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The present article analyses the formation of food routines with a focus on social practices. The analysis is based on the antinomies between inside/outside, pleasure/obligation and constancy/changes, and compares empirical results obtained from three countries: Brazil, the United Kingdom and Spain. The data come from three research projects, conducted in each country, from 2014 to 2016, which generated information from 183 interviews that was treated and coded. The considered food routines include regularity, sequence and recursive use of time. The antinomies regarding eating home/out-of-home and pleasure/obligation showed aspects related to escape from routine; social division of labour and influences that either out-of-home or home menus have on the diet; such aspects showed differences in some respects among these three countries. It was observed that the determinants of changes/constancy in eating routines somewhat converge among the three countries, with more “abrupt” changes in the presence of children, in terms of health and in the stage of children’s independence. On the other hand, more “gradual” changes were noted in connection with taste, food supply, income and work dynamics. Empirical findings point to a British cosmopolitanism, Spanish traditionalism, and a “mix” of cosmopolitanism and traditionalism in Brazil., O presente artigo analisa a formação das rotinas alimentares com foco nas práticas sociais a partir das antinomias entre o dentro/fora, prazer/obrigação e as constâncias/mudanças, comparando dados de três países, Brasil, Reino Unido e Espanha. Os dados provêm de três projetos de investigação, conduzidos em cada um dos países, entre os períodos de 2014, 2015 e 2016, gerando informações a partir de 183 entrevistas, tratadas e codificadas. As rotinas alimentares aqui compreendidas envolvem regularidade, sequência e uso recursivo do tempo. As antinomias quanto ao comer dentro/fora e ao prazer/obrigação demostram aspectos relativos à fuga da rotina, à divisão social do trabalho e às influências que os menus de fora, ou mesmo de dentro de casa, exercem sobre a dieta alimentar, diferenciando-se, em alguns aspectos, entre os três países. É possível verificar que os condicionantes das mudanças/constâncias em torno das rotinas alimentares convergem parcialmente entre os países analisados, com mudanças mais “bruscas” na presença de filhos, nos aspectos quanto à saúde e na fase de independência dos filhos. Porém, mudanças mais “graduais” foram percebidas quanto ao paladar, à oferta de alimentos, à renda e às dinâmicas laborais. Destaca-se o cosmopolitismo britânico, o tradicionalismo espanhol, e uma “mescla” entre o cosmopolitismo e tradicionalismo no Brasil. ==== The present article analyses the formation of food routines with a focus on social practices. The analysis is based on the antinomies between inside/outside, pleasure/obligation and constancy/changes, and compares empirical results obtained from three countries: Brazil, the United Kingdom and Spain. The data come from three research projects, conducted in each country, from 2014 to 2016, which generated information from 183 interviews that was treated and coded. The considered food routines include regularity, sequence and recursive use of time. The antinomies regarding eating home/out-of-home and pleasure/obligation showed aspects related to escape from routine; social division of labour and influences that either out-of-home or home menus have on the diet; such aspects showed differences in some respects among these three countries. It was observed that the determinants of changes/constancy in eating routines somewhat converge among the three countries, with more “abrupt” changes in the presence of children, in terms of health and in the stage of children’s independence. On the other hand, more “gradual” changes were noted in connection with taste, food supply, income and work dynamics. Empirical findings point to a British cosmopolitanism, Spanish traditionalism, and a “mix” of cosmopolitanism and traditionalism in Brazil.

Eating habits are changing in modern societies. However, existing data is insufficient to provide in-depth information regarding the social dimensions of these changes. This article describes the principal traits of the eating habits of Spanish people, based on the nationwide ENHALI-2012 survey. The data show a society which is very cohesive with regard to eating habits, but in which there are also signs of change. A panoramic view is presented of how eating is organized in Spain based on meal timetables, of who meals are shared with and of where they are eaten. An explanation is also given of the factors which are taken into account when cooking, of the criteria used when shopping and of the level of trust which consumers have in institutions whose job it is to ensure that people eat correctly. Finally, an analysis is made of what makes Spanish people follow specific diets. The conclusion raises the question of whether existing conditions are conducive to following a healthy diet or if, alternatively, the current scenario favours inappropriate eating habits., Italian Sociological Review, Vol 4, No 2 (2014)