Mat(o)vanor bland flyganställda : - måltidsmönster och upplevelse av möjlighet till återhämtning med oregelbunden arbetstidsförläggning

Abstract Food and recuperation has a superior importance in human life and it is hard to deny the distinction of the food in everyday life. Nutritious food gives energy to benefit activities of the day and influences on behavior and performance as well as well being. The meaning of the terms meal and mealtime are key concepts in this study and the several beneficial aspects beyond the physiological function. Inadequate time for the meal might provide degenerative consequences for individual health and generate outgoings for society. The aim of this study was that from an individual perspective describe work environment conditions for meals and recovery potential among employees with irregular working hours using mixed methods with both questionnaire and interviews. Four (4) airline employees participated. Result from this study demonstrated that airline employees, especially cabin crew, rarely could effect on the surrounding environment of the meal. The participants indicated the irregularity of the meals and meal patterns at work along with constant time pressure and economic directives as the main underlying factors from their perspective. The study concluded that the time, place and money dictated the terms of the mealtime and that the potential of recovery was virtually nonexistent. Keywords: meal, eating habits, shift work, health promotion, recovery/recuperatio