Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Tradition--You are what you eat

Food. Much more than just mere sustenance, the food we eat says a lot about our values, cultures, beliefs, and traditions.

Consider Thanksgiving. What are the traditional foods that we eat and what are the origins of that tradition? Some of it, like turkey, dates back to Plymouth Rock and the Pilgrims while other traditions come about because somebody just happened to bring something that others wanted again and again. Even a dish with a name like "The Pink Stuff" can make it as a tradition in a family dinner.

What about "weird" foods? What's the strangest thing you ever ate? Fish? Seaweed? Calves' brains? Yet what is odd and worthy of a reality show here in the US might be the most mundane or a sought after delicacy somewhere else (for example, balut--chicken embryos eaten straight out of the shell).

Now let's think about it from yet another angle. Take fast food. How has the appearance of fast food on virtually every major intersection changed the way we live our lives? We all know that it has an impact on our health. But more than that, how does this type of food affect our lifestyle? Instead of having to go grocery shopping, spend hours cooking, eating, and cleaning up, we can now whisk through the driveway and be done with a meal in an hour. Mealtimes are less about family time around the table, but rather rushed affairs in between soccer practice and homework in the back of the mini-van.

So clearly, food has cultural significance and impact. It can bring people together and it can drive them apart. Take a look at our blogs for our collective experiences and thoughts on the roles of food in our lives.