Abstract Summary
Cities have a great influence on encouraging healthier lifestyles, due to 75% of the European population living in cities (WHO Regional Office for Europe 2022). Food tends to be disregarded or forgotten when discussing healthy cities. Even though it is a valid question regarding the predicted influx of city dwellers in the future (WHO Regional Office for Europe 2022). Meanwhile, food is starting to move up the political agenda, as illustrated by the Copenhagen Food Strategy. Nevertheless, the strategy lacks consideration of the influence of the built environment in creating a “green, vital and healthy food city” (Københavns Kommune, 2019). This gap sparked the researcher's interest in food planning and health, resulting in the research question: To what extent can a food market encourage a healthy foodscape in Tingbjerg? The following sub-questions were formulated to answer this question: 1) What can we learn from the benefits and challenges of food markets in the international research literature, particularly focusing on providing a healthy food environment? 2) What is the current foodscape in Tingbjerg? 3) What is the local interest in a food market in Tingbjerg? At the start of the research, a detailed thematic literature review was conducted to explore the potential benefits and challenges of food markets. Further on, a mixed methods approach was used, including preliminary observations, semi-structured interviews, and a survey to explore Tingbjergs foodscape and local interest in a food market. The main findings of the thematic literature review show that a food market can help improve people’s physical health, social well-being and encourage community building. Moreover, the findings in Tingbjerg show that the current foodscape of Tingbjerg can be improved in all three dimensions (spatial, social, food). To summarize, a food market in Tingbjerg can help address the prevalence of diabetes, 2) activate the public outdoor space, 3) contribute to the local economy and strengthen the community, and 4) improve social well-being. Therefore a food market would be beneficial to contribute to a healthy foodscape in Tingbjerg. These findings can be helpful to Copenhagen municipality, Steno Diabetes Center, urban planners, and urban developers in Tingbjerg. Hence, the findings show the potential of a food market in Tingbjerg, particularly for improving locals’ physical health, social well-being, the local economy, and public life.
