Teaching the Sociology of Food, Eating, and Nutrition

Abstract

Sociologists are paying increasing professional attention to food, eating, and nutrition. Students' interest in these topics is high, and incorporating the subject into the classroom is a useful means of helping students understand sociology. The sociology offood and nutrition can be taught in several settings, including in sociology departments as an entire course, in lectures in other courses, or in continuing and occasional examples. Sociologists also teach in nutrition and food science departments and other applied settings. Three approaches to teaching in this area are described: 1) sociology offood and nutrition, 2)food and society, and 3) nutritional sociology. Practical instructional issues in teaching the sociology offood and nutrition include combining the fields of sociology and nutrition, the diversity ofstudents, experiential learning, and team teaching. Teaching resources include reading materials, audiovisuals, syllabi, organizations, and publications. Incorporating food, eating, and nutrition topics into the classroom can make a significant contribution to sociological teaching.