Comments on: The Meaning of Food

By: Jenz Johnson

Jenz Johnson — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 13:50:55 +0000

I liked this article. What I find also very interesting is how food has become more mobile
. There’s a new strata of mobile bohemian (mobo) that is eating on the run. Why have a dinner of say pizza, when you can have pizza, eggrolls, and frozen yogurt? All within reach. All close and reachable. You have to be mobile. But, our food culture not supports curb service and food to go. See: Everything’s To Go

I say this because I’ve been elbow deep in fryers (so to speak) for a while. Just recently been swept up by the whole incredible reach of the mobo culture.

Anyway, your thoughts?

-JJ

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:47:02 +0000

Actually, brown rice is more expensive than white rice; this has been my experience throughout my time in Portugal, Scotland, and the United States. Why? Economic rational. Brown rice is less labor intensive, but there is less of it on the global market. Result: prices can be kept high.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Kosher restrictions were
Kosher restrictions were never about hygiene. THere are tons of foods that can kill you that are perfectly kosher — including beef (e. coli) and any poisonous plant you can imagine.

But kosher rules mean you’re Jewish — even today. Many Jews, even not particularly observant ones, find the taste or idea of shellfish disgusting, That’s meaning.

There is not a single culture in the world that makes use of all the sources of “protein, fat, carbohydrate” in its environment. Every culture defines some sort of perfectly edible, in the abstract sense, food as “not food”. That’s meaning.

Superstition is “my neighbor’s religion” — that is, whatever others do that we don’t is easily branded and dismissed as superstition. No culture does (or does not do) anything because they’re too stupid to figure out “the right thing”. That’s meaning, too.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

I live in Thailand… I’ve
I live in Thailand… I’ve eaten more white rice than any American on the planet in almost four years of living here. Thai Jasmine Rice is amazing. It’s fragrant, it’s light tasting. You can eat anything with it and it’s complimented by the food… however, brown rice tastes brown. Thais’ haven’t eaten brown rice for many decades.

It’s like – why doesn’t Italy switch to brown bread?

Why don’t Americans stop eating white bread? Brown bread is more nutritious.

It TASTES different.

Obviously there is still a choice. They have white rice to eat… if it’s all gone – they’d eat brown rice. Like Americans would eat brown bread.

Am I making any sense to anyone?

LOL. It’s late…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Reminds me of the Vikings of
Reminds me of the Vikings of Greenland.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

I agree with you. The food
I agree with you. The food choice is not based on self-esteem. There are many psychological and physiological factors as well as personal history.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

I would disagree with your
I would disagree with your characterization of human taboos and beliefs about food as being or having “meaning”. Some mean something , such as the biblical and quoranic admonishments against eating pork, to prevent “unclean” schistosomiasis. Since the disease has largely been eliminated in modern pork factories, the taboo is now just another food superstition, like most food beliefs, from rhino horn fetishes, to red wine with red meat. As the menu in most of China indicates, if it has protein, fat, carbohydrate, it’s edible. There may be some ritual superstition to be followed, ala Martha Stewart or Chef Elmo, but then it’s chow time.