Amy van der Heijden

Amy van der Heijden is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Health Sciences within the Faculty of Science at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. She holds a PhD in Communication Sciences/Nutrition and Health from Wageningen University & Research (2022), focusing on food preference development in low socioeconomic families. Her research integrates (discursive) health psychology, nutrition, and sociology to improve sustainable and healthy eating practices through interdisciplinary collaboration.

• PhD: 'To like or not to like: On negotiating taste in children from families with a low socioeconomic position' (Wageningen University, 2022)

Research Interests:
Focus on food preference development, mealtime interactions, and socioeconomic influences on dietary choices. Utilizes qualitative methods to explore how interactional, psychological, and sociological factors shape eating behaviors. Advocates for interdisciplinary approaches involving interaction researchers, psychologists, and nutritionists.

Grant Involvement:
Listed as a recipient in the 2024 'Patient Orchestrated Diagnostics' grant (collaborative research project).

Teaching:
Conducts courses on qualitative research methods.