Article Writing

GSSC 1183 – Food & the City

My Food Philosophy Food, at its base, is a nutritional substance to provide our bodies with energy (Oxford American Dictionary, 2018). In reality, it is so much more than that. From food differing between cultures, food as a means to socialization, and even food to cope with emotional trauma, it is everywhere, and it is something that we all need. Over time, based on different life experiences and personal taste preferences, everyone develops their own food philosophy. My food philosophy is to support local food businesses, to eat tasty foods and try new things, and to enjoy food as a group and make it a social event. As far as my own personal relationship with food, it has changed and developed over the years. From poor eating habits in high school due to low self-esteem to now where I can eat (mostly) guilt free. Working in bakeries and kitchens has taught me how to be positive about trying new foods and makes me feel empowered by successfully creating new dishes. I love being surrounded by like-minded individuals who are just as passionate about food as I am, and people with whom I can bounce new ideas off of. For me, the most important thing about food is its social aspect. Recently, I met with a friend and we made homemade mozzarella for the first time and put it on homemade pizzas. We spent hours talking, laughing, and sharing stories over pizza. Not only did it fill my belly, but it also filled my soul. In terms of what makes a good meal, I think that spreading the meal out over time is important. This goes along with the social aspect of eating. By taking your time with a meal, having different courses and truly tasting each individual bite and component of the food you are eating is such a rewarding experience. A study done by Dunbar (2017) discovered that people “who eat socially more often feel happier and are more satisfied with life, are more trusting of others, are more engaged with their local communities, and have more friends they can depend on for support.” I have to agree with this statement based on my personal experience. I often meet with friends for dinner, whether we go to a restaurant or make food at one of our houses, it is always an enjoyable experience to gather and share food. A local farm on Amherst Island strongly believes in these rewarding experiences developed through socialization through food. Topsy Farms recently organized a Foragers Retreat and Dinner where participants were taught how to forage in the nearby forest for their communal dinner which was then prepare by a Red Seal trained chef (Topsy Farms, 2018). Based on what I have seen on social media, the event seemed to be a big hit amongst participants. This kind of dinner where you gather your own food, prepare it only hours later, and eat it as a group is something so basic and yet romantic. Nowadays, people are constantly on the go or preoccupied with social media to turn their attention to slowing down with their food. This way of thinking can also be related to the Slow Food Movement which originated in Italy. The organization relies on three pillars to keep clear objectives: good, clean, and fair food. Slow Food followers believe that everyone deserves food that tastes good, that the food people is

GSSC 1183 – Food & the City

produced in a way that does not harm the environment, and that food producers should receive fair compensation for their work. Slow Food has been promoted as an alternative to fast food. (Slow Food, 2018) I appreciate the Slow Food Movement and learning more about it has allowed me to view my food and where it comes from in a simpler way. This movement has made me want to be conscious of my food waste, to use ingredients to their fullest capabilities, and to make delicious homemade meals to share. Although I certainly enjoy healthy and homemade foods, I also frequently enjoy junk food. I choose what to eat based on my mood. I eat through my eyes, and if I’m grocery shopping and see a piece of meat, vegetable, fruit, or cheese on sale, I will buy it because I know I can figure out something to make using it. If something catches my eye in the store and looks tasty (and is not too expensive), it is likely that I will buy it. Another way in how I choose what I eat is the price point. I want food that I like eating, but I do not want to be spending too much as I am on a student budget. This can be difficult sometimes, but I do tend to splurge and treat myself if the moment is right. My relationship with food in my family is positive as we all love to eat and try new things. My parents have always encouraged me to have a varied palete by introucing me to different ethnic foods. Even if I did not like them as a child, I likely enjoy eating them now and certainly appreciate their efforts. My parents also always encouraged eating together at the table for dinner every night. This is something that I wish I did more of when living alone (rather than sitting in front of the TV watching Netflix), but it is a tradition I will continue to enforce when I have children of my own. A study done at Michigan State University by Earnesty & Kurecka (2016) describes a number of reasons why eating together as a family is beneficial such as building closer relationships, improving cooking skills, stability, and saving money to name a few. In the past few years, I’ve started cooking for my parents more and more. Cooking is something that I enjoy doing and I know how exhausted my parents are when they come home from work and that having a meal checked off their to-do list is very welcomed. As far as local communities go, I like supporting locally owned restaurants. I would much rather go to some of my favourite small restaurants than a Kelsey’s or Montana’s. I appreciate restaurants that support other local producers and businesses. According to Nation’s Restaurant News, “both traffic and revenue growth among independent restaurants is outperforming chains” (Jennings, 2017). I also managed a seasonal restaurant on Amherst Island where I had the opportunity to connect with so many Islanders through food. The restaurant, The Back Kitchen, is the only restaurant on the island of 400 residents. It is a community café where Island groups are able to meet and purchase coffee or food. Developing a better relationship with my community by means of food was gratifying to me, and I hope to work there again. My relationship with food beyond my community is not something I think of, but of course my eating and buying habits affect a plethora of people. At the grocery store, I usually purchase whatever is cheapest or on sale, although I do try to pay attention to the country of origin and favour Canadian products over the USA or China.

GSSC 1183 – Food & the City

In general my food philosophy is to support local foods businesses, to eat tasty foods (preferrably homemade), and to enjoy food as a group and make it a social event. The culmulative experiences that I have gathered throughout my life have led me to this food philosophy. My parents, my friends and classmates, my class status, and my university experience where I learned more about slow food have all combined to shape this food philosophy.

GSSC 1183 – Food & the City

Bibliography

Dunbar, R. I. (2017). Breaking Bread: the Functions of Social Eating. Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology, 198–211.

Earnesty, D., & Kurecka, S. (2016). The importance of mealtime. Retrieved from Michigan State University Extension: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/the_importance_of_mealtime

Jennings, L. (2017). Report: Consumers prefer independent restaurants over chains. Retrieved from Nation's Restaurant News: https://www.nrn.com/consumer-trends/report- consumers-prefer-independent-restaurants-over-chains

Oxford American Dictionary. (2018). Oxford American Dictionary. Slow Food. (2018). Slow Food. Retrieved from Slow Food: https://www.slowfood.com/ Topsy Farms. (2018). Events. Retrieved from Topsy Farms: https://topsyfarms.com/foragers-

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