Nutrition Education and Communication: Food as an Element of Social Participation and Sense of Community Belonging

Nutrition education and communication are vital for individual and collective health. While traditionally centered on nutrient knowledge and balanced diets, these fields increasingly recognize food's sociocultural dimensions. Food transcends mere sustenance; it's a potent vehicle for social interaction, cultural identity, and fostering a sense of community belonging. Practices like meal sharing and culinary traditions are deeply intertwined with social participation and group cohesion. Acknowledging and integrating these multifaceted aspects of food is crucial for designing more impactful and culturally sensitive nutrition education interventions that resonate with people within their social contexts. This broader understanding allows for a more holistic approach to promoting well-being.

The goal of this Research Topic is to explore the role of food as a social and cultural catalyst within nutrition education and communication. Moving beyond the traditional focus on nutrient balance and dietary guidelines, this collection aims to deepen our understanding of how food practices—such as meal sharing, culinary traditions, and food-related cultural behaviors—foster social participation and strengthen community belonging. We welcome contributions that examine these multidimensional aspects of food, offering insights into how they can enhance nutrition education interventions to be more culturally sensitive, inclusive, and impactful. By integrating the sociocultural dimensions of food, this Research Topic seeks to promote a holistic approach to well-being, addressing not only physical health but also social and emotional connections. This framework aspires to inspire innovative strategies for fostering healthier, more cohesive communities through food-centered education and communication initiatives.

This Research Topic invites contributions that examine the sociocultural dimensions of food and their role in nutrition education and communication. Specifically, we seek manuscripts that explore themes such as:
• The role of food in fostering social participation and community belonging.
• The impact of meal sharing and culinary traditions on social cohesion, well-being, and learning.
• Culturally sensitive educational approaches that integrate the social and cultural dimensions of food to promote healthy eating behaviors.
• Food as an educational tool, as well as a medium for storytelling, identity formation, and intergenerational connection.
• Interdisciplinary perspectives linking nutrition, education, sociology, anthropology, and psychology.

We welcome diverse manuscript types, including original research, reviews, theoretical and conceptual papers, case studies, and policy-oriented analyses. Contributions should highlight the educational potential of food to influence not only individual health but also social and community dynamics. This Research Topic aims to inspire innovative, inclusive, and effective strategies to promote holistic well-being and greater food literacy through educational and communicative interventions.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Registered Report
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review

Keywords: Nutrition Education, Nutrition Communication, Food Education, Social Participation, Sense of Community

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.