Medical experts expose individual lifestyle as one of the main contemporary risk factors for the population's health. Among medically determined life style factors, risk related to food consumption takes a more vivid position. The prevailed belief is that good eating habits set up good physical condition, which is shown in better health. Consequently, to avoid ill-health one is constantly reminded to act in preventive manners and take care of ones health. This condition is emphasised by the healthism thesis, which forms the framework of this article. The authors aim at illuminating what eating strategies lay people in everyday life employ to manipulate body and health. This is based on a Slovenian qualitative empirical study, and three main concepts of the body and health relation are discussed: the body as equilibrated system of health; vulnerable and polluted body; and the body - mind dualism.
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