Studying natural meals: What are the benefits of the living lab approach?

It is recognized that context (all the variables in an eating occasion) influences food acceptance, consumer perception, food intake, and overall eating behavior. Therefore, considering context in experimental food research is central to strengthening the validity of such studies. This chapter discusses the importance of studying natural meals and the role of context when studying food consumers, considering three different perspectives relevant for food research: perception, decisions, and intake. Methodological approaches, from laboratory to free-living settings, have been developed and employed, each with various strengths and limitations. The Living Lab approach is introduced, where researchers base their data collection in an existing eating environment, and have as many relevant contextual factors (i.e., social, environmental, personal) as possible controlled. The chapter ends with case studies using the living laboratories and a discussion of future trends.