title: Food Activities and Identity Maintenance Among Community-Living Older Adults: A Grounded Theory Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Engaging in food activities and maintaining identity are each important for productive aging. This study explored the role of food activities in identity maintenance among community-living older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a grounded theory approach to analyze data collected in semistructured interviews with 39 predominantly White, British older adults living in West London.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two lifelong food identities-"food lover" and "nonfoodie"-were maintained in the processes of participation and maintenance and threat and compensation. The process change in meaning and identity explained the development of a third food identity-"not bothered"-when participants experienced being alone at the table, deteriorating health, and worry about the cost of food.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Food activities that are a pleasurable and important part of daily life contribute to the maintenance of important identities and mental well-being in older adults.
authors.affiliation: Nicola Ann Plastow, PhD, is Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; nap@sun.ac.za.
authors.forename: Nicola Ann
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Plastow
authors.affiliation: Anita Atwal, PhD, is Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy and Director, Centre for Professional Practice Research, Brunel University, London, England.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Atwal
authors.affiliation: Mary Gilhooly, PhD, is Professor of Gerontology and Director, Brunel Institute for Ageing Studies, Brunel University, London, England.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gilhooly