Food habits and social change

Changes in patterns of eating are always closely linked with social changes. Marked changes continue to occur in the age structure of the population with the appearance of an increasingly large elderly group with their own nutritional problems. Mobility within the population has reduced extended family networks and a greater proportion of us now live in smaller units. The growth in one‐person households reflects in part the increasing elderly population but also the independence of the young. This trend has important implications for eating, which is such a social activity. There is no incentive for people on their own to cook elaborate meals and it may be much easier to eat out or collect a ‘take‐away’ meal. This has been a growing phenomenon in recent years and in 1981 £3,600m was spent on meals eaten outside the home.