PhD candidate in the School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences at the Queensland University of Technology studying the eating practices of Australian families. Katherine has a Bachelor of Business degree from the Queensland University of Technology and a Master of Public Health from Deakin University. This study was conducted as part of the requirements for a Master of Public Health degree carried out while at Deakin University where Katherine developed a research interest in the influence of the built environment on health. Dr Fiona Andrews is a Senior Lecturer at Deakin University, in the School of Health and Social Development. Fiona is Co-Leader of the Deakin Research Hub HOME. She has published widely on the relationship between neighborhoods, health and children and has a particular interest in the use of qualitative photographic methods. Dr Elyse Warner is a Lecturer in the School of Health and Social Development at Deakin University. Her research focuses on the interplay between housing and health across the life course, with previous work exploring families’ experiences when young adults return to co-residence and how parents negotiate raising children in high-rise apartments. Elyse has a particular interest in the use of photographic methods.