Food Coping Strategies: A Century on from Rowntree

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to update Rowntree's food estimates to bring them into line with contemporary food habits and changing lifestyles; to determine whether food budgeting/coping strategies of low income households observed by Rowntree at the turn of the century were still prevalent in low income groups today: and to evaluate whether expenditure by low income households on food was sufficient to meet minimum dietary recommendations.

Two hundred questionnaires were completed face to face with the interviewer within the Merseyside boundary and included only those households who were in the Post code area.

Many low income households are unable to access a healthier diet due to income limitations. Many used a variety of coping strategies to stretch their incomes and were also found to rely on help from outside the immediate family such as extended family and friends and voluntary agencies. Households with children were found to be spending slightly more on food than the reconstructed Rowntree minimum dietary. There are thus two issues; firstly that there are households spending slightly more than the minimum yet that are unable to achieve a healthy diet. Secondly all the low income households are spending much less per person than the average person in the United Kingdom.

It is concluded that whilst sterling work is being achieved within health promotion departments and within community health settings there is still a great deal to be undertaken. The value of Home Economics teaching in schools should be better recognised, and Home Economics should be reinstated in the National Curriculum. Secondly it is recommended that a standard approach be adopted to inform both welfare benefit payments and in-work top up payments, thus allowing households on low incomes to make informed choices within a budget that will accommodate healthier eating strategies.