Eating meat in the company of family or friends is sometimes an uncomfortable and fraught topic of conversation, especially in the context of traditions. Mijs Besseling, with the cooperation of a project team, developed an action framework for anyone who recognizes this and feels shy about taking action in such situations. It should offer inspiration and guidance on what to do.

At the cultural heritage lectoraat at the Reinwardt Academy, a special research project on festive meals took place in 2023-2024. The project was co-funded by the NWO and entitled Rethinking the place of meat in tradition through (ritual) intervention. A key premise of this research was that ritualized behavior can not only hold back change, but can actually accelerate it. It was investigated how food traditions, or elements thereof, can be used to ensure less meat on the table. For example, a Living Lab involved working with students who implemented interventions at home leading up to the Christmas meal.

The outputs of the project are a scientific article (to be published under the title: Toward ritual intervention strategies in consumption practices: The case of meat in the Christmas Meal in the Netherlands) and the above-mentioned action framework. The action framework is the result of several activities that took place in the context of the research, such as fieldlabs, interviews, sessions of emotion networks and focus groups. An online version of the action framework can be found here (in Dutch). There are also printed copies in the form of leporellos (harmonica books). These can be placed on the dinner table as a conversation starter. Handy, right, with the holidays coming up?

Do you know of a place, institution or party for whom the Framework for Action might be of interest? Or would you like to receive a printed copy yourself? Please contact mijs.besseling@ahk.nl. 

Look here for more information about the study.

The research is a project of the Route Levend Verleden of the National Science Agenda. Partners involved are: Wageningen University & Research, Utrecht University, Protestant Theological University, IkEetCultuur and Studio Lotte Sluiter. The design of the action framework was made by Josje-Marie Vrolijk.