Running head: Food for Thought 1

Food for Thought

Dana A. Del Rio

Chandler-Gilbert Community College

Food for Thought 2

Its an antidote, an elixir, and a necessity. It is the very substance that sustains humans,

animals and plant life. Already there is an awe that surrounds this comestible, but food is so

much more. When I researched the word food I learned the word has not one but thirteen

different origins. The Latin origin for food has the most words. Latin pabulum "food, fodder,"

panis "bread," pasci "to feed," pascare "to graze, pasture, feed," pastor "shepherd," literally

"feeder;" (Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2017). Now that we have and

understanding of where the word food comes from, lets take a closer look at how food brings us

together on a micro level.

I will start with me, or more importantly my family. In an effort to raise our children in a

traditional Mexican home and a desire to keep our culture front and center we as a family

practiced sobremesa- a stretch of time after the meal when the entire family, no excuses, stays

seated and talks (Pope & Drake, 2014). In our home this happened nightly at the dining room

table, with all of the electronics to include the television far away. We first prayed that we had

been blessed with our meal and then we ate. This time together was intentional. This was a time

when we as a family came together daily not only to feed our bodies but more importantly to

nourish our souls.

When we think about nourishing our souls, we cant help but think about not only

ourselves but more importantly sharing a meal with others. As a society, we love to share food.

Some examples in which we see this can be when extended families come together for a weekly

meal, or when we invite our friends over to enjoy a dish. Or how about when new neighbors

move into a community and the people living next door show up with a plate of cookies to
Food for Thought 3

welcome and introduce themselves. Food is a binding substance during these types of

encounters.

Events and celebrations can be other ways in which food brings people together. Some

examples are weddings, bar mitzvahs, quinceaneras, and/or Chinese New Year. At these

festivities pallets are tantalized with not only familiar items but also with new and exotic fare.

When we enjoy a meal from another culture for instance India, we are brought closer to the

Indian culture. This creates a bond between cultures that may not have happened if not for the

food that was shared.

Food is a way for us to be exposed to other peoples cultures sharing in their

values and beliefs. When we open our table to others or they open theirs for us we are building

relationships of love and trust. Looking deeper into how countries savor food can teach us quite a

bit about the place before we even arrive. In France, takeout food is a rarity. For the people of

France mealtimes are a time of relaxation with lunches lasting at least an hour daily. Italians have

a motto that food is love followed by nutrition, history and pleasure.

So, what happens when we move out of our native environments and into a place

completely unknown to us and our pallets? There are four stages that one usually goes through

when moving to a new place and experiencing new food fare. The first phase is considered the

stage of adventure. This is the phase when we are usually eager to try new items. The second

step is when one is struggling to embrace the new food items presented. The third phase is the

phase in which one goes back to purchasing or eating only what is familiar to them. Lastly comes

the final phase in which one accepts the new item choices they have been exposed to equally

with what they are familiar with. In an effort for countries to share their food with the globe

which in turn helps to keep their cultures and customs alive, unique programs have been set up.
Food for Thought 4

Gastrodiplomacy initiatives are government funded programs that are helping

individuals to communicate their culture and identity through food. The first country to

implement this type of program was Thailand. The Global Thai program was launched in 2002.

The premise was to build the number of Thai restaurants worldwide by providing small

affordable loans and grants to Thailand natives. When the program was first introduced in 2002

there were around 5000 Thai eateries worldwide. By 2013 there were more than 10,000 Thai

restaurants throughout the world. This is just one of the ways we see the power of food and its

ability to forge relationships.

Another movement to ensure that cultural food values do not get lost in the wake of

globalization is through classes. One can go in and sign up for a class to learn how to make a

meal that is immigrant led. Not only are you taught how to make the specific dish, you are also

taught about the food cultures that are associated with the recipe you are learning to make. At

Global Kitchen in New York City a trained chef will teach a class on a traditional meal that is

common in their home country. There will also be cultural elements brought in to the class. For

example, in the Ethiopian class the chef perform an Ethiopian coffee ceremony. The coffee

ceremony is meant to signify friendship and hospitality to those you are welcoming into your

home. (Selim, 2014)

And finally, for those that have not only have the desire to eat amazing new dishes from

across the globe we now have a growing number of options to book culinary vacations in which

one learns how to make some pretty amazing feasts. These types of field trips can be found as

close as Dallas Texas or Napa Valley and as far away as Burgundy France. Keep in mind you will

work, as chefs stand more than one who sits for most the day at a desk. You will also enjoy the
Food for Thought 5

benefits of eating-which I believe for most is why we would want to go on this type of vacation

in the first place. (Smith, 2001)

It is said that the way to win peoples hearts is through their stomachs. I believe this to be

a true statement. I recently asked a senior leader what she thought about someone that I was not

familiar with at my firm. Her response was this she would not be someone I would break bread

with. To break bread together (Pope, V, 2014 p. 46) is still being used today in both our words

and our actions and food continues to be the glue for both.
 Food for Thought 6

References

Pope, Victoria, and Carolyn Drake. "The Communal Table." National Geographic Magazine Dec.
2014: 54+. National Geographic Virtual Library. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.
URL
http://natgeo.galegroup.com/natgeo/archive/FeatureArticlesDetailsPage/FeatureArticlesDetailsW
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Features&currPage=1&scanId=&query=OQE+communal+table&search_within_results=&p=N
GMA&mode=view&catId=&limiter=&display-
query=OQE+The+communal+table&displayGroups=&contentModules=&action=e&sortBy=&d
ocumentId=GALE
%7CKMDWLH898065895&windowstate=normal&activityType=BasicSearch&failOverType=
&commentary=&source=Bookmark&prodId=NGMA&u=mcc_main
Gale Document Number: GALE|KMDWLH898065895

Pope, Victoria. "The Joy of Food: Bringing Family and Friends Together." National Geographic
Magazine Dec. 2014: 37+. National Geographic Virtual Library. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.
URL
http://natgeo.galegroup.com/natgeo/archive/FeatureArticlesDetailsPage/FeatureArticlesDetailsW
indow?disableHighlighting=false&displayGroupName=NatGeo-
Features&currPage=1&scanId=&query=OQE+joy+food&search_within_results=&p=NGMA&
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mentId=GALE
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Smith, S. (2001). Feed Your Fantasy. FSB: Fortune Small Business, 11(3),
109.http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fsb/fsb_archive/2001/04/01/300160/index.htm

Selim, L. (2014, January). Leah Selim: Food is not only culture, its diplomacy [Video
file].Retrieved from https://tedcity2-dev.ted.com/talks/177/