PhD project The aim of the project if to examine how food insecurity manifests both nutritionally and socially among adults in Sweden, and to describe the existing research on dietary intake among adults experiencing food insecurity in high‑income countries
Living in food insecurity entails having limited or uncertain access to nutritionally adequate and safe food. The phenomenon is increasing in welfare states such as Sweden, yet research from a nutritional and food studies perspective remains limited in the Nordic countries. This project aims to examine how food insecurity manifests both nutritionally and socially among adults in Sweden, and to describe existing research on dietary intake among adults experiencing food insecurity in high‑income countries.
Food insecurity refers to "limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways". The phenomenon is increasing not only in low‑income countries but also in welfare societies such as Sweden. Despite this, research on how food insecurity manifests in a Swedish context remains limited, even as news reporting and civil society organizations point to a growing number of individuals seeking food assistance to manage daily life.
This project examines the strategies adults use to secure their own and their children’s right to food, and the extent to which they are able to achieve a diet that helps prevent diet‑related diseases. The project comprises four sub‑studies: (1) a literature review of energy and nutrient intake among adults experiencing food insecurity in high‑income countries; (2) a study of nutrient intake among food- insecure adults in Sweden; (3) a study of everyday strategies for managing food insecurity; and (4) a study exploring how caregivers perceive their sense of agency in ensuring that their children have access to food.
