Sociology on the Menu

Sociology on the Menu is an accessible introduction to the sociology of food. Highlighting the social and cultural dimensions of the human food system, from production to consumption, it encourages us to consider new ways to thinking about the apparently mundane, everyday act of eating. Sociology on the Menu provides a comprehensive overview of the literature, particularly helpful in this interdisciplinary field. It focuses on key texts and studies to help students identify major concerns and themes for further study. It urges us to reappraise the taken for granted and familiar experiences of selecting, preparing and sharing food and to see our own habits and choices, preferences and aversions in their broader cultural context.

Introduction; Part 1 The Social Dimensions of the Food System; Chapter 1 The Origins of Human Subsistence; Chapter 2 The Making of the Modern Food System; Chapter 3 Sociological Perspectives on Food and Eating; Part 2 The Social Organization of Eating; Chapter 4 Food, Family and Community; Chapter 5 Eating Out; Part 3 Food, health and well-being; Chapter 6 Changing Conceptions of Diet and Health; Chapter 7 Food Risks, Anxieties and Scares; Chapter 8 Dieting, Fat and Body Image; Part 4 Patterns of Preference and Avoidance; Chapter 9 The Mysterious Meanings of Meat; Chapter 10 The Vegetarian Option; Chapter 11 Sugar and Confectionery; Chapter 12 Epilogue;