Salud Colectiva (Jul 2017)

Food education: health and social cohesion

  • Eva Zafra Aparici

DOI
https://doi.org/10.18294/sc.2017.1191
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 2
pp. 295 – 306

Abstract

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Using a theoretical-reflexive approach, this article connects the results of various qualitative studies in social conflict and medical anthropology, in order to investigate how food can be a tool for social transformation in terms of health but also in terms of the dialogue, respect and coexistence among people, groups and communities. In this sense the article presents a first approximation to a new theoretical and methodological approach to food education. In this approach, food adopts a political, sociocultural and participatory perspective that brings us closer to an innovative understanding of the phenomenon of food: not only as an analytic and diagnostic tool, but also as an instrument for health education interventions toward conflict resolution and the promotion of healthier societies overall – nutritionally, but also in terms of equality and social cohesion.

Keywords