Inequality in America manifests in many ways, but perhaps nowhere more than in how we eat.

From her years of field research, sociologist and ethnographer Priya Fielding-Singh brings us into the kitchens of dozens of families from varied educational, economic, and ethnoracial backgrounds to explore how—and why—we eat the way we do.

We get to know four families intimately: the Bakers, a Black family living below the federal poverty line; the Williamses, a working-class white family just above it; the Ortegas, a middle-class Latinx family; and the Cains, an affluent white family.

Whether it's worrying about how far pantry provisions can stretch or whether there's enough time to get dinner on the table before soccer practice, all families have unique experiences that reveal their particular dietary constraints and challenges.

By diving into the nuances of these families’ lives, Fielding-Singh lays bare the limits of efforts narrowly focused on improving families’ food access. Instead, she reveals how being rich or poor in America impacts something even more fundamental than the food families can afford: these experiences impact the very meaning of food itself.

Packed with lyrical storytelling and groundbreaking research, as well as Fielding-Singh’s personal experiences with food as a biracial, South Asian American woman, How the Other Half Eats illuminates exactly how inequality starts on the dinner plate.

Once you’ve taken a seat at tables across America, you’ll never think about class, food, and public health the same way again.

36 multiple choice questions.

This is an open-book exam.

Unlimited retakes.

Activity Type: 741 - Prior Approved Enduring Activity

Activity Number: 188063

2.1.1 Applies cultural humility and competence, and consideration for social determinants of health in a variety of settings (eg, healthcare, education, business) to show respect for individuals, groups and populations.

2.1.2 Develops awareness of one's own personal biases, privilege, beliefs and values to inform understanding of and reduce biases.

2.2.1 Recognizes and respects varied backgrounds to effectively interact and build meaningful relationships with others (e.g., clients, students/interns, employees, inter- and intra-professional team members and community and professional groups).

2.2.2 Recognizes the importance of differences, orientation, social and cultural norms that may have an impact on individuals, groups and plans of nutrition care, services or education.

2.2.4 Recognizes benefits and strength of a group’s collective experiences, beliefs, values, skills, and perspectives in the development of programs and resources designed to meet the needs of distinct populations.

2.3.2 Applies knowledge of health determinants when planning, developing, and implementing services, programs, interventions, meal plans and menus.

2.3.3 Recognizes and addresses inequity and health disparities associated with social determinants of health.

2.3.4 Promotes health equity that enables everyone to have a fair opportunity to reach their desired health potential where no one is disadvantaged from achieving their goal.

2.3.5 Advocates to advance public policy that addresses health disparities, health inequities, and food insecurity.

2.4.2 Recognizes the impact of food security defined as factors affecting applicable population and access to a sufficient quantity of safe, healthful food and water, as well as food/nutrition-related supplies

Fielding-Singh, P. (2021). How the other half eats: the untold story of food and inequality in America. Little, Brown Spark.