ABSTRACT
Strategically situated between the introduction and the sections on methodology and theory, this chapter introduces a triangular conceptual approach to structure the book's content, providing a transversal lens that enhances and complements the frameworks developed in subsequent chapters. At its core lies the concept of narrative, understood as a way to interpret and give meaning to experiences, shaping individual and collective identities. Drawing on Paul Ricœur's narrative theory, the book explores how everyday food practices transcend functional acts, embedding meaning and history into consumption. The narrative serves as a unifying thread across chapters, supported by Michel Serres’ metaphor of the bridge, which links actions and discourse. We will also look at empirical concepts such as local food practices or food quality schemes: they emerge from a dynamic negotiation between field-derived (‘emic’) and researcher-defined (‘etic’) perspectives, emphasising movement and dialogue. This conceptual approach, grounded in qualitative research, builds on Edgar Morin's holistic perspective by emphasising the complexity of sustainable consumption, where routines, conventions, and individual as well as collective practices intersect. Running throughout the volume as a guiding thread, this perspective enables a deeper understanding of human interactions and engagements with food systems.
