How does food connect to identity? (Critical Summary)

  Summary #1

After some extensive research, I came across a blog called, “Our Little Roses Blog“. While browsing the website there was a post named, “Embracing Cultural Identity in Children Through Food”. The post talks about how food plays a role in shaping the youth’s cultures. It talks about the development of their personal beliefs, customs, and values. In my opinion I believe this statement to be true, because from my own experiences certain have played a huge part in my life, and even represent sentimental moments in my life, and helped me create many more. I believe food can play a part in different aspects of our lives. The post states “Culture is an integral part of our development. It helps us differentiate ourselves from other social groups and gives us a sense of belonging to our environment. Cultural identity refers to values, ideologies, and customs that make us recognize ourselves as part of a community.” The post continues to say,“Having cultural identity helps us recognize others, encourages curiosity about other cultures, and fosters creativity. It is essential for children to develop a cultural identity early. Introducing them to traditional foods from their culture is a great way to embrace their cultural heritage.” In class we talk a lot about how food connects to our identity, and how it’s impact manifests itself in our everyday norms. These quotes only convey the message that food and culture can bring a sense of community and allow us as a unit to explore new things and people. 

 

BLOG SOURCE: https://www.ourlittleroses.org/blog/embracing-cultural-identity-in-children-through-food/

Summary #2

            Another article I read was about how food can define your social status in America. The text “What Food Says About Class in America”, basically explains how what you put into your body, and how you handle your food can affect how you present yourself, and how others see you. For example, it talks about the locavore movement stating, “the locavore movement a national phenomenon, and believes that eating organically and locally contributes not only to the health of her family but to the existential happiness of farm animals and farmers—and, indeed, to the survival of the planet.” The quote conveys the message that, depending on what food you eat can determine the outcome of your future. The article also states “Over coffee, I cautiously raise a subject that has concerned me of late: less than five miles away, some children don't have enough to eat; others exist almost exclusively on junk food. Alexandra concedes that her approach is probably out of reach for those people. Though they are not wealthy by Park Slope standards—Alexandra works part time and Dave is employed by the city—the Fergusons spend approximately 20 percent of their income, or $1,000 a month, on food. The average American spends 13 percent, including restaurants and takeout. And so, the conversation turns to the difficulty of sharing their interpretation of the Pollan doctrine with the uninitiated. When they visit Dave's family in Tennessee, tensions erupt over food choices. One time, Alexandra remembers, she irked her mother-in-law by purchasing a bag of organic apples, even though her mother-in-law had already bought the nonorganic kind at the grocery store. The old apples were perfectly good, her mother-in-law said. Why waste money—and apples?” These people are clearly using food as a way to connect to social/financial classes. An although this may seem very ignorant to say, some of what they are saying has some truth, a person making $1000 a month, isn’t exactly eating lobster for dinner. But I don’t think people of low class, should be looked down upon or shamed for the things their eating.

NEWS ARTICLE: https://www.newsweek.com/what-food-says-about-class-america-69951

 

Summary #3

                  In the video Palestinian and Israeli Food Cultures Grand Challenge Seminar was about a culinary class. The class allowed students to explore each other's culture, it also allows them to connect with guest speakers as well. The entire video shows how just being able to sit down and cook different foods, sparked lots of conversation and gave those students a comfortable environment to express their feelings. I really liked this video because not everyone has a safe space to speak their mind, this also seemed very fun, especially for someone like me who love experimenting.

 

VIDEO SOURCE: https://youtu.be/SP9TVb_DZYM

Reflection 

                  This project was very difficult for me at first, because I simply did not know what to write about. I went from processed food to; how does food connect to mental health? To the simple topic of food and Identity. At first, I was a little iffy because I feel as if I’m talking in circles when it comes to this topic. I asked myself a lot what more could I possibly have to say about food and identity? And I realized a lot of the time I spoke on how food impacted your health, and the ingredients that were put into certain foods. I never wrote about how food sometimes brought unity, communication, or how people perceived or identified with each other. And that was my main goal for this project.

                  This project helped me learn how to elaborate, not just with talking about food, but in any subject really. I’ve always had trouble with elaboration and going into detail about things. This project allowed me to push my thinking and opened me up to some new thinking strategies. For example, I used the 10-n-1 method to help me with my second summary. This project also helped me with my comprehension skills, a lot of the time when I read things, I have a hard time retaining the information, it goes through one ear and out the other. This project allowed me to take notes and actually study what I was reading and helped me better my annotation skills.