Food: Nourishment, or Luxury?

[BookBeauty]

Most of us have heard the saying, ''You are what you eat,'' But how many of us really care?

It wasn't until more recently that I really took a look at my lifestyle, and diet, and decided to change it for the better.

I used to see food as a luxury rather than nourishment, and that everything that I ate had to be tasty. I no longer think this way, mostly because I've found that there really isn't anything I'm against taste-wise, except pickled seaweed. But, I'm sure there's a way to prepare it I haven't tried.

The beginning of good health for me was oatmeal. Plain and not packaged, I had thought it was bland and boring at first. But, eventually, my tastes changed, and if I could, I would eat oatmeal and oats with milk for every meal, with different variations. Sometimes I have.

How do you view what you eat? How important is nourishment? Deliciousness?

[Helga]

I try to make it a little bit of both but I guess it's more about taste than health. I don't like that saying 'you are what you eat' I eat french fries A LOT and I don't look like one. I drink up to 10 cups of coffee a day and I don't eat regularly it's mainly dinner and small meals whenever during the day.

[Darcy88]

Most of us have heard the saying, ''You are what you eat,'' But how many of us really care?

It wasn't until more recently that I really took a look at my lifestyle, and diet, and decided to change it for the better.

I used to see food as a luxury rather than nourishment, and that everything that I ate had to be tasty. I no longer think this way, mostly because I've found that there really isn't anything I'm against taste-wise, except pickled seaweed. But, I'm sure there's a way to prepare it I haven't tried.

The beginning of good health for me was oatmeal. Plain and not packaged, I had thought it was bland and boring at first. But, eventually, my tastes changed, and if I could, I would eat oatmeal and oats with milk for every meal, with different variations. Sometimes I have.

How do you view what you eat? How important is nourishment? Deliciousness?

Food is both. Primarily I look upon food as fuel for my body, no different than gasoline for a car. But then sometimes it is much more than that, almost a form of art. I eat plain oatmeal too, but I also like going out for sushi or steak. I wouldn't invite a girl over for dinner and serve up plain oatmeal.

[OrphanPip]

Depends on the food, but there is certainly an aesthetic pleasure in the experience of certain food. Food is also closely intertwined with culture and there is a special kind of interchange that occurs in the sharing of cuisines.

[Paulclem]

When I was a kid it was - eat what you're given, and I did. My Mother wasn't a good cook - to the extent that I though school meals - in the 60s and 70s were good. (A lot of my friends wouldn't eat them).

I have that with me now, though of course I now get good food often made by my wife. There's very little that I don't like, and even if I'm not keen I can get it down.

Just as an aside - I don't wish to hijack the thread - Buddhist Monks and Nuns are supposed to cultivate an attitude of food as medicine - which is similar to your idea of nourishment - in order to loosen their attachment to food. Food is supposed to be regarded as a cure for hunger, which of course it really is. It's a healthier way of living in that excessive foods, or the wrong kinds of food may contribute to your death. Of course an ordinary person like myself wouldn't see the value in such an attitude, except perhaps for health reasons.

[LadyLuck]

Food is a luxury for me, but it is nourishment first. I love good food, but with that said, it doesn't have to be expensive or unhealthy. Tasty does not mean that I have to eat pizza and sweets every day. Rather I get taste from a variety of spices and fresh ingredients. I've had many delicious pots of ham and beans or a simple vegetable soup. I've also enjoyed smoked salmon alfredo and beef tenderloin with a mushroom parmesan sauce. I love just plain fresh carrots, but then I love roasted root vegetables with five spice. I'm just as happy with steamed broccoli as I am with asparagus in lemon butter. Food MUST taste good and look good, but top of mind for me is always the nutritional value. Meat with one starchy vegetable and one brightly colored vegetable or fruit is a staple meal for my family, it's just a matter of how I prepare it.

[Darcy88]

I don't often put much effort into cooking, but when I do go a little elaborate I find I enjoy doing the actual cooking even more than I enjoy eating the result. I like cooking so much I sometimes entertain the idea of taking chef's training after I finish my english degree.

[Helga]

I hate cooking and baking, it sucks! I want to make healthy choices, and I do for the most part, but often that means a bit more work and I just hate cooking.

[Bluehound]

When I was a kid it was - eat what you're given, and I did. My Mother wasn't a good cook - to the extent that I though school meals - in the 60s and 70s were good. (A lot of my friends wouldn't eat them).


This made me laugh; I had a very similar experience.

I have always loved food. All kinds of food, healthy veg and naughty cakes, I can never say no and definitely consider taste first before nutrition.....until recently.

I am having real problems eating at the moment, fatty foods make me sick and all kinds of food give me a really bad pain in my stomach.
It sucks so much; I can’t eat any of my favorite things, like cake, biscuits Italian food and ice-cream. I am living on really bland stuff.

But it has given me a whole new appreciation for food, once I can eat again I will appreciate the taste and texture so much more. But hopefully I will carry over some of my more healthy low fat habits too.

[BookBeauty]

This made me laugh; I had a very similar experience.

I have always loved food. All kinds of food, healthy veg and naughty cakes, I can never say no and definitely consider taste first before nutrition.....until recently.

I am having real problems eating at the moment, fatty foods make me sick and all kinds of food give me a really bad pain in my stomach.
It sucks so much; I can’t eat any of my favorite things, like cake, biscuits Italian food and ice-cream. I am living on really bland stuff.

But it has given me a whole new appreciation for food, once I can eat again I will appreciate the taste and texture so much more. But hopefully I will carry over some of my more healthy low fat habits too.

Remember! Some fats are really, really good for you! Avocados, and fats from plain nuts like almonds, walnuts, etc. Fish oil, flax seeds, sesame seeds, seeds of all types! Even coconut is good for you, at least in my opinion. Even though it's saturated fat, it's from a natural source. There's lots of controversy about whether or not some types of saturated fat can be healthy or not, but I think that the amino acids speak for themselves.

Taste is still pretty important for me, but I guess I've decided healthy food can be just as tasty as pizza and chocolate. I still indulge though. I simply must have pizza and chocolate... At least twice a month. :D

I also love cooking and baking, as others have said. It's something of a problem only when I get into one of my baking fixes, where I need to make cookies and bread. At least they're made of healthy, all natural ingredients (I excuse myself).

I've started trying to get vegetables into every single meal. Even my morning oatmeal!

I blend up broccoli, carrots, spinach, cauliflower (!?) and some berries, and put it in with my oatmeal, with an egg for custard consistency. Spices include ginger, cinnamon, cloves, lemon juice. Then, I'll top it by drizzling tahini (Sesame seed butter.).. Aren't I strange!? :D

I even love to put broccoli on my cheese pizza. Broccoli is an immense favourite.

And I've actually taken a step today, by becoming a vegetarian! (Lacto-Ovo) From this day forward (If all goes well), no more meat! :D

[cafolini]

The most important thing is digestion, and that has to do with taste. The second most important thing is balance and the avoidance of illnesses such as type 2 diabetis and heart disease.
Eating without salt might be important to you depending on how high your blood preasure is, how you retain fluid, etc.
Things like oats, grapenuts, nut butters, fruits, and greens are important. Eating meat in moderation is important.
But because the most important aspect is digestion and taste, you must become a good cook before anything else. You can eat the so-called healthy stuff, but you must digest it with pleasure if it is to account for overall health.

[Darcy88]

Even coconut is good for you, at least in my opinion. Even though it's saturated fat, it's from a natural source.

Coconut is amazingly good for you. I buy coconut oil and use it like butter. It boosts thyroid function and that helps tremendously with mood and metabolism. You mentioned avocados too. Not only are they crammed full of good healthy fats, they also boast a high amount of quality protein. Coconut and avocados are two of my favorite super-foods.

[BookBeauty]

Coconut is amazingly good for you. I buy coconut oil and use it like butter. It boosts thyroid function and that helps tremendously with mood and metabolism. You mentioned avocados too. Not only are they crammed full of good healthy fats, they also boast a high amount of quality protein. Coconut and avocados are two of my favorite super-foods.

Absolutely! And there are so, so many tasty super-foods.

Raw cacao beans, nibs and powder are incredibly rich in antioxidants. Problem is when they cook them in high temperatures and kill the vitamins, as well as turn the good fat to bad. That's why raw might be the way to go. Or organic.

Then there's goji berries, which, when found at the right place, are quite nice to have in oats with a few raisins and almonds.

I've been a little apprehensive about coconut oil, at least when it comes to cooking. The stores here sell one specialized for cooking, and then the extra virgin type. You really have to be careful with how hot you're cooking oil, but most people don't really care. :D

I love extra virgin coconut oil in my veg/fruit smoothies though.

[Pensive]

Eating for luxury. Sweets and spices are my greatest weaknesses!
I am very careless when it comes to food and the recently grown teeth falling out in late teens is a good example of that! :p