Letters for Zerrius

Since I raised my children in America, I know there are parts of the food culture in America that I have passed along that aren’t that good. You have heard me complain about having to figure out what is for dinner. An important life lesson is: with freedom comes choice. Sometimes, you are lucky enough to have too many choices.

Since I like my writing to be organized, I am going to pretend there are three things to consider about food. Bear in mind that there are lots of thing to consider about food, so don’t limit the way you think about it to only what I say here¹This is true for all the Life Hacks..

The purpose of Food is Nourishment

We must eat to survive. What we choose to eat has a direct influence on how we survive and how we feel. However, there is a lot of hype in the media about what things are “good” or “bad” for us. The Theys of the world always seem to want to find a perfect food that is all you should eat all the time. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way.

A couple of good rules to remember, to focus on the nourishing aspects of food, include:

• Hunger doesn’t have to be bad.
• Being hungry can get in the way of how you do in classes. Keep that in mind.
• Try to get protein in your diet a couple of times a week.
• Chicken is not the only form of protein and probably should not be an every day food.
• If you listen to your body after a meal, it will tell you what worked and what didn’t in nourishing you.
• Every day foods include:
  1. Fruits and/or vegetables
  2. A little fat
  3. A little dairy
• Carbs aren’t bad for everyone in moderation.
• Very few foods are all good or all bad.
• Moderation is an important skill.
• If you eat too little, you will be tired.
• If you eat too much, you will be tired.
• Garlic, onions, tomatoes, and cheese are an excellent way to start many a dish.
• Don’t be afraid to experiment.
• Almost no one in Virginia makes everything from scratch²We don’t kill the animal, prepare it to be cookable food, prepare it to be cooked, grind the flour from the wheat in our back yard, extract the sugar from cane or beats, or a whole host of other things that have to happen in order to cook recipes. In truth, a single person wouldn’t have time to do all that to feed themselves. That is OK. It is good to start with ingredients and make the dishes that nourish your body and your mind..

The pleasure of Food is multifaceted.

First, there is the pleasure we get when we reencounter a favorite food. For example, when we go to Indiana and get to have Arni’s pizza again — that first bite is amazing. It is supposed to be amazing. But, it isn’t only amazing because you may like the way Arni’s sauce taste. Along with the experience of the food, there is the memory of who you have eaten this pizza with and what occasions we celebrated³Pizza in the Park will always be some of my favorite memories of taking you to see Grandpa..

Second, consider the pleasure of the food itself. Do you like the way it smells? Do you like the texture? Do you like the color? Have your opinions about a food changed over time?

Additionally, when we gather to eat in community, this is a different pleasure of food. Sometimes it is because YOU made it for someone who asked for it⁴It was my great pleasure to make all your requested foods before you left for college. This is one reason why feasts appear in many cultures. The coming together with loved ones to celebrate food — perhaps by eating too much — is an occasion. Not every day. So please don’t think you need to eat a seven course meal every day. Let occasions BE occasions and remember – food is first for nourishment.

The freedom of choice with Food brings great responsibilities.

One of my favorite memes is the one where the mom says, “They expect you to feed them EVERY day!” Now that is on you. You are lucky that you are transitioning into Adulting stopping at a college with a great dining hall and many choices on your swipes. But, going forward, it is going to be on YOU that YOU choose the foods that keep your mind and body functioning.

Remember to be open to trying new things. I didn’t taste Sushi until my late 20s. I was resistant because it looked scary. It still looks kind of weird to me, but it is delicious!

Enjoy the opportunities you find about food, but remember. Sometimes, it is ok to be a little hungry⁵Not thirsty though. And you shouldn’t believe everything you read about food — even in Life Hacks.