 People interact with their food environment on a daily basis to acquire and consume food. Food environment research has been developed in high-income countries in response to the high prevalence of obesity and non-communicable diseases. New insights on food security and malnutrition in all its forms may be gained by addressing food environments in low- and middle-income countries, focusing on the who, the what, the when, the where and the why of food acquisition. New concepts are needed to capture complex and dynamic food environments that include formal and informal markets, own production and gifts. Our approach outlines external and personal food environment domains. The external food environment includes the world of opportunities and constraints that are out there. The personal food environment features dimensions relative to individuals. Complex interactions between these domains influence what people eat. Mixed methods and novel research designs are key to improving knowledge and understanding about how people interact with their food environment to acquire foods. The Food Environment Working Group, bringing together experts to accelerate food environment research in low- and middle-income countries.