Since I’ve graduated from college, I have found that one of the best ways to keep in contact with friends, besides through email or Facebook, is through blogging. I particularly keep up with two friends who just happen to update their blogs regularly.
First, there’s Ben. He’s studying abroad in Germany and France and in order to keep all of us up-to-date over here in the States, he blogs on an almost daily basis. His posts range from book reviews to food to really whatever comes to his mind, and it’s a good way to live vicariously through another friend and see Europe. He’s a wonderful and thought-provoking writer. I also find his posts encouraging, so if you need a something good to read, check it out.
There’s also my good friend Julie. Julie and I are sorority sisters, and have become even better friends within the past two years. She is a wonderful writer, and lives up in Ohio, much to my dismay (basically because I don’t really get to see her all that much). I also read her blog regularly, and I was perplexed by one of her posts within the past couple of weeks.
Her post, also titled “Food, Glorious Food”, made me stop and think, and it’s been in the back of my mind since I read her post. Here’s the paragraph that puzzled me:
“As VP of the I Love Food Club* for the past 12+ years, I say (off-the-record, mind you) that food is overrated. I don’t particularly enjoy eating. I like that it gives me nutrition for my body to function well, and I love the taste of whatever I am enjoying, but the physical act of eating? Eh. One does not give a dinner party just to feed the participants. One, however, does it to invite over friends for excellent conversation and the enjoyment of the amiable company, and perhaps even the anticipation and fun of cleaning and dressing up one’s dining area. The food is an important part too, but one does not look forward to eating. One looks forward to the time spent.”
As someone who really enjoys food and hopes to work in the food industry one day, I find this paragraph rather saddening. I do love you lots Julie, but this made me want to cry! Seeing this in writing made me sad because I believe that it’s an attitude held by most Americans: food is simply something to put into the body to keep it running and there’s no need to spend time to fix or eat the meal. This in turn is part of what, I feel, has led to food the way that it is now: canned, processed, non-nutritious, fast food, it goes on and on, just pick one.
Now, this isn’t an attitude that is held by all, which is evident in the quickly growing food world. Lots of people consider themselves “foodies”; Food Network and Cooking Channel are constantly running, Top Chef just won an Emmy, but those really seem to be a little superficial to me.
I like how Foodie with the Family described food. She had to describe the kind of blogger that she is and why food is important to her, and here is what she said:
“Food is a creative outlet, sensuous pleasure, science experiment, math formula, historic treatise and cultural study all rolled into one. And like it or not, the food we make speaks volumes about who we are and how we view life and love.”
I agreed completely, Vivian. Very well put. It was so important as to be God’s second command to Adam in the Garden in Genesis 1:29 “…it shall be food for you.” The connotations of food are strongly tied not only to health, but social interaction and even dominion from the Christian perspective. A great deal of building and living with a godly worldview begins at the dinner table.
I like your quotation; thank you! And I’m happy that you liked the post too
From Edith Schaeffer’s Hidden Art of Homemaking ~
*Food and meal-times shared have always been thought of as a closer kind of communication than simply talking to people, without eating together.*
Oh, thank you! I’m so glad you liked the spirit behind what I said.
I did like it a lot because it describes that way I view food too!! Plus I just love reading your blog
I agree with you, Viv. I think Julie’s point might have been a little different, however. We have both enjoyed spending different meal times with Julie and for me, I have seen her very much enjoy food on occasions like going out to eat with her journalist friends for Chinese food in D.C. or at 1:45AM with her and Will Clayton getting Sushi at the Dancing Wasabi in Cincinatti after an evening of beer at the German Hofbrau House on the other side of the river from where she lives. I think Julie does enjoy eating, but I think her perspective comes from the American society you referred to earlier that does have an unfortunately abysmal attitude towards food. I think a reunion with Julie will prove my point as well as her getting a chance to read your post.
Thank for your kind words, Viv and I am glad that we can keep in contact with our respective blogs. It’s the highlight of my day to come home and read the updates on my friends lives. I need to get back into writing the encouraging words on my blog. As of late, I haven’t felt very encouraged, but I am hoping that will change soon.
I don’t think I need to say anything that you don’t already know about my love of food. I make unconscious half-orgasmic noises every time I eat. It’s kind of bad actually, but whatever, I love food, food, glorious food!
She probably did mean it a little differently, but I really do think that most people don’t really few food as a good thing, actually most view it as a bad thing, which is evident in all the fad diets and junk. I suppose I wish I knew more people who appreciated food the way I do, a lot like Europeans; they really appreciate food.
Anything encouraging is always wonderful! Even if you don’t necessarily feel encouraged, encouraging words still seem to make their way out of your mouth. Keep your chin up!
Mmmm. Sushi…