importance of food, bringing people together

 importance of food, bringing people together

Food is one of the three basic needs that man has to satisfy. Without food, there is no life and, therefore, a critical element to survival. Food plays a vital role in nourishing a person’s body. These nutrients provide the body with energy for daily activities, help stimulate growth, and facilitate other organ functions such as blood circulation. Additionally, the nutrient helps repair worn-out tissues by facilitating their regrowth. Lastly, food contains elements necessary to boost the immune system to protect one from diseases. However, food plays more than basic body functions; food brings people together, at homes, at the restaurants, at the mess, etc. This paper shall focus on the importance of food, bringing people together.

Food is so much ingrained in man’s social landscape, such that it is difficult to think of a social gathering without food. Michael Pollan notes that food has a special social place in the Americans, citing how farmer’s markets have become a site for conservation and development of new relations. One sociologist research shows that people are ten times more to converse in a farmer’s market as compared to supermarkets”. From time immemorial, food has been a key ingredient in social events, almost like the primary reason for the gathering. Take weddings as an example; the cake is one of the key elements, often attracting as much attention as the union. The celebrations cannot be complete without the attendants taking the meals. What’s more, it is at this time that people get to talk with others and enjoy themselves.

Another place where food brings people together is at home. Notably, dining together is one of the symbols that signify a happy family. This is usually the best time for the family members to catch up on the other’s progress. As they take their food, jokes will be cracked; memories will be shared. They will talk about politics, events, sports, etc. Additionally, it is at this time that they will try to help each other overcome their difficulties. At the end of the day, the members sleep a happy family, all thanks to food.

One will find themselves at a dinner party every once in a while. These dinner parties have been existing since the medieval ages (Choudhury, 56). Dinners were there when the Greek empire was at its height. They continued to exist when the Romans took over and ruled the world. The culture transcended all way to the 17th century when orchestras were the big thing. What there is now of dinner is a culture that has been passed down across generations. Other factors such as orchestras or plays or fashion could have changed, but food remains. It is because of the food that people attend these dinners.

Almost all religious celebrations involve a lot of dining. In events such as Christmas, Diwali, and Eid-Ul-Fitr, one of the most striking features is food. The “breaking of bread,” as it’s commonly known among the various religious factions, signifies the good qualities advocated by the religious teachings. When followers of the various doctrines share a meal during celebrations, it symbolizes sharing, kindness, and generosity. Many of these religious celebrations have lost their meaning as people become less religious every day. However, people still look forward to occasions due to the food shared amongst them.

According to classical conditioning, continued the association of a conditioned stimulus with an unrelated and unconditioned stimulus usually leads to a conditioned behavior (Marien & Ruud 53). This concept can also be applied to eating in groups. Taking institutions such as a school as an example, as a new student, one can eat alone. However, over time, people make friends and start associating in groups, especially when taking meals. In the long run, it will be difficult for one to eat on their own. Also, whenever this group meets, they will have the desire to take food. That is the much importance that food plays in uniting people according to psychology.

Conclusion

Food is a critical element to man’s survival; it provides nutrients that are necessary for all body functions. However, food plays a more significant role than nourishing the body; it brings people together. One can hardly think of any social event without food. Further, gatherings such as dinner have been present since the medieval ages. Even in religion, food is one of the critical elements, especially during celebrations. When one gets used to eating together with others, a habit is formed. The mind has been conditioned to make friends during mealtime. As such, food is important in uniting people.