Food For Thought
Why do we have "beautiful" food?
I've been thinking about this for a while now. The primary purpose of food is nutrition. It delivers fuel and other materials required for our bodies to function. It follows that, logically, as long as the food is good in terms of having the correct nutrients, who cares what it looks like?
Apparently, we do. We are obsessed with it even. Food Photography, for instance, is an entire genre dedicated to capturing the beauty of food. Like human photography, a lot of the "food" in photography is fake. A lot of it is not edible because white paint has often been substituted for milk while whipped cream is seldom what it seems.
Many of us do the "OMG, look at this cake, must Instagram before eating" thing. Don't lie, you know that's you. :)
Why is this? And exactly when did food beauty become a thing? I was thinking about this quite a bit. If we look at nature, we can see it, but with a purpose. Plants, for example, present beautiful food to insects in the form of flower petals. This is to entice birds and insects alike to aid in their cross-pollination efforts. So in nature, this serves a critical function, so is understandable.
In humans, we don't need to be enticed. Our stomachs and brains do quite well on their own. If you've ever been hungry and desperate for food, you would know that what the food 'looks' like means nothing. It's also clear to most that what food looks like has very little bearing on what it tastes like, or more importantly, its nutritional value.
It follows that the idea of food beauty must have arisen in abundance - where there's a surplus of food and people were spoilt for choice. Only with a full belly do you start to care about pretty food.
There's also another theory that food art started amongst those charged with preparing meals for kings, queens and the wealthy. Competition between them on who can make more alluring and inviting food became a thing - in order to secure their employment. In the case of kings and queens, in order to keep their heads! For if a prince found displeasure with your offerings, you might suddenly find yourself at the gallows. Terrible times.
Anyway, I find this stuff fascinating. It'd be cool if anyone out there knows more about the topic and cares to weigh in. I'm off to make some ugly but tasty food for lunch.
Peace and Love ✌🏿
Adé
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Yeah this is interesting! I was going to echo exactly what you said, that perhaps beautiful food, (and broadcasting it) has roots in previous social cues from hundreds of years back where food was the distinguishing feature in your wealth and class. When owning sugar and butter was more of a statement of luxury.
Perhaps it’s a watered down version of that, that exists in a more relatively ‘equal’ and accessible world.
Showing others in a small way that some have the time and money to enjoy something aesthetically interesting.
I find it unusual the lengths that photography goes to mock up something to appear perfect using synthetic means. We do live in a strange world indeed!
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You've laid out my thoughts better than I can :)
That's an interesting question and there is the old chestnut of an answer.
The fakery in food photographer used to be much worse years ago. Now there are supposedly 'regulations' (UK) about substituting real ingredients for fake things like paints and such. However when was the last time you got a burger that looked anything like the picture?
A few days ago I posted a restaurant review about a place in Cambridge which has a good reputation.
It was pretty dire and half of the people in our group were not impressed.
It looked good but had no taste. Totally bland.
I agree that unless you have known hunger you really won't care what it looks like as long as it fills your belly.
We can't teach a hungry child. The same applies to adults.
U+R
I thought I was following all the UK based steemians. Just added you :-)
Oh I didn’t know about the regulations. Wow thanks for the input.
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Marketing and advertising: the law
Although looking at some of the food ads in the UK today you would be forgiven for thinking that these laws did not exist.
Big Mac is a great example of how 'not' to represent a product.
if you delve into Japanese food culture you will find that eating beautiful things is not something from nowadays. Indeed, they believe our bodies are sacred, we are what we eat, and eating is a ritual. So, they put a lot of attention to, and not only, detail. Taste and fresh ingredients are quintessential, but it must look pleasing to the eye.
I ultimately believe that if you eat something appealing to the eye, maybe your body will accept it more gracefully than just a blob of proteins and carbs like the patty RoboCop used to eat.
You see, the practical purpose of eating hasn't changed, however, the way to see what you put inside your body has, but not recently... (@mesohorny).
Very interesting mate. The idea of eating being a ritual - makes sense that they'd care very much about aesthetics of the food.
One would think surely it has links back to art since there were so many paintings of food. Even religion has been deeply rooted in food....Last Supper anyone? I will admit though, a nicely created plate of food artistically drizzled with a refined sauce does something to my senses.
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Yes there's a lot of food imagery in religion for sure.
I remember reading that they even use hairspray and other chemicals to make the food look even more enticing! Crazy thoughts!
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I think it is true what you have said about the reason for food beauty and food photography.
I think that what I noticed with myself when I see a beautiful food photo, is that it gives me appetite, maybe it is always a coincidence that am always hungry when I see a beautiful food photography. 😄
You are certainly right most food photos are completely fake and does not truly reflect the true quality and nutritional contents of the food. They just prepare junks as food and decorate them to become appealing to the eye .
I look at quality food as those that contains all the necessary nutrients in their right proportion , I don't care how the food looks provided it nourish and provide the nutrients my body needs I am satisfied
I agree :)
A beautiful review and photos, you are right, the art of food has always occupied humanity and, as a rule, those who are already well-fed, but still this genre is beautiful and, above all, delicious!
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Amazing food and photography. thanks for visiting my post. I like it your every post. that's great food. I like it... best of luck in your new post