131a What’s cooking? Sustainable healthy diets
Kafli 1 af 6 - Description of diet
Describe your diet in your everyday life. Do you define your diet in a certain way? If so, what does that definition entail?
I try to keep my health down. Usually I only eat between 16.00 and 20.00. My diet is basically harðfiskur, butter and skyr with cream. Then on Christmas I eat everything and also if there is a celebration at other times.
For how long have you adhered to this diet?
For some years now.
Kafli 2 af 6 - Reasons and experience
What made you change your diet? What are the main reasons behind the decision and why do you stick with it?
My heart attack. It worked, I don't have heart attacks since I lost weight.
Where did you first hear about this diet? How did the change occur? Suddenly or gradually?
The change occurred gradually. I tried to find methods to loose weight and gradually hit upon a method that involves fasting and selective eating. I have kept my weight down for five years now.
Has your approach or perspective changed in any way since you started this diet? Can you give an example?
First I fasted 16/8. Then 20/4 which works better.
Have you experienced any changes in yourself following a changed diet? For example changes in how you feel (physically or mentally), your sense of taste, your behaviour, interests, or social life? If yes, please describe the changes or give examples.
My weight has gone down and I feel that I look better not so fat.
Kafli 3 af 6 - Your diet in everyday life
Where do you usually shop for groceries? What determines what goes into your shopping basket? (Does f. ex. pricing matter? The origin of the product? How about marketing and advertisement? The information on the labels and packaging? The layout of the store?)
I buy skyr, smjör, cream and harðfiskur at the nearest store, or the most convenient store. Sometimes I buy Basset´s lakkrís which can only be bought in Nettó. Then I go there. I also like Victory (brenni). You can get that most places.
Where you live, how is the access to the food or raw materials you need to be able to follow your diet?
I live in Vesturbær Reykjavík, the access to my diet is good.
How much interest do you have in food and cooking in general? Is food an important aspect of your life? How much time do you devote to thinking about, making and consuming food? Do you enjoy trying out new recipes, or even coming up with your own?
I am very interested in cooking and I like cooking. Yes, I need food to live, and also it is fun to cook good food. The time I use depends on what I am doing. If I am cooking for my wife it can take an hour. Otherwise very little time. I enjoy very much trying out new recipes when I have the opportunity.
What characterises good food? (For ex. regarding taste, smell, texture, appearance, or other qualities?)
The taste and smell should be good or preferably very good. The texture should be nice, and it should look good.
What characterises quality food when it comes to your specific diet? Does it matter for instance if the food is fresh or processed or contains additives?
There are no such qualifications. But I don't like food that is either rotten or smells bad. I hate skata. I hate it very much. I will never eat it.
Is there anything you especially miss from your previous diet? Why?
As I allow myself to eat everything, just seldom, I don't miss anything.
How often do you cook at home? What needs to be in place in the kitchen for you to be able to follow your diet? (Any specific tools or equipment, a certain amount of space or anything else?)
I cook two or three times a week on average. For my diet I only need a fridge.
How often do you eat out? Where do you prefer to go? Is it easy or difficult to order food that matches your diet in restaurants?
I eat out as often as I can. I love eating out. I like posh restaurants. I am not ashamed to admit that. I eat everything, so it is very easy to order food.
What are the main obstacles you have met in your daily life when it comes to following your diet? What would make it even easier for you to follow your current diet?
The main obstacles are that I tend to take colour from my surroundings, sometimes when the family goes out I eat cake or the junk food my son is eating at the given time. So the main obstacles have to do with social circumstances. It would be easy if I lived alone to follow the diet strictly, but I do not want to do that. I love my family.
Kafli 4 af 6 - Home/family, traditions, and gendered perspectives
Describe your household conditions (How many live in your home? Are there children in the home? etc.). Does everyone follow the same diet as you do? If not, how does that affect your eating habits?
Me, my wife, my son. He is the child. No, everyone has a different diet.
Do you experience support or criticism from your family, friends, or colleagues/school mates? Does that make a difference for you? Can you give us an example?
I experience support from the family and those I tell about my eating habits. The support is important.
Do food traditions matter to you, f. ex. during celebrations? Have you had to adapt food traditions to your diet? How so?
Yes, I tend to follow the traditions. I don't adapt the food traditions to the diet.
How about dinner parties and gatherings where food is offered? Do you make special arrangements regarding those? What kind of attitudes have you experienced from the hosts or other guests? Please tell us about real-life examples if you have any.
I have already answered this. I am very relaxed regarding parties and gatherings.
Have you noticed any specific attitudes or anything else regarding your diet based on your gender? If so, please describe an example.
No.
Kafli 5 af 6 - Information, education, sustainability and health
Where do you mainly look for information, knowledge, recipes, or inspiration for your diet? Please put in links for any websites or social media accounts that you use (if any).
On the internet, talking to people. No special websites.
Do you find it important to educate others about your diet? Why, and how do you do it? / Why not? Please describe some real-life examples.
No, not especially. Some people are interested in the way I eat. Then I tell them about my diet.
In your mind, what does sustainability in everyday life entail?
We should dismantle capitalism. That is the precondition for any sustainability. Capitalism is per definition unsustainable.
In your mind, what does healthy eating entail? What is healthy food?
Healthy food should not be contaminated with poison, it should not be too old to eat or to raw. It should be cooked appropriately.
Kafli 6 af 6 - Final remarks
Are you planning to continue to follow this diet for the foreseeable future?
Yes, I hope to do so for the time it takes me to reduce weight a bit more.
Is there anything you would like to add that has not been covered so far?
I lost 20 kilos, but I want to lose 7,5 more, and that has been difficult. The cockroaches were very difficult. We had cockroaches in our house a while ago, and that upset all our lives a great deal. Also when we had to go to Lund because of my son´s heart operation. Such things are stressful. But by the time we went to Lund I had learned a bit from the cockroach situation how to handle a stressful situation so that it did not effect the diet too much.
What is your occupation?
Historian.
What is your level of education?
PhD
Do you have any remarks or comments on this questionnaire?
Thank you very much!