Beauty In Burgers
English 105
American’s, including myself, have manipulated and reduced food into nothing more than a controlled chore. So many times we are told that eating emotionally is irrational, unhealthy and will only lead to weight gain; thus, decreasing our eligibility to be skinny, which then translates to not being beautiful. Instead we are told that we should approach food only by scientific means; in other words, by calorie counting, reading food labels, or researching our food before we eat. Our food culture is built on charts, Body Mass Index (BMI) tests, food pyramids, adds, and even apps that promote only this synthetic way of eating. Plain and simple, food is now only used as a tool to fill our bodies. Food is not appreciated for it’s enriching taste, for it’s family tradition or the fellowship it provides amongst friends. In David Zinczenko’s essay, “Don’t Blame the Eater,” Zinczenko claims that the solution to healthy eating is putting food labels and warnings on food. Although, Mark Bittman dives a little more into food as aesthetic, he is still hypocritical and judgmental of those who do not eat freshly made food. My view is that food is something to be enjoyed. Whether considered healthy or unhealthy, food is something that holds a sentimental value in our lives and in our relationships with others.
Zinczenko is a good example of those people who do not think of food as pleasing. Zinczenko argues that Americans, “particularly teenagers,” cannot eat due to “the lack of alternatives” to fast food restaurants and that “there are no… information charts on… packaging” to help them eat the right way (Zinczenko 392). In Zinczenko’s view, people (specifically rising generations) should not enjoy fast food because fast food is unhealthy and is the source of obesity. Therefore, fast food needs to be substituted by “grapefruits” (Zinczenko 392) instead. Basically, Zinczenko complains that there are more fast food restaurants down the streets instead of fruit venders (as if more fruit venders are going to change the way people feel about food). Even eating “a chicken salad,” according to Zinczenko, with “almonds and noodles… dressing…. that come in at 620 calories” is wrong because it is not the “recommended daily calorie intake” (Zinczenko 393). Eating, for Zinczenko, is a series of crunching statistics and number munching. In other words, Zinczenko believes that you can not take pleasure in eating if there is too much of one nutrient in your food, a.k.a calories. However, it is simply not true that you need to depict individual parts of food in order to eat happily. While it is true that eating bland food with less fat and calories will improve your health to some degree, it does not necessarily follow that you will live a full and happier life. Allowing yourself to choose want you want to eat empowers you to appreciate the food you love. Instead of being miserable eating a piece of tofu with no color, no flavor and no zest, you can enjoy the foods that you connect with and share them with others at the table. Over analyzing food ingredients only creates more work and frustration on the consumer and producer’s part. Food is an edible remembrance of times past. Food is to be eaten in thanksgiving and shared with others: not something to be limited and reduced into tool. In comparison, Bittman talks more about emotional ties to food, but still is hypocritical of those who eat fast food. Bittman argues that food is not always a “discipline” (Bittman). Food is a craving that can take place at any time, anywhere. For example, Bittman says, “I put on my running clothes, went out to the elevator… [then] decided… to [go] to the store, where I bought bagels, lox and cream cheese” instead. In place of keeping to his running schedule, Bittman craved a curious combination of food that “doesn’t even rate among [his] top 10 comfort foods” (Bittman). As Bittman further explains, this craving is rooted back to the days of when his father was a boy. Bittman’s grandfather would pick up bagels, lox and cream cheese for his family on Sunday mornings. Bittman’s father would pick up bagels, lox and cream cheese on Sunday mornings and even Bittman as a boy would pick up bagels, lox and cream cheese for his family on Sunday mornings. By this story, Bittman portrays food as something more than just an instrument of refueling: food is a family tradition. |
Bittman claims, “you don’t need a study to understand that for most of us the foods we come to love as children are the foods that will cry out to us for the rest of our lives” (Bittman). In other words, food has an emotional tie woven into our lives. Whether the food be macaroni and cheese, chocolate chip cookies, or even “turkey on the fourth Thursday of November,” food is an affectionate, enduring memory in our hearts (Bittman). Bittman displays that food is a family tradition even as far back as the pilgrims who celebrated Thanksgiving with the Indians.
However, Bittman is still hypocritical and judgmental of those who do not eat home cooked meals. Bittman claims that people should only feel nostalgic about “the special beans-and-gravy or roast chicken your grandmother made for you,” not fast food restaurants (Bittman). Bittman’s point is that people should not have sentimental feelings towards that half priced ice cream slushy from Sonic you love getting on Saturday nights with your friends. You should not crave that home-style fried chicken with waffle fries on the side you get from Chick-Fil-A every Wednesday night after Bible study. Bittman claims that it is a shame that we center our memories on fast food. By focusing on the contents of fast food, however, Bittman and Zinczenko fail to realize the fellowship and memories these savoring foods bring. In my own personal experience, I have spent many times in the back of I-Hop at midnight snacking on the most random thing you can order: fish and chips. Sitting at the same booth every time, we order two bins of coffee and have “drinking contests” to see who can get the most “wasted” while telling stupid but funny jokes. On late night theater performances, it is tradition to go to Denny’s and have one-person order the all you can eat hash brown platter to share with the whole group. When I go to visit my grandparents, Pawpaw always takes us out to Cold Stone, Dairy Queen or Bruster’s for his favorite ice cream. We stand in line, diligently observing the shining menu of flavored milkshakes, cones, and swirlies, waiting to sink our sweet tooth into that yummy goodness! Then when we finally get our treat, those few minutes of heavenly ice cream makes us forget all the family quarrels. Likewise, when mother did not have time to cook meals, our family bonded over the selections from the food court at Aviano Air Base. Walking into the food court was almost like walking home. Everyone we knew from school and work gathered here around six or seven. When life became one big rush of events that seemed to never end, we could not always have time to make home cooked meals. So our dinners were spent here, with the people we knew and loved. I could walk up to any fast food selection in the food court and recognize every single person who worked there. My friend Sadie worked at Popeyes, along with Sean and Anna Marie. At Taco Bell, was Lindsey, Matt, and Jessica. Burger King: Alexis and Ms. Roberta. Then when we take our place to eat, our friends surrounded us, walking up to our table and sliding over a chair to sit down. All of us exchange greetings, share the latest news on who is who and what is what. We gather in a common place to have communion and break biscuits from Popeye’s. Even as a college student, my sorority sisters, take us out on lunch dates to Sub-Way, Moe’s, Captain D’s and etc. to better acquaint ourselves and to see the people we really are. There is beauty even in the most unlikeliest of places: burger joints. In conclusion, Zinczenko argues that food should be nothing more than ingredient information on food labels. Food is to be eaten and not appreciated for its taste, according to Zinczenko; where as Bittman sees food as family tradition but should not be centered on fast food. Both Zinczenko and Bittman argue that there is no sentiment in these burger joints. I, however, believe food should be enjoyed, without judgment or fear, and shared in camaraderie with family, friends and the like. Food is not meant to be torn into individual ingredients that we pick out and throw away. Food is something to be appreciated in its entirety and meant to bring people together. Even burger joints posses memorable times shared in with others. |