A taste of the unfamiliar. Understanding the meanings attached to food by international postgraduate students in England

Authors: Brown, L., Edwards, J. and Hartwell, H.

Journal: Appetite

Volume: 54

Issue: 1

Pages: 202-207

eISSN: 1095-8304

ISSN: 0195-6663

DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2009.11.001

Abstract:

Using findings from semi-structured interviews with international postgraduate students in England, this paper explores the meanings attached to the food they eat in a new culture. Our study, using interviews, aimed to uncover student responses to both the food they eat whilst abroad and to the food they have left behind. Many students criticised local English food as bland, fattening, and unhealthy; nevertheless, most showed an openness to new foods, trying not only local food but also dishes prepared by their international friends, but this sat alongside a strong attachment to their home country dishes. Eating together was a popular leisure activity, and food of the origin country or region was the most popular cuisine. Eating home country food offered emotional and physical sustenance; students felt comforted by familiar taste, and that their physical health was stabilised by the consumption of healthier food than was available locally. Despite acknowledgement of the importance of food to cultural identity and overall quality of life in the anthropology and nutrition literatures, there is a dearth of research into this aspect of the international student experience; this study, therefore, marks an important beginning. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/12869/

Source: Scopus

A taste of the unfamiliar. Understanding the meanings attached to food by international postgraduate students in England.

Authors: Brown, L., Edwards, J. and Hartwell, H.

Journal: Appetite

Volume: 54

Issue: 1

Pages: 202-207

eISSN: 1095-8304

DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2009.11.001

Abstract:

Using findings from semi-structured interviews with international postgraduate students in England, this paper explores the meanings attached to the food they eat in a new culture. Our study, using interviews, aimed to uncover student responses to both the food they eat whilst abroad and to the food they have left behind. Many students criticised local English food as bland, fattening, and unhealthy; nevertheless, most showed an openness to new foods, trying not only local food but also dishes prepared by their international friends, but this sat alongside a strong attachment to their home country dishes. Eating together was a popular leisure activity, and food of the origin country or region was the most popular cuisine. Eating home country food offered emotional and physical sustenance; students felt comforted by familiar taste, and that their physical health was stabilised by the consumption of healthier food than was available locally. Despite acknowledgement of the importance of food to cultural identity and overall quality of life in the anthropology and nutrition literatures, there is a dearth of research into this aspect of the international student experience; this study, therefore, marks an important beginning.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/12869/

Source: PubMed

A taste of the unfamiliar. Understanding the meanings attached to food by international postgraduate students in England

Authors: Brown, L., Edwards, J. and Hartwell, H.

Journal: APPETITE

Volume: 54

Issue: 1

Pages: 202-207

eISSN: 1095-8304

ISSN: 0195-6663

DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2009.11.001

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/12869/

Source: Web of Science (Lite)

A taste of the unfamiliar: understanding the meanings attached to food by international postgraduate students in England

Authors: Brown, L., Edwards, J. and Hartwell, H.

Journal: Appetite

Volume: 54

Pages: 202-207

ISSN: 0195-6663

DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2009.11.001

Abstract:

Using findings from semi-structured interviews with international postgraduate students in England, this paper explores the meanings attached to the food they eat in a new culture. Our study, using interviews, aimed to uncover student responses to both the food they eat whilst abroad and to the food they have left behind. Many students criticised local English food as bland, fattening, and unhealthy; nevertheless, most showed an openness to new foods, trying not only local food but also dishes prepared by their international friends, but this sat alongside a strong attachment to their home country dishes. Eating together was a popular leisure activity, and food of the origin country or region was the most popular cuisine. Eating home country food offered emotional and physical sustenance; students felt comforted by familiar taste, and that their physical health was stabilised by the consumption of healthier food than was available locally. Despite acknowledgement of the importance of food to cultural identity and overall quality of life in the anthropology and nutrition literatures, there is a dearth of research into this aspect of the international student experience; this study, therefore, marks an important beginning.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/12869/

Source: Manual

Preferred by: Heather Hartwell

A taste of the unfamiliar. Understanding the meanings attached to food by international postgraduate students in England.

Authors: Brown, L., Edwards, J. and Hartwell, H.

Journal: Appetite

Volume: 54

Issue: 1

Pages: 202-207

eISSN: 1095-8304

ISSN: 0195-6663

DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2009.11.001

Abstract:

Using findings from semi-structured interviews with international postgraduate students in England, this paper explores the meanings attached to the food they eat in a new culture. Our study, using interviews, aimed to uncover student responses to both the food they eat whilst abroad and to the food they have left behind. Many students criticised local English food as bland, fattening, and unhealthy; nevertheless, most showed an openness to new foods, trying not only local food but also dishes prepared by their international friends, but this sat alongside a strong attachment to their home country dishes. Eating together was a popular leisure activity, and food of the origin country or region was the most popular cuisine. Eating home country food offered emotional and physical sustenance; students felt comforted by familiar taste, and that their physical health was stabilised by the consumption of healthier food than was available locally. Despite acknowledgement of the importance of food to cultural identity and overall quality of life in the anthropology and nutrition literatures, there is a dearth of research into this aspect of the international student experience; this study, therefore, marks an important beginning.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/12869/

Source: Europe PubMed Central

A taste of the unfamiliar: understanding the meanings attached to food by international postgraduate students in England

Authors: Brown, L., Edwards, J. and Hartwell, H.

Journal: Appetite

Volume: 54

Issue: 1

Pages: 202-207

ISSN: 0195-6663

Abstract:

Using findings from semi-structured interviews with international postgraduate students in England, this paper explores the meanings attached to the food they eat in a new culture. Our study, using interviews, aimed to uncover student responses to both the food they eat whilst abroad and to the food they have left behind. Many students criticised local English food as bland, fattening, and unhealthy; nevertheless, most showed an openness to new foods, trying not only local food but also dishes prepared by their international friends, but this sat alongside a strong attachment to their home country dishes. Eating together was a popular leisure activity, and food of the origin country or region was the most popular cuisine. Eating home country food offered emotional and physical sustenance; students felt comforted by familiar taste, and that their physical health was stabilised by the consumption of healthier food than was available locally. Despite acknowledgement of the importance of food to cultural identity and overall quality of life in the anthropology and nutrition literatures, there is a dearth of research into this aspect of the international student experience; this study, therefore, marks an important beginning.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/12869/

Source: BURO EPrints