“I like going into town and eating food”: analyzing the discursive construction of rural youth food environments in canada

Rurality is an under-researched dimension of youths’ food environments. This qualitative study engaged youth (aged 13–18) in two rural settings in western Canada to examine the discourses shaping their experiences of their food environments. Data were generated through individual and group interviews during cooking sessions. Using discourse analysis, we identified three discourses: moralizing eating practices; moving beyond food and nutrition binaries; and valuing food and nutrition knowledge and skills. These discourses reflect both hegemonic and counter-hegemonic discourses of food and nutrition. Study findings have implications for developing and implementing health-promoting nutrition interventions for youth in rural communities.