Proper Food and a Tight Budget

Abstract

Much attention has been devoted in recent years to issues of food and health in childhood. Being a parent today implies exposure to multiple discourses concerning food and health and how best to bring up one's child. In this study, parents from German and Swedish families with low socio-economic status took part in qualitative studies to examine issues of food in relation to health. The findings suggest that eating habits are influenced by a number of factors. In everyday food consumption, the ideal of proper, healthy food is challenged by time and financial restrains and by individual tastes. A comparison of confectionery versus fruit reveals that the consumption of these eatables is connected to different social contexts and to different sets of values. While there is a tendency to categorize certain groups as less responsible and more problematic, we argue that for the successful development of a health program it is crucial to start by considering structural factors and social inequality and then to take advantage of people's own resources, and work for the active participation of those involved.

Keywords:

• food
• exercise
• health
• low SES
• Sweden
• Germany

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Barbro Johansson

Barbro Johansson is an associate professor in ethnology and a researcher at the Swedish Centre for Consumer Science. Her research field is consumption, childhood, generation, participation, food and eating. Current projects deal with children as coresearchers, children's and parents' habits and attitudes concerning food and health, and small children's participation in culture activities. Centre for Consumer Science, School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg, PO Box 600, Gothenburg SE-405 30, Sweden ([email protected]).

Eva Ossiansson

Eva Ossiansson researches branding and communication in the consumption society and new media environments, with a particular focus on consumer perception of value. Keywords in her research have been trust, co-creation, interaction, sharing, boosting and authenticity. She has also conducted research into place and city branding, customer relationship management and baby boomers. School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg, PO Box 610, Gothenburg SE-405 30 ([email protected]).

Jessica A. Dreas

Jessica A. Dreas is a medical sociologist at the German Institute for Addiction and Prevention Research. She previously worked for the Institute of Epidemiology and Prevention Research in Bremen. She has experience in international prevention and intervention research and her research activities focus on social inequalities, health, addiction behavior and obesity prevention. Institute for Addiction and Prevention Research, Catholic University of Applied Science, Wörthstrasse 10, Cologne 50668, Germany ([email protected]).

Staffan Mårild

Staffan Mårild is a medical doctor specialized in pediatric care. He presently works at the Sahlgrenska Academy with a focus on research and clinical work related to childhood obesity. Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Drottning Silvias barn- och ungdomssjukhus, Smörslottsgatan 1, Gothenburg SE-41685, Sweden ([email protected]).