Food and Society
Food, being a necessity for survival, has been discussed in many contexts. Ranging from the purpose of eating to being defined by what one chooses to eat, the society has redefined the essential meaning of feeding. Writers in different categories have attempted to explain nutrition by discouraging some of the perceived “unnatural” foods with a preference for the organic foods said to be more nutritious. While the point of contention is the perception and the purpose of eating, a lot of debate surrounding what one should eat and at what time has become fashionable. Looking at Jim McCorkle's elaborate diet from a young age in her essay Her Chee-to Heart, I will attempt to reflect on whether the eating habits she portrays are normal in our society. Also, connecting this to the proposed physiology of taste by Jean Anthelme will explain why it is easy for an individual to go for a flavourous, non-nutritious product just to satisfy their appetite.
Perception and Choice of Meal
McCorkle admits being junk-food junkie all her life based on what she preferred to eat. The elaborate description from breakfast choices to what she craved during dinner highlights merely the present society. Poor eating habits have been the norm in the society with people opting for options that make their taste buds feel better (La Fleur et al. 645). Hunger is beside the choice for a certain meal but rather the satiety that comes along after one finishes a Burger King burger. Our society has embraced fast foods as a way of life which may have contributed to the poor eating habits of not only McCorkle but also everyone I know. The number of fast food joints opened along each street each day is alarming as people prefer colorful, tasteful to healthy and organic.
Perception and Food Presentation
Perception of individuals has been shown to influence purchase not only habits but also eating preferences (Haugaard et al. 127). In her essay, McCorkle explains her visit to a healthy organic store and is perplexed at the sight of plants she would consider wild. In her narration, she says that “they grow beside the roadside” to show the unwelcoming sight of the food (Bauer 31). It is not before long that she finally gets to sections with interesting products that she can familiarize with and is satisfied. The presentation of food including its packaging and access can contribute to eating habits of individuals. As Jean Anthelme notes in one of the aphorisms, even the Creator obliges men to eat by appetite (Brillat-Savarin). Consuming what we perceive as more pleasurable and appetizing streams down to the flavors, method of preparation and presentation.
Eating Habits and Health Risks
The eating habits in our society today are influenced solely by ignorance of the underlying danger in choosing some types of foods. As McCorkle highlights, she often ate that which brought happiness to her after touching the taste buds (Bauer 32). Not necessarily concerned with the ingredients or the combination of additives, preservatives, and flavors, but the happiness that emanates after having an appetizing meal. While food defined our culture in the past; different people could be linked to certain foods and way of life, the society has adopted a different analogy. The case of obesity in the world increase by day affecting not only the middle-aged but also young children who have adapted their parental food lifestyles. The number of reported metabolic conditions in our society continue to rise rapidly mostly due to the foods that have been accepted and are readily available in the markets.
Eroding Culture through Food Choices
Culture, as defined by food and food choices, has been eroded in our society. The eating norms have become a cliché to the extent that traditional food festivals have to modify the flavors to attract more people. The society is now left with Chinese restaurants, Japanese teriyaki, Italian dishes or fast foods that are often crowded. What makes all the joints similar is that quality is no longer being served but instead flavors and aroma have to be achieved. While flavor remains the secret ingredient for many of the food joints, the contents of the same have brought more harm to the ignorant consumers. With the preceding, some of the foods we expect from a certain culture will be faced out, and barbeque together with microwaved foods will be a norm. When McCorkle explains how the niece serves her a diet coke in her playhouse as she awaits the microwaved food, it shows that our eating habits are now engraved in our children (Bauer 35). The classic recipes that used to be passed on from one generation to another have now been replaced with favorite restaurants and “try this place.”
Effects on Society and Health
The eighth aphorism as proposed by Jean Anthelme expresses that the table does not bring dissatisfaction or disinterest in the first hour (Brillat-Savarin). When friend meets for a day out, they prefer to visit fast foods or ask for takeout rather than cook their meals. The pleasure obtained from sharing tasty food with friends and family bring more happiness and togetherness in our society today. People eat for their appetite, and this explains why nobody gets disinterested at the table during the hour as everyone is enjoying their food. It does not matter what is on the plate anymore as long as it is tasty. The result has been low expectancy, more metabolic disorders, poor growth, and development as well as risks of cancer.
Loss of Diversity and Changing Food Culture
The society is slowly losing its diversity regarding food and its linkage to culture due to the accessibility of fast foods. Organic and healthy foods are not accessible or appealing to the eyes of the consumer which blurs their perception. Also, lack of enough advertisements for organic foods in our society has contributed to the poor eating norms. Indeed, most food ads are related to junk or flavored soft drinks that further compound the food choices of individuals. While the term cheap is expensive applies literally to the preference of junk over organic, the society is not willing to change. Booming business in the fast food sector explains why poor eating habits will remain a problem for some years to come (Popkin 571). In the most common fourth aphorism, you are what you eat, the disease trends in our society can, therefore, be explained by the poor eating habits that have become acceptable despite their dangers.
Promoting Better Food Choices
While more education on nutrition is relevant in our society, food choices and their effects would be more timely. The inclination towards junk food may not be blamed entirely on ignorance but also on perception and accessibility (Haugaard et al. 126). As the society depends on tastes and flavors in deciding what to eat, the issue of poor food choices may be solved bit by bit. Convincing an individual to abandon a preferred meal is difficult as it directly influences their lives and that of the family due to what they label acceptable in their diet. A beneficial change can only be achieved if the society is willing to focus on the repercussions of eating habits rather than concentrating on the taste buds.
Conclusion
While McCorkle’s food choices may seem absurd from the essay, it is sadly the state of our society today. Every turn in the street contains a fast food joint that uses the aroma and heavenly flavors to attract customers. The appetite of an individual can be greatly influenced by what we like eating rather than hunger. Food preparation has been associated with color, flavor, taste, and prices in the society with people opting for the cheaper and easily accessible types. Indeed, the physiology of taste explains the emotions of an individual as they eat and also influences their choice of meal. The culture of our society is slowly dying at the hands of poor food habits as the norm is being passed to the younger generation. Although nutritionists have shown the dangers associated with poor eating habits, fast food joints continue to thrive opening new branches and offering door-delivery services. Maybe the accessibility and affordability of organic food are wanting in our society, leaving little room for food choices today. Oblivious to the underlying dangers of junk food and poor eating habits, our society is slowly dying. As the third proposed aphorism states, a nation’s destiny is determined by what its people are fed.
Works Cited
Bauer, Holly. Food Matters: A Bedford Spotlight Reader. Bedford/St Martin's, 2014.
Brillat-Savarin, Jean Anthelme. The physiology of taste: or meditations on transcendental gastronomy. Vintage, 2009.
Haugaard, Pernille, et al. “Objective Measures of Meal Variety Lacking Association with Consumers’ Perception of Variety with Self-Selected Buffet Meals at Work.” Food Quality and Preference, vol. 51, 2016, pp. 123–29, doi:10.1016/j.foodqual.2016.03.004.
La Fleur, S. E., et al. “The Snacking Rat as Model of Human Obesity: Effects of a Free-Choice High-Fat High-Sugar Diet on Meal Patterns.” International Journal of Obesity, vol. 38, no. 5, 2014, pp. 643–49, doi:10.1038/ijo.2013.159.
Popkin, Barry M. “The Public Health Implications of Fast-Food Menu Labeling.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine, vol. 43, no. 5, 2012, pp. 569–70, doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2012.08.006.
