Does Food News = Diet News?

The word “food” like any other word, can carry a meaning completely different for one person than another. Definitions are specific to context and time period. When I think of food, I am reminded of the colorful array of dishes on a table filled with my family members. I remember the many different vegetables used to prepare the entrees and the significance of food to my culture and religion. In order to determine if this view is shared by my peers, I used sources whose purpose is to report on events about the people to the people. I referenced many news websites and found some interesting articles about food. If one were to search the term “food” on CNN, US News & World Report, MSNBC, and The New York Times, the results show a complete lack of appreciation for food, its preparation, and the artists that create it. Of the first few articles that come up after the search, all of the sources apply some negative label on food in these articles. Foods linked to erectile dysfunction and digging your grave with your spoon is the subject of some of the articles in these news sources. It is a disappointment that we do not celebrate food and its preparation, which requires hard work and is an art.

During this week, we discussed candy and to some candy is a weakness due to its link to tooth decay and high sugar content. Yet we as a class discussed the preparation of candy and the chemistry associated with it and a balance of food appreciation and awareness was created in our discussion of licorice. We learned that licorice has positive benefits with Addison’s disease but its excessive consumption has negative effects. So, the reader must learn that moderation supersedes all other aspects of food and allows the diversity of food to flourish in our community. Food creates a group environment and, in my opinion, one should have a taste of each dish while sitting at the dining table but once the meal is over, one should also explore the gym.