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Introduction
In this paper, I aim to explore a tool that may be useful in analyzing individuals' food and eating practices; a tool that helps to examine the relationships people have with particular foods, drawing upon their links to the people they eat with and the places they eat in. I have called this approach "food-mapping" as it draws upon the social work practice of eco-maps in developing a visual image that reflects people's relationships in and beyond their families.
My research focuses upon young children because early childhood is viewed as vital in laying down the foundations of present and future health as well as in the formation of healthy eating habits ([3] Alles-White and Welch 1985; [11] Radcliffe et al. , 2002). Whilst improving dietary intake is seen as key in promoting children's health ([7] Dixon and Banwell, 2004), there also appear to be links between what children eat and drink and their ability and propensity to learn ([5] Dani et al. , 2005). Despite this evidence, individuals choose to take up this information, or not, and construct their own understandings of the healthy eating messages they receive ([4] Caplan, 1997).
Food and eating, then, is a complex subject and because of this, it draws upon a range of theoretical perspectives ([1] Albon, 2005). What is certain, is that it cannot be viewed purely as a matter of imbibing one's nutritional requirements. Food and eating also has a symbolic significance in people's everyday lives and is inextricably bound up with their culture and sense of identity ([8] Lupton, 1996; [4] Caplan, 1997). Furthermore, when thinking about food and eating, there is a need to consider the impact of time and place on people's consumption patterns ([12] Valentine, 1999). An example of this might be that what people eat when they dine out in a restaurant is likely to differ from what they eat at home ([13] Warde and Martens, 2000). In addition, some foods are forbidden or eaten less often owing to cultural "rules" around particular foods as well as seasonal availability.
In carrying out my research, I wanted a tool that reflected people, time and space alongside the foods children eat. Food-mapping seemed to offer a useful tool in helping me to...