Family members have emotional, social, and cultural ties to food that keep them connected even when they no longer live together. Adult children leaving their parental households but checking in to see what is for dinner, sharing food photos, or seeking guidance on nostalgic family recipes are examples of staying connected through food. Human-Food Interaction (HFI) is a growing domain for food-tech innovation, and in this study, we investigate the potential of mediated HFI for closeness and social presence. We conducted interviews, photo diary studies, and co-design sessions with 16 participants to elicit family members’ sharing preferences and speculative ideas about mediated HFI. Using Social Practices Theory (SPT), we examined not only how family members envisioned technology mediation but also why they chose specific food practices to be mediated and what those practices/interactions added to their relationship. Our findings aligned with the SPT model proposed by Shove and colleagues ( The Dynamics of Social Practice: Everyday Life and how it Changes 2012 ) and describe how family members attached sentiment to their food interactions (Meaning), envisioned different tools and technologies to craft connected food experiences (Material), and demonstrated awareness and knowledge about each other’s food interests and availability (Competence). We reflect on the intertwined relationships between these elements, highlight the nuances of family food practices and their mediation, and ultimately propose design implications by integrating literature from HFI and Social Presence.

Researchers are increasingly facilitating qualitative research studies online. While this has made research more accessible for participation, there have been notable encounters with “fraudulent” participants. By fraudulent, we refer to individuals who are deceptive about meeting the inclusion criteria, their identity, or experiences. Fraudulent participants have generated new challenges for researchers who have to interact 1:1 with these individuals, face ethical dilemmas on appropriate next steps, diagnose and prevent the issue from happening again, and deal with their own identity as a scholar. In this study, we interview 16 HCI researchers to understand and learn from their experiences. We contribute: (1) an understanding of how HCI qualitative researchers deal with fraudulent participants; (2) a guide for qualitative HCI researchers on how to handle fraudulence; and (3) a reflection on how the HCI research community might better improve our science and training efforts.

Cooking and eating together is a prominent social experience amongst families. Older adults and their adult children who live apart often communicate about these experiences to stay aware of each other's health and wellbeing. In this paper, we examine current practices surrounding the communication of eating habits and meal preparation between older adults and their adult children living apart. We interviewed 18 older parents and nine adult children to understand their experiences. While most participants found the sharing of eating experiences to be rewarding and enlightening of family health behaviors, family roles and contexts could create tensions around this type of conversation. Applying the lens of symbolic interactionism theory, we examine how changing roles and contexts influence the conversation of eating and meal preparation and how participants manage tensions. We discuss future design opportunities to support family collaboration around food and eating, accounting for the transition of roles and contexts.