Food insecurity, health, and life production: an approach to the food practices among low-income women in light of the anthropology of food

Abstract

Food, besides being a biological imperative for survival and human health, is coated with cultural meanings that determine its multiple expressions in society. The fields of food, nutrition, health, and anthropology intersect in the discussion about food practices. This theoretical and reflexive essay aims to reflect on the relevance of the food practices of low-income women for the possible overcoming of food and nutritional insecurity, examining the relationships established with food in the context of the kitchen, of their bodies, and of the access to food. The methodological path followed was the reflexive and exploratory study, which uses bibliographical and documental sources to support the analyses based on a critical reading of reality. The patriarchal heritage continues to assign women the role of family caretaker, which encompasses everything from acquiring food to its preparation and serving meals. We propose that the food practices of these women can drive potential changes, which would serve as tools for the application of public health policies. The reflections offer subsidies for planning of policies that can empower them as subjects of critical action and reflection, opening a projection of possible scenarios for the agency of ways to overcome food insecurity.