The use of visual methods with children in a mixed methods study of family food practices

In their capacity to evoke the sensory, non-rational and material aspects of life, visual research methods offer potential for the study of food and eating. The flexible and interactive nature of some visual approaches also means that such methods may be particularly appropriate for research with children. Drawing on an ongoing study of food and eating in employed families, this paper explores the usefulness of using visual methods, including drawing and photoelicitation, to study children's food practices. It examines what these methods 'add' in this mixed methods study and how they work in combination with other methods and reflects upon some of the challenges faced by researchers adopting such approaches.