Co-designing a community-wide approach to encouraging healthier food choices

Abstract

This research offers a novel perspective on encouraging healthier food choices through a community-wide approach. Using five co-design workshops with consumers and supermarket staff, and the abductive synthesis of qualitative data, this study uncovered the role of community in encouraging greater food well-being and allied behaviours. The results reveal rather critical consumer views on past paternalistic health promotion campaigns and offer alternative strategies for designing more balanced and holistic programs. Such a holistic approach can ensure more sustained programs, as they aim to achieve broader social, mental and physical health, and economic benefits, not just nutrition outcomes. The research offers practical recommendations on modifying retail marketing space, and the broader community setting, to create an environment where consumers find it easier, convenient, more socially desirable and pleasurable to make healthier choices.

Keywords: Co-design; Community; Food well-being; Healthy choices; Qualitative; Social marketing.