Making changes — women, food and families

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Abstract
GIVEN the recognised importance of diet and health, much health education on nutrition has been directed at women who are assumed to control fam ily eating patterns since they generally carry out the bulk of shopping and food preparation. However, recent research on the sociological significance of food and eating, and family decision-making, suggests that mothers, particularly working class mothers, may face considerable constraints in ini tiating changes in dietary behaviour. Empirical data from a survey of Welsh mothers, classified as Social Class IV and V, are used to illustrate these issues, and it is argued that health educators need to be more aware of the context in which behavioural change is attempted and direct their efforts at other family members, particularly husbands, whose attitudes may be crucial.