Understanding snacking through a practice theory lens

Area of Science:

• Sociology of food
• Practice theory
• Health behaviors

Background:

• Snacking is often viewed through individualistic behavior change models.
• Existing research may not fully capture the social and contextual elements of snacking.
• Practice theory offers a novel lens for analyzing everyday eating habits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To apply practice theory to understand snacking as a sociological eating practice.
• To explore how reframing snacking can offer new insights into its reproduction.
• To contribute to sociological research on eating practices and social change.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis applying practice theory to snacking.
• Examination of snacking within routine temporalities and spatialities.
• Analysis of the interplay between practices, relations, and snacking behaviors.

Main Results:

• Re-conceptualizing snacking clarifies a sociological research agenda.
• Situating snacking within social, temporal, economic, and cultural contexts is crucial.
• Practice theory moves beyond individualistic assumptions to understand eating practices.

Conclusions:

• Snacking should be understood as a complex social eating practice, not just individual behavior.
• Practice theory provides a valuable framework for analyzing the social determinants of snacking.
• This approach has implications for understanding health in the context of everyday life.