What are arts-based approaches to nutrition education?

Arts-based approaches to nutrition education builds on the tradition of integrating the arts into health and human services practice, research, and preparatory education. The field is vast and has the same potential for application in nutrition education.

'The arts' can refer to performatives (e.g., drama, music, film, dance, etc.), written work (e.g., creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry, etc.), and presentations/shows of works that are made in 2D (paintings, murals, wall hangings, photographs, etc. ) and 3 D (sculpture, carvings, installations, woodworking, jewellery, etc.).

The arts can be used in sharing experiences (either one's own or those of a group of people), coping strategies, research findings, and for instruction or awareness raising and advocacy. These approaches might also be used to interest people in forming a community-based participatory research group.

Suggested resources are:
Arts Health Network Canada (http://artshealthnetwork.ca/)

Special Issue of Forum: Qualitative Social Research on Performative Social Science
http://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs/issue/view/10




International Journal of Creative Arts in Interdisciplinary Practice (Cheryl McLean, Editor)

and Art Crossing Borders (Cheryl McLean's blog)

Cheryl is the co-editor with Robert Kelly of:

Creative Arts in Interdisciplinary Practice (2010)











 Creative Arts in Research for Community and Cultural Change
(2011)

Creative Arts in Humane Medicine (2013)












More links to come...about to board a flight to the 4th International Critical Dietetics Conference in Chicago!