When ‘healthy’ eating becomes a political issue: Parents’ Association school canteens in Andalusia, Spain

Abstract

The chapter When “Healthy” Eating Becomes a Political Issue: Parents’ Association School Canteens in Andalusia, Spain (Cardon & Martín‑Lagos López, 2022, pp. 191–204) presents an ethnographic study of school canteens managed by parents’ associations in Andalusia. It examines how healthy eating practices are socially negotiated and politically contested in local school contexts. The research highlights the role of community participation, collective decision-making, and educational strategies in shaping children’s food habits, emphasizing the interplay between social, educational, and political dimensions of food. The chapter provides a meso-level perspective that links everyday practices to broader sociological debates on food, citizenship, and governance.