FOOD AT HOME

 

Bowls of chopped vegetables, meat and tortilla wraps. Homemade pancakes cooked and eaten with equal delight. Pan-fried chicken drumsticks. Meat and veg. Couscous and pomegranate seed garnished salads. Cupcakes. Crumbed fish fingers. In Australian family homes, food is messy, pleasurable and pragmatic.

Throughout our research we joined families at their dinner tables and in their lounge rooms. We heard about families eating food together and separately at benches, in front of the TV, or in the car on the way to activities, including school. Families struggle with the challenges of paid work, commuting and after school activities. Busy schedules and many demands thwart the best intentions for food preparation and sharing nightly dinners.

Our research revealed the complications of family life, food and labour. Ethnicity, gender and cultural background shape family food choices and practices. Mothers continue to shoulder the bulk of labour at home and responsibility for meals. Policy makers and schools asking families to make 'healthier' food choices, by eating together and curating healthy lunch boxes need to be mindful of the complexities that impact on family food choice. Sometimes the ‘healthy’ choice is not so easy or may not only be focused on nutrition.

‘We had (a picnic) in the garden. It was a surprise for mama because she was really, really tired.’

Tenille, 6 years old

Parents on preparing lunch

Hear from parents sharing their experiences of preparing lunch for their children. Many factors influence what parents pack for their children’s school lunch. We found parents make pragmatic choices about food. Parents and carers are limited by factors including time, money and children’s food preferences. Parents want autonomy over the care of their children, and they don’t want them to feel guilty about their food choices. Some parents reflected on the way ‘fat’ is stigmatised in schools and how children may be bullied for their lunchbox contents and food choices.

Ingrid, mother of Sarah, 10 years, Oscar 7 years, suburban Melbourne Lila, mother of Rose, 11 years and Eva 6 years, suburban Melbourne.Nora, mother of Ella 9 years and Liam, 6 years, suburban Melbourne.

(Un) packing lunch boxes

Lunchboxes were one of the most common items photographed by our participants. Whilst many might find themselves drawn to 'judge' what is in the different lunchboxes we want to consider lunchboxes as the material connection between children's lives at home and at school.

Whilst it is easy to sit and look at the lunchboxes in isolation it is important to consider that lunchboxes are more than just containers for macro/micro nutrients or responsive to public health rules or school conditions on how children eat. Children and parents put time and effort when they can into the preparation of lunchboxes that are a concrete part of their lives and loves. Parents show love through lunchboxes providing surprises and treats. They take into account what they know their children will eat and try to follow the various rules - but it is challenging. Preparing 3 lunchboxes for kids with different needs/tastes/wants/allergies/classroom rules is a specialist task only an expert family team can undertake. Access the full video.

 

Families on doing food differently

Hear from families discussing the many ways food is a part of their lives. When visiting family homes, we met children proud of the food they eat at home. Families told us about the importance of family dinners and the pleasure of sharing food with each other. We also explored food rituals in family life: cakes for birthdays, treats on special occasions. Parents are pragmatic about treats. These interviews present a range of perspectives on family dinners, sugar and celebratory food.

Robert, father of 3 Rachel, age 10 Regional Victoria. Lisa, mother of 3 Outer suburban Melbourne. Lila, mother of Rose, age 11 and Eva, age 6 Suburban Melbourne. Connie, mother of Nicholas, age 12, Annie, age 6, and Darby, 14 years Inner suburban Melbourne.

Share a meal with us

Families cook and eat a diversity of meals at home. Each of these meals was photographed by a child, a snapshot of their breakfasts, dinner and snacks.

View the complete collection of photographs.

 

What’s in the fridge?

We asked children to take photos of any family food activity they wanted, in any format they chose. We were surprised that so many children returned iPads with photos or videos of fridges and cupboards. Children emphasised the contents of their family fridge or cupboard. These provide a window into the diverse, everyday food lives of the families we met. Access the full video.

 

A week of lunches

This film was created by Lara, age 7 and her mother Eugenie, an IT professional. Lara documented her mother as she made her lunch every day, for a week. For many families, packing a lunchbox is an important activity with its own rules and rhythms. Lara and Eugenie talk about ‘brain food’, questioning if certain foods are ‘brain food’ or not. These films show the loving, careful and considered ways families do school food. Access the full video.