The food well-being Triptych: A disambiguation

This research seeks to elucidate and disentangle the multiple meanings of food well-being (FWB) and address the challenge of untestable conceptualization. A semi-structured literature review and design science-based syntheses were conducted using the PICO method (problem-intervention-comparison-outcome). The results reveal inconsistent and conflicting interpretations of FWB, contributing to theoretical confusion. The study identifies three distinct uses of ‘food well-being': as a scientific paradigm, a theoretical framework, and a conceptual variable. As a scientific paradigm, it describes a way of thinking and the general relationship of consumers to food. As a theoretical framework, it defines the main constructs to be studied. As a conceptual variable, it represents consumers' attitudinal attributes. This study clarifies the conceptual ambiguity surrounding FWB and proposes a practical solution through the Food Well-Being Triptych. It establishes a structured template model that holds important implications for understanding consumer eating behavior, shaping public policy, and refining marketing strategies, as well as supporting the operationalization of FWB in empirical research design.