ABSTRACT
When people come together to share a meal, they are fulfilling a basic biological need as well as a social one (Lupton 1996). Families are constituted and friendships strengthened through the social act of eating. Preparing a meal for others is an act of caring that cements and strengthens relationships (DeVault 1991). Yet the social act of eating can also create friction, as people bring tensions to the table along with food. At times, food itself is the source of conflict, such as when a child refuses to eat her vegetables or a family member adopts vegetarianism. Both disrupt established foodways, the social patterns and meanings of eating. Medical restrictions on eating may also challenge foodways both in- and outside of the home (Olsson et al. 2009; Walker 2005). Foodways must be adapted to the particular dietary restriction, which often requires education and advocacy via social movements (Maurer 2002). Support from friends and family is a key determinant of compliance with medical regimens, including those involving dietary changes (Gallant 2003; Levy 1983; van Dama et al. 2005). While dietary modifications can create new opportunities for family and friends to demonstrate care and affection, change can also create frustration and resentment, particularly when it involves staple ingredients and cooking techniques, and requires strict adherence. While most studies on medically restricted diets focus on diabetes, this study examines the education and advocacy work necessary to follow a gluten-free diet required by celiac disease.
