As I was sitting in the cafeteria at work today, watching everyone eat their lunch and simultaneously watching "The Chew" on the cafeteria TV it dawned on me; we are a country obsessed with food! Do not get me wrong I am guilty as charged I love food, food shows, restaurants and cooking. I have even been called a "foodie" from time to time. But honestly when did food become such a big deal, such a way of life, so fashionable?
How many of you reading this right now have been literally elated about an upcoming dinner at a particular restaurant? How many of you have at least one show that is food related that you watch or DVR religiously? How many of you look forward to certain holidays only because of the food involved? The answer is EVERYONE, myself included.
America is a country obsessed with food, fashion and blowing everything out of proportion. We have entire channels that revolved around food and cooking it. Entire tours in the major cities, vacations planned around restaurants and eateries. Apps as far as you can scroll related to food and eating, no wonder our country has so many issues not only with obesity but with anorexia and other eating disorders. On one hand food and images of it are being shoved down your throat at every glance urging you to indulge. On the other hand are pictures of what every man and woman should look like and a reality show depicting their lives or how you can get their look.
At what point in time did food cease to become a way to nourish our bodies, something to be shared with our loved ones around a dinner table and become a complete way of life? New restaurant openings and Top Chef premieres are similar to the Tickle me Elmo toy craze, on a certain level it just doesn't make sense anymore. If you haven't tried the lastest trend you aren't even "cool".
This is not to say that food should not be enjoyed, that cooking and eating cannot be exciting or that there is anything wrong with liking Top Chef and being excited about an upcoming dinner. Guilty as charged to all of the above. But the next time you are obsessing over the latest trend to hit the food world or bribing the hostess to get seated at the new restaurant next door, take a step back to think when this all started? Surely our parents never engaged in food for recreation the way that we do. How many of our current food related behaviors are a result of the media and our society in general creating a need and thrill related to consuming food. If the media practiced some sort of moderation would that likely rub off on us as well?
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