A healthy social life and, where possible, a healthy and sustainable diet: how the social and material environments shape eating practices

Purpose Grounded in social practice theory, this study aims to describe the coordination of the eating practices of a socially diverse sample of individuals, half of whom have shifted toward healthier and more sustainable diets, while the other half have not. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 32 individuals. Through reflexive thematic analysis, the authors examine informants’ eating practices to understand how social and material environments facilitate or hinder the adoption of healthier diets. Findings The authors’ findings indicate that changes in eating practices are shaped by coordination, asymmetric negotiation and a sense of belonging. The fragility of plant-based practices does not primarily stem from weak commitment but from a lack of infrastructural support. Individuals revert to dominant eating practices not because they lack knowledge, awareness or moral concern, but because the social and material environment privileges asymmetric coordination. Eating is fundamentally a practice of social integration. Consequently, maintaining a healthy social life frequently takes precedence over maintaining dietary consistency. Sustainable transitions will therefore succeed only when environmentally aligned practices become socially effortless, when they allow individuals to preserve belonging without friction. Practical implications Political interventions play a pivotal role in reshaping the “rules of the eating practice” by transforming the environments in which people perform it. Thus, the authors’ findings could help governments aiming to transform current eating practices. Originality/value This research advances social practice theory while simultaneously offering a framework for the systemic transformation of food systems. The authors’ key theoretical contribution lies in identifying asymmetric negotiation as the mechanism through which multiple eating practices coexist.