Food's True Purpose

One commonality that we find throughout the world’s many different and diverse cultures is the central importance that food holds in all of them. In many cultures, meals last for hours upon hours and are a time for conversation and communion with others. However, in our modern society, food has lost much of its importance. We live in the world of the microwaveable bagel sandwich, the McDonalds lunch break, and the T.V. dinner. Food is to be fast and filling first and foremost. Taste, quality, and nutrition are all secondary concerns. Food’s basic purpose is sustenance.

I found myself appreciating the value of food beyond basic sustenance during a trip to Korea. Like many other cultures, Koreans love their food. However, through the rapid modernization and development that Korea has been experiencing in the past few decades, food is losing its importance in the life of Koreans. Like in America, food is to be instant. Time is not to be wasted on food but to be invested in more
“worthwhile” activities such as studying, practicing instruments, exercising, or working. As such, I found myself traveling through the urban centers of Korea, enjoying food from sidewalk vendors and busy restaurants, having the same attitude about food as I had in the States. It was not until my family and I took a trip to the countryside that I appreciated food for what it was. We decided to go to a small restaurant that served traditionally made tofu and kimchi. Seeing the effort and care put into making tofu and kimchi in the traditional way made me feel like we have forgotten how important food should be in our lives. Before modern technological advancements, getting food on the table was a job for the whole family. From planting, to nurturing, to harvesting, to processing and cooking, the work and effort of the entire family was needed and expected to put food on the table. Meals were a time of family bonding, where everyone’s hard work could be appreciated and a sense of team, “one-ness”, community, of family could be nurtured.

In traditional Korean characters, the word for family begins with a character that symbolizes food. A family, a rough translation of the characters, means a group that eats together. Food has lost its place as something that brings people together. Politicians and pundits argue and banter about the disappearance of the American nuclear family and the problems that it has created for today’s youth. My solution is simple; families who eat together, stick together.