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Concerned with the kinds of explanation which might be offered for changing food habits, proposes that large‐scale, multifactorial explanations are often inappropriate, and may be misleading when applied to the social explanation of food use. Argues that, for example, in the explanation of changes in children′s food habits, a social explanation should focus on changes in the relationships within the family, and changes in the significance of age and gender within these relationships. Food uses symbolize the investment and division of time and the importance which society places on members′ control and use of it. Values, in this case related to the ways in which foods are used, have changed as a consequence of increases in the power and importance of women′s and children′s timetables, and a falling‐off in the significance of the masculine “wage‐earner” role.

The important links between sociology, anthropology and the food industry are discussed in some detail. Lifestyles have seen many changes over the post‐war years, and these are reflected in numerous ways in consumption habits. Academic sociology, it is concluded, has much to offer food researchers, and they will ignore this at their peril.

The twin trends of health and convenience which have resulted in changing food consumption patterns are outlined. Research among consumers confirmed that there is awareness and concern about the relationship between health and diet; food scares have brought confusion; and the better educated are more food‐conscious. Changing lifestyles and the changing role of women are shown to affect food habits.

Consumption of ready‐made meals and snacks has rapidly increased in recent years. The increasing importance and value of time resources generates a greater demand for convenience in food. Discusses time budgets and time famines, explanations for which are not self‐evident. Convenience is multifaceted, socially located and related to experience over time. Discusses whose time is being saved by convenience foods, and also changes in the culture of food and eating. Concludes that convenience in modern food habits is a complex and controversial issue. Unless we take the complexity of (post) modern consumer culture seriously, we shall continue to misunderstand, and misrepresent, the changes which are actually under way.

This article offers a preliminary analysis of the relationships between the domestic and commercial provisioning of food relative to gender differences in society. Its central theme is that any understanding of patterns of food provision and consumption must not be based on marketing theory alone but take cognisance of the social processes that inform dietary behaviour, and in particular the extent to which such processes are mediated by the role of women both as preparers and consumers of food. In order to illustrate these arguments, comparisons are made of domestic and commercial “food systems” and the role of women relative to these.