Food

Food is about nutrition and as such increasingly central to birth cohort study research. But it is also about affection, family and social life. Eating can offer emotional comfort with dishes linked to childhood memories, or it can be the object of anxiety, linked to compulsions or concerns about weight control, health and aesthetics. Across cultural contexts, sharing food is related to sociability, with the act of eating together seen as important quality time. Participants’ images show how food is a central aspect of their lives present in celebrations, daily routines, coffee breaks, ranging from quick everyday meals to traditional dishes learned across the generations. Their images and comments underline the importance, richness and diversity of food cultures in their lives.

My mother made a cake, because in our family, the table is very important. My mother cooks very well, I also cook, and I teach my daughters to cook. Many times, it creates moments between grandparents, parents and grandchildren through food. They all have a recipe book; some inherited from their grandmother. We really like this side of going to the kitchen, experimenting, and creating. We’re four women at home, so food and cooking are part of us. - Mother participant, Porto
My mother made a cake, because in our family, the table is very important. My mother cooks very well, I also cook, and I teach my daughters to cook. Many times, it creates moments between grandparents, parents and grandchildren through food. They all have a recipe book; some inherited from their grandmother. We really like this side of going to the kitchen, experimenting, and creating. We’re four women at home, so food and cooking are part of us. - Mother participant, Porto
I took a picture of the little cake that I mentioned tastes like childhood, which is very similar to the cake my grandfather used to make when I was little. And I ate it that day and it immediately brought back childhood memories. So, I think that’s what the cohort represents for me. - Participant, Pelotas
I took a picture of the little cake that I mentioned tastes like childhood, which is very similar to the cake my grandfather used to make when I was little. And I ate it that day and it immediately brought back childhood memories. So, I think that’s what the cohort represents for me. - Participant, Pelotas
My children cook, eat and live around me with their boyfriend and girlfriend. They can be themselves and look relaxed. I am proud of how they’re doing. I should tell them that more often. We love eating, and everything is celebrated with food. We are all interested in conscious eating and cooking. I am grateful that I invested so much time from their early childhood in involving my children with food and food preparation. - Mother participant, Rotterdam
My children cook, eat and live around me with their boyfriend and girlfriend. They can be themselves and look relaxed. I am proud of how they’re doing. I should tell them that more often. We love eating, and everything is celebrated with food. We are all interested in conscious eating and cooking. I am grateful that I invested so much time from their early childhood in involving my children with food and food preparation. - Mother participant, Rotterdam
We like baking so it’s a lot of birthday baking, but doing that together and sharing those skills, is something that I really love to do and pass down. And I see that it’s not only me passing it down, but I’ve got that from mum. We used to bake all the time, and so just the other day I’m spoilt when I go to a coffee shop. I don’t want to buy it cause I’m like, I could make that because mum’s always made it. We are a very homely home, aren’t we? Like home baking, doing things as a family. - Participant, Bristol
We like baking so it’s a lot of birthday baking, but doing that together and sharing those skills, is something that I really love to do and pass down. And I see that it’s not only me passing it down, but I’ve got that from mum. We used to bake all the time, and so just the other day I’m spoilt when I go to a coffee shop. I don’t want to buy it cause I’m like, I could make that because mum’s always made it. We are a very homely home, aren’t we? Like home baking, doing things as a family. - Participant, Bristol
So, this was from a family Sunday. We had a barbecue, chimarrão. We do this often, but on this day my cousins were there. - Participant, Pelotas
So, this was from a family Sunday. We had a barbecue, chimarrão. We do this often, but on this day my cousins were there. - Participant, Pelotas
Photo from a recent BBQ. We love a good BBQ as a family and always have a good time cooking, eating, drinking and talking about everything! Some of our best days are by a BBQ as it’s a good excuse to all get together. - Participant, Bristol
Photo from a recent BBQ. We love a good BBQ as a family and always have a good time cooking, eating, drinking and talking about everything! Some of our best days are by a BBQ as it’s a good excuse to all get together. - Participant, Bristol
This is a three-day football internship my son did. And we were there with them. - Mother participant, Porto
This is a three-day football internship my son did. And we were there with them. - Mother participant, Porto
My granddaughter, there. We are all influenced by Diana, who helped us learn to eat properly. She’s eating cauliflower and she loves it. - Mother participant, Pelotas
My granddaughter, there. We are all influenced by Diana, who helped us learn to eat properly. She’s eating cauliflower and she loves it. - Mother participant, Pelotas
This is a photo of my son while we were eating breakfast together. I thought this was just a homely situation together at the breakfast table and that’s how it should be. - Father participant, Rotterdam
This is a photo of my son while we were eating breakfast together. I thought this was just a homely situation together at the breakfast table and that’s how it should be. - Father participant, Rotterdam
I think about food choices, about homemade preparations, about ultra-processed foods and whole foods, which is basically what I wanted to convey with those photos. - Participant, Pelotas
I think about food choices, about homemade preparations, about ultra-processed foods and whole foods, which is basically what I wanted to convey with those photos. - Participant, Pelotas
This is the street market here on Avenida Bento, which is a place I frequent quite often on Saturday mornings. I always try to eat healthier, more balanced food. It’s difficult, but now, in recent years, I’ve been much more disciplined. - Mother participant, Pelotas
This is the street market here on Avenida Bento, which is a place I frequent quite often on Saturday mornings. I always try to eat healthier, more balanced food. It’s difficult, but now, in recent years, I’ve been much more disciplined. - Mother participant, Pelotas