Food for thought

You are what you eat

The phrase “You are what you eat” is an old one, but is heard more often now that we are becoming increasingly aware of just what constitutes a healthy diet. Those who imbibe mostly fruits, veggies and grains while limiting animal products and eschewing sweets and junk food should be able, we are told, to avoid certain diseases and enjoy better health in general.

In addition to this physical interpretation of the saying, there is another meaning that is just as relevant; the sociological implication. Tell me what you eat and I can make a good guess at your lifestyle, your income level, your attitude toward environmental matters and maybe even your political leanings. I'd venture to say that what you eat can reflect your whole philosophy of life.

OK – now I'd better be prepared to back up what I've said and give examples.

Let's take that healthy food. It's generally agreed that the Mediterranean diet is the ideal for westerners, but it's how it is prepared that says a lot about you. For example, I had a meal a while ago at a restaurant belonging to a group of establishments that promise to serve local, organic food. Well, yes, I suppose, but here's what I ate. The salad came first, a mix of uninspired greens and carrot chunks covered with a yogurt dressing. Fat-free yogurt, no oil, nothing to give it pizazz like lemon juice, herbs or even salt. Moving on to the main course, I made my way through a tasteless fish and its rice accompaniment. Booorrriing. And not even healthy. Carrots need to be grated if they are raw to expose as much surface as possible to the oil necessary to absorb carotene, the precursor of Vitamin A. Naturally, there needs to be oil in the dressing for this to happen. Olive oil is heart-healthy; no need to omit it. No reason not to marry the fish to lemon juice and herbs, or cook it in wine. To present healthy food that is not tasty is a sacrilege!

As it is a restaurant using local, seasonal products, the owners are concerned about the health of the patrons and of  the environment as well, but in a dreary, self-sacrificing way. This fits the picture society used to have of  “tree-huggers”, or as the Swiss say, “hand-knit” people. I guess there are still those who see living in a way that is healthy for the self and for the environment as a sacrifice, doing without.

It doesn't have to be this way. When I went to the Saturday morning market in the next town this morning I picked up organic red potatoes, small sweet carrots, asparagus, red chicory and parsnips.  Tonight I will cut the potatoes, carrots and parsnips in chunks, mix with olive oil and salt and roast them in the oven until they are soft inside and a bit crisp outside. The chicory will become the basis for a tasty salad (with olive oil!), lemon juice, pumpkin seeds and radishes. Tomorrow I will simmer salmon in a little wine, mustard, salt and lemon juice, cook the asparagus and some rice and grate carrots for a salad topped with chopped almonds. Eating healthily is joyful!

This is just fine, you say, if you have a market with fresh produce in the neighborhood and if you can afford organic food. It is a sad fact – outrageous actually – that the poor in the United States can only afford processed food, because it is made of subsidized raw materials. They are not in a position to choose foods that reflect their philosophy of life – they are just trying to get as many calories for as cheap a price as possible. Their diet, heavy in fat  and sugar, is the opposite of the boring meal in the restaurant above, but both reflect a skewed attitude toward that which feeds us – not only physically. The  agriculture and food processing industries as well as politics play an enormous part in creating this situation. But that's a subject for another post.