Eat this article
By: Riley Kross
Issue date: 10/16/09 Section: Opinions
I have been eating now for over twenty-one years. However, I recently made the vague assertation to a few friends that I have become interested in "the idea of food." Given their surprised reactions, I now realize that comment is not exactly a normal statement. We eat--we just do. And we don't really think about it. But, I think we should.
Apparently, my new interest in food is not a solitary endeavor. The well-known documentary Supersize Me came out in 2004, the book Fast Food Nation in 2001, the organic food industry has been rapidly growing since the early 90's, and, according to Wikipedia, the slow food movement came out of Italy in the 80's. Currently, the documentary Food Inc. is creating a stir in theaters and the corporate food industry. I am realizing that my new interest in food is part of a much larger picture that involves a spectrum of social and political movements.
Every bite of food we ingest is not just an instinctual reaction. Eating is a personal, political and even religious statement. However, it is not just what we eat that is important, but how and why we eat it. Some foods are subsidized by the government while others are not. The way certain foods are raised or grown can have positive or negative environmental impacts. To eat or not eat certain foods becomes a symbol of a greater cause. The manner in which we eat makes a social statement - fast food or slow food. How often do we stop to analyze what our food is saying?
Food is an absolute necessity to who we are as human beings, who we are as a society. If we overlook and underestimate this foundational element how much is lost in the aftermath? Personally, I think we have already suffered major consequences. Look at the American obesity epidemic. Look at the toxins and chemicals that enter our water supply due to certain methods of farming. Look at how the least nutritious food is the cheapest to buy and how that affects the impoverished. Look how infrequently families and friends sit down together for a community meal.
Now, do not think I am trying to complicate the simple joy that is eating by bringing politics and religion to the dinner table. I love eating and you should too. However, I think it's imperative to recognize food for what is has become (or maybe what it has always been). In this recognition, I am calling each of us to develop a philosophy of food, which I believe can lead to even more delicious joy.
Do not be deceived by how overwhelming this topic may seem. Food, though vast and intricate, is a simple foundation, a cornerstone. Yet, if we ignore what the foundation is made of the structure can not be trusted. This applies at the most basic level to the proper nutrition your body needs. Start there, and you will quickly realize how food is everywhere else as well.
Apparently, my new interest in food is not a solitary endeavor. The well-known documentary Supersize Me came out in 2004, the book Fast Food Nation in 2001, the organic food industry has been rapidly growing since the early 90's, and, according to Wikipedia, the slow food movement came out of Italy in the 80's. Currently, the documentary Food Inc. is creating a stir in theaters and the corporate food industry. I am realizing that my new interest in food is part of a much larger picture that involves a spectrum of social and political movements.
Every bite of food we ingest is not just an instinctual reaction. Eating is a personal, political and even religious statement. However, it is not just what we eat that is important, but how and why we eat it. Some foods are subsidized by the government while others are not. The way certain foods are raised or grown can have positive or negative environmental impacts. To eat or not eat certain foods becomes a symbol of a greater cause. The manner in which we eat makes a social statement - fast food or slow food. How often do we stop to analyze what our food is saying?
Food is an absolute necessity to who we are as human beings, who we are as a society. If we overlook and underestimate this foundational element how much is lost in the aftermath? Personally, I think we have already suffered major consequences. Look at the American obesity epidemic. Look at the toxins and chemicals that enter our water supply due to certain methods of farming. Look at how the least nutritious food is the cheapest to buy and how that affects the impoverished. Look how infrequently families and friends sit down together for a community meal.
Now, do not think I am trying to complicate the simple joy that is eating by bringing politics and religion to the dinner table. I love eating and you should too. However, I think it's imperative to recognize food for what is has become (or maybe what it has always been). In this recognition, I am calling each of us to develop a philosophy of food, which I believe can lead to even more delicious joy.
Do not be deceived by how overwhelming this topic may seem. Food, though vast and intricate, is a simple foundation, a cornerstone. Yet, if we ignore what the foundation is made of the structure can not be trusted. This applies at the most basic level to the proper nutrition your body needs. Start there, and you will quickly realize how food is everywhere else as well.