5. Urban vs Rural Food Theme
Overview of Theme
This theme of Urban Vs Rural food showcases the contrast in ingredient sourcing and preparation styles using supermarkets, farmers markets, and internet to purchase raw materials and local and homegrown produce.
The large photo on the left of each group is a montage of all the photos collected for the group. The individual photos are produced in the horizontal scrollbar under the text for each group. Selecting any photo will enlarge it in the Lightbox to view in further detail and you can also scroll through all the photos in the Lightbox mode. Please refer to the Gallery to see all the photos from the Exhibition.
The groups involved in this research were:
Group 31
这位来自农村的妈妈提到他们在夏季会依靠自家种植的蔬菜作为主要食材来源，减少对外界市场的依赖。他们种植多种蔬菜，如黄瓜、豆角和胡萝卜，确保食材新鲜且无农药残留。她提到：“夏天我们基本上吃自己种的菜，这样吃得更放心。” 在非种植季节，他们则倾向于选择当地市场的新鲜蔬菜，但仍然对食品安全有所担忧，因此尽量减少外购频率。她补充道：“孩子还小，营养搭配要均衡，肉、蔬菜、水果和杂粮这些都要吃，口味上也要清淡。” 这种自给自足的方式不仅保障了食品的安全，也赋予了家庭饮食更自然的风味。
This mother from the rural area mentions that they rely on homegrown vegetables as the main source of ingredients during the summer, reducing dependence on external markets. They grow a variety of vegetables, such as cucumbers, green beans, and carrots, ensuring freshness and pesticide-free produce. She shares that, ‘In the summer, we mostly eat vegetables we grow ourselves, which makes me feel much safer.’ Out of the season, they source fresh vegetables from local markets while limiting external purchases due to ongoing concerns about food safety. She adds, "My child is still young, so I focus on balanced nutrition—meat, vegetables, fruits, and grains are all essential, and the meals are kept light in flavour." This self-sufficient approach not only guarantees food safety but also brings homegrown flavour to the family’s meals.
Group 36
这位在城市的妈妈通过结合市场和网络采购来满足家庭饮食需求。她选择在市场购买新鲜食材，例如水果、应季蔬菜和牛肉，以保证质量和营养。她提到：“一些新鲜的食材是在市场买到的，一些当地没有的食材是在网上买的。” 对于市场难以获得的特色食材，如某些特定品牌的儿童专用调味料或鸡肉，她则依赖于网络平台完成采购。她还表示：“每天都尽量做到蛋奶肉，各种蔬菜都吃一点，营养搭配要均衡。” 通过这种方式，她为孩子准备了丰富的家常菜肴，包括清蒸鸡、清蒸鱼、包子和馄饨，在优化家庭时间管理的同时也提供了营养均衡的饮食。
This mother from the urban area fulfils her family’s dietary needs through both market and online shopping. She purchases fresh ingredients from the market, such as fruits, seasonal vegetables, and beef, to meet the family’s high standards for ingredient quality. The parent shared, ‘Some fresh ingredients are bought at the market, while items unavailable locally are purchased online.’ For special items, such as branded cheese sticks or additive-free purple potato powder, she relies on online platforms. She explains, ‘Every day, I try to ensure that my child has eggs, milk, meat, and a variety of vegetables for a balanced diet.’ Through this approach, she prepares diverse homemade meals, such as steamed chicken, steamed fish, dumplings, and wontons, optimizing both time management and nutritional value.
Group 45
这位城里的妈妈倾向于在正规超市采购食材，尤其是大虾、西兰花和牛奶等高品质食物，这些超市提供可追溯的货源信息，让她在食品安全上更为放心。她提到：“我一般选择在正规的超市，因为在这些地方购买有保障，有源可查。” 为了满足孩子的营养需求并引导健康的饮食习惯，家长还通过网络学习创新的烹饪方式，比如制作虾仁水饺和五谷米糊。她表示：“我尽量做到每天蛋奶肉，各种蔬菜也都会搭配一些，确保孩子的营养均衡。” 通过这种方式，她为孩子准备了丰富的家常菜肴，在保证品质的同时确保孩子从饮食中获得全面的营养。
This urban mother prefers sourcing ingredients from reputable supermarkets, especially for high-quality items like shrimp, broccoli, and milk, which provide traceable sourcing information for enhanced food safety. She mentions, ‘I usually choose reputable supermarkets because they offer reliable and traceable products.’ To meet her child’s nutritional needs and promote healthy eating habits, she also explores cooking methods online, such as making shrimp dumplings and multigrain porridge. She adds, ‘Every day, I try to include eggs, milk, meat, and a variety of vegetables to ensure balanced nutrition.’ Through this approach, she prepares diverse homemade meals, prioritizing quality while ensuring a well-balanced diet for her child.
