Understandings about Food among 6–11 Year Olds in South Wales

Abstract

This paper details a qualitative study which explored how 6–11 year olds in Cardiff, Wales, think about information they receive about food and nutrition, and how this affects preferences and practices. Seventy-four children from four local primary schools participated in semi-structured one-to-one interviews. The data indicate that in both age groups: (1) Children operate contradictions about food effortlessly, incorporating notions of “bad” and “good” relating to food and its health and social consequences. (2) Information about food is drawn on inconsistently and selectively in different social environments. (3) Children operate singular notions of the health consequences of food: for example, sugar rots teeth, fat affects weight. (4) Peer influence is strong, with conforming behavior in both age groups and sexes. (5) Eating is an age-isolated activity and concept—children copy each other at school and make individualized choices at home, moderated rather than determined by parents.