Discourses of “Healthy” and “Unhealthy” Nutrition Constructed by Pupils and Adults

Abstract

The article explores pupilsí eating habits in Latvia through the
research prism of the pupil as a nutrition agent. In the analysis, the
emphasis is placed on the interpretation of ìhealthyî and ìunhealthyî
nutrition meanings developed by pupils and adults. The aim of the
study was to find out the conditions of the formation of food meanings
in the school environment of Latvia, as well as to understand and
evaluate the impact of these various food discourses on pupilsí daily
dietary habits.
Data from multiple case studies were analysed using a critical
discourse analysis approach.
The study concludes that the concepts of ìhealthyî and
ìunhealthyî nutrition in the interpretation of both pupils and adults
are characterised by polysemous nature and constant transformation
and change of meanings, depending on the situation and social
context.
While defining these concepts, pupils use mostly pre-constructed
interpretations of discourse on dietary practices borrowed from
adults, but at the same time they place these borrowed meanings in
the re-contextualisation of their dietary practices. This, in turn,
determines and affects the dietary practice of pupils in both school
and outside school environments, and also describes the pupil as a
nutrition agent.