Why do People Eat what they do? Approaches to Food and Diet from a Social Science Perspective

Abstract

In this paper, I utilize anthropological ideas about food which take account of its symbolism and meaning as well as its materiality. Differences in entitlements to food are considered in class and gender in western and Third-World countries. The question Why do people eat what they do? is explored in relation to the relative failure of healthy eating campaigns in the West. Finally, there is discussion of a current anthropological research project that seeks to understand new systems of food and eating in Britain.