I have such a complicated idea of food and the place food has in our culture. I have been striving for a long time to win a battle I am losing regarding sweets and treats. In our culture, we reward good behavior with sweets. We celebrate together with sweets. We entertain ourselves with sweets, “Let’s go get ice cream together for Family Home Evening!” Even my pediatrician offers a sucker as kids walk out (this is the strangest of all). I feel like there needs to be fundamental changes in the way we approach sweet things. I found this little gem of a quote on one of the many food blogs I read. I feel like Michael Pollan, food writer and activist hit the nail on the head:
“There is nothing wrong with special occasion foods, as long as every day is not a special occasion. Special occasion foods offer some of the great pleasures of life, so we shouldn’t deprive ourselves of them, but the sense of occasion needs to be restored.”
I may have expressed my thoughts on this topic before but for me food is an experience, a way to show love, a way to nurture. Food is also a memory. I can remember just about anything if there is food involved. I will reminisce with my sweet husband about a specific date in the distant past and will almost always be able to relate what we ate on that date or in that particular memory. I think it is no coincidence that on my church’s family history database (an incredible resource available to anyone), there is a section where people can share their family’s recipes and food memories. This is the quote on the site:
“Did you realize that you’re creating family history every day just by preparing food and eating it together? Good food has a way of bringing families together, and anytime families gather—even to eat—family history is made.”
I believe it, and rejoice in it! Bon Appetite!
Leave a Reply