But I contend that most of what we're consuming today is no longer, strictly speaking, food at all, and how we're consuming it—in the car, in front of the TV, and, increasingly, alone—is not really eating, at least not in the sense that civilization has long understood the term.
This quote challenges our modern relationship with food, highlighting a significant shift in how the act of eating is perceived and experienced in contemporary society. Traditionally, eating has been a communal activity, often associated with family, ritual, and mindfulness—a time to connect with others and to appreciate the nourishment provided by natural ingredients. However, the current trends indicate a departure from this norm. Many individuals are consuming food in isolation, often hastily, and through convenient but processed options that may not qualify as traditional food in the purest sense. This change affects not only our physical health but also our social and cultural well-being. The rise of fast food, microsnacking, eating in transit, and the pervasive presence of screens transforms a fundamental human activity into a fragmented and less mindful experience. Such behaviors may contribute to a disconnection from the origins of our nourishment and diminish our understanding of what food truly means within a civilization. It prompts us to reconsider how modern life influences our habits, values, and definitions around eating. Are we sacrificing the social and cultural richness once inherent in our mealtimes for convenience and speed? Recognizing this shift invites us to rethink our eating habits to re-establish a more mindful and community-oriented approach to food—one that honors its role in our health and societal bonds.
