Eating - we all do it. We either eat or die. That's pretty simple. But for most of us that's where the thought process about food ends. We eat because we have to but mostly because it makes us feel good. There's nothing more satisfying than the full feeling after we have been hungry. It creates a sense of well being and grounds us. Ah, yes. It doesn't get any better than this. But have you ever thought about why you eat what you eat? Or when, or what types of food? Or who you eat with (or without), or even where you eat? Me either until recently. Food is a huge part of every culture on this earth. And along with the food itself there are rituals that tag along. Many times culture dictates a person's diet. Other times social or economic reasons prevail. But whatever the reasons, our sustenance is as natural for us as breathing the air. In the time of Neanderthal man, I doubt there was much thought on the matter of nutrition. It was probably a case of eat or be eaten. He had to maintain his strength to survive. Survival, after all, is the most basic of instincts. Somewhere along the way I see him using a small animal to bait a larger one - the crudest form of trapping, thus ensuring another day's food to continue in his journey. I'm sure they discovered that to band together improved their chances of making it to tomorrow. Without the benefit of language, it must have been difficult for them to understand the feelings they might have to envy someone else's belongings, however scant. We imagine cavemen as being a savage and brutal lot, but who knows really? Did they fight over food and who would get it? Or were they the ones who invented the barter system? I'll trade you this hunk of meat for that fur. It could have happened that way. In fact, I feel certain it did. I feel confident in saying that because food and survival are so basic it makes no sense to disregard that possibility. Neanderthal currency may have been food and used for basic creature comforts - furs and sex top my list. To me it seems it had to begin that way. The food for sex barter is still in use today. We call it dating. The old dinner, movie and sex routine. It almost seems that it is ingrained so deep within us that it might be in our genes at a cellular memory level perhaps. Food has so many facets to its personality that the meaning gets lost in translation. It is passion for some, demon for others. Myriad symbolic forms press on us and mold our ideas about food. It is habit, life, excitement and ritual all rolled up into one neat package. Rituals comfort us. They define our humanity. Furthermore they express our conviction that we are a civilized brood, not animal or savage as we view the cave dwellers. But no matter the elaborate symbolism, whether it be social, cultural, religious or emotional, its relevance binds us at a soul level. Imagine a social gathering with no food. Quite an appalling thought, isn't it? Certain cultural and religious events wouldn't even exist without food. And the emotional bond to food is perhaps even greater than all the ones mentioned before it. For me there is deep meaning and significance in a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. I can't pinpoint the exact meaning. I think it might have been when I was very young. But when I smell turkey cooking and then enjoy the meal itself, I am brought to a safe place within my soul. I doubt it is coincidence. It happens every time for me. Emotional bonds to food can be greater than addictions to drugs or alcohol. Here we are at this time in history nearly panicked about the swine flu pandemic and this country has the worst obesity epidemic in the world. Again, it's a cultural thing. We've become a lazy nation who allows ourselves (and our children) the luxury of eating out all the time unconcerned about the kinds of foods we are taking in. Pre-packaged foods are opted for instead of home cooked meals. The list of 'progressive' ideas goes on ad nauseum. The plain truth to me is that it isn't so much what we eat that's harming us, it's what is eating at us. We celebrate everything with food. Birthdays, funerals, happy days, holy days, holidays... We eat comfort foods to soothe us, we prepare foods to impress others, we give food to the needy. It is the universal currency dating back to when we realized we had to eat to survive. No matter the social, economic, cultural, religious or emotional ties, food is still the best thing since... no wait... sliced bread wasn't there at the beginning... OK, now I'm baffled. I say... Let them eat cake!!! (and various other eye candy delights)... Enjoy... See you at the fulfillment...
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