The cooking and eating experiences of Australian families with children, living in private, inner-city, high-rise apartments

ABSTRACT More Australian families are choosing to live in private, inner-city, high-rise apartments. To date, the cooking and eating experiences of such families, and how their practices are shaped by the design of these apartments, have not been investigated. As children’s health status can benefit from participating in family meals, this study aimed to explore the cooking and eating experiences of apartment-dwelling families in two Australian capital cities. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling and data was collected using photo-elicitation interviews. The experiences of seven mothers aged between 31 and 44 years were explored via two data sources: photographs and semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis revealed three themes: family values related to cooking and eating; adapting to the space and design constraints of small apartments; and compromising values due to these constraints. While open plan kitchen and dining layouts were found to facilitate children’s involvement in cooking, a lack of space and other design constraints of apartment living forced families to compromise their cooking and eating values. The findings substantiate calls for family-friendly apartment design guidelines, and for these to specifically consider what is needed to support families with the health-promoting practices of home cooking and eating.