User:Alice/Interviews

Standard questions

• Where did you first hear about meal replacements

• How was your live before - any signs of dissatisfaction with economic/social/health situation

• What is their main benefit for you

• How did you choose this particular brand/what's your opinion on their brand positioning

• How do you think this is better/worse than food

• What are the effects on your body/ mind, have you done any medical tests/ is it not just placebo (no long-term studies)

• Would you use it in cooking

• How often do you consume

• Do you make your own/ what's your opinion on diy meal replacements as an expression of creativity/ as a rebellion against current hegemonic food structures/ a version of activism?

• What impact has it had on your daily life

• Pros/cons

• How would you describe a person who uses meal replacements?

• Statement: I do not believe that a group of software engineers with no background in food should be in charge of human food.

• Follow-up question: Since the movement started from a distrust in official/corporate info on healthy eating, why would you trust another corporation with your nutrition?

Interview Laura and Dylan

D: First encountered them after seeing a Vice documentary with friends, they were making their own, he thought that was a bit scary/strange.

L: Was the first in her office at IBM to try it, got a lot of questions/backlash from coworkers, but eventually some gave it a try as well

Both: It's a nutritionally complete option for a meal, with no sacrifice

Best part: It's a predictable meal that requires no planning and very little prep, it's reliable

Worst part: Taste and texture, the fact that you can only drink it cold, feeling bloated after drinking it, explosive bowel movement

How would you describe a person who uses meal replacements?

Driven by technology, someone who uses the term 'life-design', who turns their own person/body into a brand/product. Largely male user community. People who sacrifice elements of themselves in exchange for power and efficiency.

When do you consume:

D: When there is nothing else to eat at home and sometimes at the office.

L: Consumed it for 1 year for breakfast, because it was fast and predictable

There is an assumption from other people who see Huel consumers add other food items to it for texture/flavor that it is no longer a perfect thing (sort of like trying to catch you with a contradiction, similarity to vegans)

Impact on daily life:

D: It changed the way he was thinking about food. Started to appreciate the things that make real food, preparation, sharing, consuming, enjoying - important. Also started to become more interested in what constitutes healthy eating and tried to construct meal plans from governmental official documents (Australia gov, NHS).

An issue of trust, with so much conflicting information around - Huel gives you more control over what you eat, you see the ingredients and quantities clearly on the label, they are all based on studies so it's easier to trust.

what is your opinion on personalized nutrition - connection with genome testing - any concerns about sharing your data

Have not really made the connection, even though both had their genome tested. Would perhaps consider it a step too far to plan their meals according to their DNA needs.