Transcript Genigraphics Research Poster Template 24x36

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Familial Tradition and Food Sustainability
Joseph De Donato, University of South Florida, USF Research that Matters Sustainable Food Conference: People, Policy, and
Practice.
ABSTRACT
This poster presentation serves to
explore the ways modern families
handle traditional familial
practices through food by
evaluating a variety of factors
including shopping behaviors,
cooking styles, and individual
member participation.
Through qualitative interviews
my poster will examine three
types of categories regarding
family traditions and their
relationship to food practices.
OBJECTIVE
This research aims to explore how families as social
factors can interact in sustainable food practices by
incorporating:
1) How families attempt to uphold nostalgic memories of
family foods and their involvement within traditional
practices which may no longer be a viable option.
2) How families manage to keep their food traditions
alive within their current, expanding families.
3) How families may invent new food traditions through
various social interactions and popular culture (e.g.,
cookbooks, the Food Network, etc.).
Bearing upon the topic of
sustainability, this research
explores the notion that in order
for traditional family eating to
become more sustainable,
families must carefully evaluate
not only their ongoing food
practices, but to also explore new
food suggestions with
considerations involving the
environment, equitability, culture,
and health.
By sampling from the diverse population from the City of
Tampa and the surrounding area of Temple Terrace, this
research was able to gather data from a variety of ethnic
backgrounds in order to explore the weight of culture and
tradition on the ways families handle and approach
sustainable food practices.
Joseph De Donato
University of South Florida
“From an ethical standpoint, I prefer to buy
organic everything…I really try to avoid
packaged and processed foods.”-S.
When it came to exploring food practices, each family had varying
factors in which they participated in the concepts of sustainability.
Several common themes among the families included seeking out
organic products, familial negotiations, and the avoidance of a
variety of processed foods.
RESULTS
 The following Results section will briefly outline three
interviews and highlight instances where food sustainability
practices were mentioned, as well as their relationship to
familial traditions/culture:
The most prevalent however, was the increased awareness and
attempt to participate in obtaining various organic foods. At some
point each interviewee mentions either visiting retail locations that
specifically cater to organic foods, or that their shopping locations
were influenced by the availability of organic produce, etc. Although
individual reasoning upon why each family pursued organic groceries
varies, (i.e. health, nutritional quality, avoidance of hormones,
pesticides, packaging, etc.) the emphasis on involving organic options
into the meals of each family was at one point stressed.
 Sarah, a wife and mother of four primarily describes organic
eating to be the focus on the way meals are structured for the
family. Conscious decisions to purchase fresh, organic fruits
and vegetables within their desired seasons, the amount of
packaging involved in processed products, and exploration
into the types of additives included in processed foods help
fuel how her family make an effort toward sustainable
practices. Branching from and maintaining the personal
experiences of her own family, shopping and meal
preparation are evaluated through nutritional values which
are reproduced through the conscious habits of her own
children.
Similarly, each family touch on factors which further influence their
habits including a variety of negotiations within the family. Previous
culture/traditions found themselves as a side factor toward
sustainable food practices in Rachel’s religious restraints, Sarah’s
nutrition conscious parents, whereas new tradition surfaced from
Charlie’s exploration in the kitchen. Although the provided data
relied less on individuals directly participating in a practice of
sustainability, the impact and carry over from their tradition within
family may continue to produce a conscious effort further down the
line to impact individual sustainability practices similar to Rachel’s
gardening.
“I shop the edges of the grocery”- C.
METHODS AND MATERIALS
CONTACT
DISCUSSION/ CONCLUSION
 Charlie, husband and father of two describes how his
interest in food began with childhood cooking shows and
interacting with his mother. With food conscious children,
specifically a teenaged vegetarian, Charlie is motivated to
experiment with meals and finds inspiration not through
passed down traditions or culture, but rather cooking classes,
cook books, and internet recipes. Shopping at chain grocery
stores with regional specialties, the meals of the family are
determined through organic associations or less-processed
means.
Utilizing qualitative, semi-structured interviews,
participants for this research were recruited from a
multipurpose recreation facility. Eligible Participants must
have identified themselves as the primary decision maker
of food in their household, as well as having a child
between the ages of eight and fifteen.
 Rachel, wife and mother of two outlines how her family
engages in sustainable food through methods including the
gardening of a variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as the
raising of small live stock, i.e. chickens. With what they can’t
grow being purchased as organic, Rachel aims to incorporate
her family’s religious culture as well as expand upon health
conscious choices.
Following numerous interviews, my sample examines
several individuals who spoke of their involvement and/or
understanding of food sustainability within their family.
“Dairy, meat products, eggs I tend to do
organic.”-R.
By examining the theme of avoiding processed foods as a
sustainable food practice, an individual can uncover and engage in
reducing the amount of waste, packaging, pesticide exposure, and
animal supply farming. This involvement, although not as hands on
as individual gardening/live stock raising, will continue to make an
impact in the way food is developed as a sustainable practice.
REFERENCES
1.
Cook, Daniel Thomas. 2009. “Semantic Provisioning of Children’s Food:
Commerce, Care, and Material Practice.” Childhood 16(3): 317-334
2.
Johnston, Josee; Szabo, Michelle; Rodney Alexandra. 2011. “Good Food,
Good People: Understanding the Cultural Repertoire of Ethical Eating.”
Journal of Consumer Culture 11(3): 293-318
3.
Moisio, Risto; Arnould, Eric; Price, Linda. 2004 “Between Mothers and
Markets: Constructing Family Identity Through Homemade Food.”
Journal of Consumer Culture 4(3): 316-384