The socio-economic boundaries shaping young people’s lunchtime food practices on a school day

Abstract

Not enough is known about the relationship between socio-economic deprivation and places where young people purchase food at lunchtime on a school day. This paper draws on qualitative data from 600+ young people aged 13-15 years and illustrates that socio-economic factors form boundaries that young people have a feeling for when buying food. This informs where they seek out lunch (at school or in local food outlets) and what products, service and prices they access and find acceptable. Such insights help to understand why inequalities in young people’s health and eating practices prevail.