First World Food

Living in any first world nation allows most of the populace to exist in relative comfort. One of the more basic comforts in our world is food. Now, food is a necessity in life and regretfully many around the world, including in the US, deal with hunger. As sad as that is it is not my focus today as my curiosity has beckoned me to the choices we who have access to any food stuff make. 

In the news there are stories about food almost constantly. From morning news programs with cooking segments to nightly warnings about food and in between are interest pieces about kitsch dining options that seem to enthrall public sentiment. I read recently that we're in the middle of a burger craze. I've always been crazy about burgers but now it's the cool thing to eat. Like the cupcake fetish it appears that we're treating food with the same attitude as music or clothing. Or any other entertainment or personalization avenues for that matter. 

Why though? Why is food becoming this thing we use to identify and aide our attempts at expression. Did people recently find out that burgers were delicious? Is this push back from the flood of people who don't eat red meat for some ungodly reason? And why aren't people eating red meat? Why weren't they eating egg yolks years ago? It can't be health reasons. We all do things that are unhealthy and far worse than eating red meat. Moreover, unless you're growing and making your own food (which I know people who do) you can't complain about red meat. So what are the answers to these questions? Honestly, I think there's only one answer. We live in the first world.

There are vegans who have said that the whole world should stop eating meat and only eat organic food. Scientists have said that half the world would starve if that happened. Now, these aren't exact quotes so don't get mad, but lets run with this premise. Why would people say that we should stop eating meat and nonorganic food? Because they live in the first world. Being a vegan is part of their identity that they chose. Much like the cupcake and burger crazes, much like not eating yolks or red meat, people are making their food choices based off of their identities. I know some people can't eat certain things for health reasons, like red meat doesn't bode we'll for people with gastrointestinal issues, as well as other health problems. But most people let food shape their identity by choice. It's a way of expressing ourselves and embracing our as well as other cultures.

So when I see people lining up at a food truck during lunch or heading to some of the more famous restaurants around Boston, I wonder whether they like it there, want to try it or want to incorporate it into their identity. Maybe a combination or maybe all three or maybe it's just close and they're hungry.