Why I Love Food

Food, who doesn’t love it? The delectable, timeless, varying forms of cuisine never seem to fail my taste buds and the dopamine flood that follows each bite, sip, or mouthful. Whether the cuisine represents a culture, a TikTok trend, or a generational recipe, adapted from generation to generation, I can never get enough of it. My mother seemingly agrees with this statement; often labeling me as a black hole, garbage disposal, or an animal each time I eat an inhumane amount of food in front of her, which is basically on the daily. The only caveat is the dent–sorry, the sinkholes that food expenses leave in my wallet every week. But enough about the bad, let’s understand further why the art of culinary is so great, especially in my life.

1. The Significance of Eating Food

To elaborate on some subjects I just mentioned, food is so much more than mere carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, sugars, fibers, water, lipids, proteins, and starches. Beyond the literal formulation of food, the figurative and sentimental value is globally significant. The cultural significance subsequently resembles the history, hardships, and preferences of many cultures. But throughout all, ethnic dishes and acclimations remain prominent as time continues to pass. Directly related to this, is how something as simple as food, can bring both communities and people together. A minute example I can provide is the dinners I share with my family. My mother, originating from El Salvador, can luckily whip up some outstanding ethnic food (my opinion might be slightly biased, but take my word). Each dinner allows for catching up with family members, sharing laughs, and creating memories while enjoying the meal at hand. As for society, it is mainly in city life or suburban areas, where food markets and restaurants allow others to recognize and appreciate the cuisine of a plethora of alternate regions, cultures, and locations. Included with this consumption of food is the consumption of cash. According to the United States States Department of Agriculture, U.S. food and agricultural industries are responsible for more than $8.6 trillion (nearly 20%) of our country’s economic activity. As well as roughly 23 million jobs (15% of U.S. employment) are supported by these industries. Food and agricultural industries are vital and major benefactors to our economy.

2. I Enjoy Cooking, so much so it is My Current Job to Make and Eat Food

I get paid to make and eat food. Okay, maybe it is not that simple but still. I am a culinary instructor at a Montessori-inspired cooking academy called Little Kitchen Academy where I teach ages 3 through 18 how to cook. Although I plan to enter the field of cybersecurity, I genuinely enjoy guiding the students through the recipes in their custom chef coats, Birkenstocks, and personal kitchens. I was an assistant teacher at a preschool last summer so I do not mind children usually, and I cook for myself often or for my family once in a blue moon so the job just works well for me. Teaching the safety, values, and importance of learning how to cook to illiterate three-year-olds just really highlights the power that it holds for me. The only thing that brought me together in a community at that age, minus the life lessons and more applicable skills, was sports.

3. Its Nutritional Value

It is likely common knowledge at this point, but, the human body requires nourishment from foods and beverages. As you may have seen in my previous blog post, I am very keen on diet and proper nutrition. I will not delve too deeply into this subject but in case you want to learn more about why I avoid seed oils, sugars, and most processed foods feel free to check that blog post out. Anyways, without food, you simply could not survive. Without indulging in vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables, protein-rich meats and fish, and most whole foods your health would be quite terrible. To be more specific, I aim to meet certain protein goals, water intake, and consume daily a multivitamin, fish oil, vitamin D, beta carotene, BCAA’s all in the pill form, and two tablespoons of sea moss gel with ashwagandha. Although the sea moss gel makes me want to throw up each time and many supplements are a hassle on top of my already good diet, it is what must be done to meet my goals.

4. How These Values Directly Benefit Me

But what are these goals of mine you may ask? Well mainly for my sport of lacrosse, progress in the gym, and general health/well-being is why I am so appreciative of food. It aids me throughout each of these goals while providing me with an enjoyable experience of tasting and discovering new foods and combinations. With each endless meal I consume I benefit my muscle development, which then aids in my strength and performance for lacrosse, all while nourishing my body and the goals I have. So the next time you have your next bite of food or sip of a beverage maybe consider being slightly more grateful for its history, significance, and value it has in the world.