A Passion for Food
BY KATIA KIEFABER
Katia is a twenty-something living in funky and farmy Western Massachusetts with her girlfriend and cute kitty. She loves any opportunity to be creative, whether that is through painting, collaging, cooking, or writing. She’s also an advocate for mental health, body positivity, and general self-compassion, and strives to share this compassion with everyone she meets.
As a child, I was obsessed with the delicious combination of bread and butter. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area of California and ate countless loaves of tangy sourdough bread toasted with salty butter.
I ate this for breakfast, snacks, and even attempted to eat solely bread and butter for dinner before my parents put a stop to it. My obsession was apparent enough that my babysitter even bought me real butter from a fancy grocery store for my seventh birthday (my parents only ever bought sub-par I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter margarine). I was elated and can still remember how tasty it was to this day.
That was the beginning of my love for food.
In my teens and early 20s, I explored this interest further. My mom taught me to cook and bake. My high school friends and I went out to eat as frequently as we could, with a particular emphasis on trying new or unusual restaurants. I attended college in a farming area and passed my free time documenting and comparing the merits of each local ice cream stand. More recently, I have taken cooking classes, read books by innovative chefs, and tried my hand at bread making.
Throughout this entire journey, however, I noticed something: I felt uncomfortable admitting my passion for food. I talked freely about the salad I ate for lunch but was reluctant to admit getting a big bowl of farm-fresh ice cream later that day. I noticed a trend in family and friends’ comments as well. I received praise for a bowl of fruit I’d eat with breakfast but a pointed “Wow, you sure love bread!” when I took an extra roll with my dinner.
I also took note of the multitude of famous women writing health cookbooks, bragging about the new diet they were on, and only mentioning dessert when talking about a “cheat day.” The message I got and still receive from society is that it is only acceptable for women to enjoy food if it is deemed “healthy.” As someone with an avid passion for ALL food, I’m determined to change this oppressive dialogue.
I want it to be acknowledged: it is okay for women to love food!
Food is at the core of our humanity, especially for women who, for centuries, have been expected to prepare meals for their families. Holidays are celebrated with big family dinners. Birthdays call for a large cake to share with friends. First dates often involve getting to know someone while out to dinner. If a loved one or friend is sick, we bring over a meal as a gesture of care.
Food is also how we learn about other cultures by trying different ethnicities’ cuisines and inviting people who look different from ourselves to share in our own.
If you think of your own life, I bet food was at the heart of some of your happiest or most cherished moments. And I bet in your family history, there was a woman who worked tirelessly to prepare that food.
It is time to give our history the appreciation it deserves and reclaim a passion for food! Here are some ideas to spark a love for food in your daily life:
001: Mindful eating
When was the last time you ate a meal with no distractions?
When you quickly shove down food on your way out the door or scroll mindlessly through your phone while eating lunch, you miss out on how delicious your meal is!
Choose a meal to eat mindfully. Sit down at the table, put away your phone or work, turn off the TV, and put aside any other distractions. While eating, try to focus on your five senses, especially how the food tastes. You’ll be amazed how much more delicious the food becomes and how much more satisfied you’ll feel after the meal is done!
002. Change up your (social) media
The people and images we surround ourselves with affect how we see ourselves and our relationship to food. Try following some body-positive Instagram accounts, making recipes from a cookbook by a female chef, or listening to a podcast by a foodie!
You’ll be amazed by how inspired you’ll feel in your body and how interesting the origin of ordinary food can be. I personally love Samin Nosrat and adore her podcast, Home Cooking, and her other publications.
003. Make something homemade
Take your favorite food, and see if you can make it from scratch at home! The first time I made a loaf of bread at home and kneaded the bread, watched it rise as the yeast took effect, and smelled the wafts of fresh bread from the oven, I was hooked. I really appreciated how
much work the loaf took to create and savored the end result in a way that a store-bought loaf could never make me feel.
I hope some of these tips help you nurture a love for food, and in the process, an appreciation for your own body.