“I Come from a Black-Eyed Pea Background”: The Incorporation of History into Women's Discussions of Diet and Health

Abstract

To promote healthy eating, it is important to understand how people conceptualize diet and factors shaping notions of particular foods and dietary patterns as healthy. We present data from eight focus groups exploring dietary issues among women aged 40–64. We analyze how women referenced their history and background in accounting for current diet. We highlight three emergent themes: (1) how we ate growing up; (2) what we eat where I come from; and (3) what my people see as healthy. We conclude that in these groups, nostalgic presentations of life-course experiences and personal identity were meaningful anchors for explaining current behaviors.