I attended elementary school in the 1970s, in a quaint little town in northeast Arkansas surrounded by cotton fields and towering cottonwood trees. In the fall, as the farmers hauled trailers to the gin, cotton fell along side the roads giving the appearance of an early snowfall. In the spring, the female cottonwood trees shed cotton, turning the playgrounds and nearby lawns white, and wrecking havoc on every one’s allergies. I can smell the aroma of that school cafeteria where we were served wholesome food by our substitute hair-netted grandmothers. On the wall there was a large poster with the Food Pyramid and the saying, “You Are What You Eat”. I always found this fascinating.
Ok, I must briefly interrupt this bucolic scene to inject that to our delight, we did have fried bologna cups every other Friday – not our most wholesome fare and definitely canceling out any healthy food we managed to consume the prior few days. These gray-haired cooks were so ahead of their time. This recipe would easily win the fried food competition at the State Fair of Texas, falling right in line with fried butter, fried bubble gum and chicken fried bacon. In case you haven’t fried bologna in a while, or EVER, as bologna sizzles in the skillet the edges brown and curl up, forming the perfect cup in which to hold a scoop of mashed potatoes with a slice of cheese (American, of course!) melting on top. And voila – the 1970’s Bologna Cup. But I digress as I disgust.
Apparently the phrase “you are what you eat” has been around for a very long time. It was referenced in a 1820s French cookbook “Dis-moi ce sue tu mangoes, je the dirai ce sue tu es.” (Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are.) As my personal food tastes, ideas and ideals have evolved – in part out of necessity – I understand the wisdom in this saying. Food should be an offering to the body. It fuels the body. It can heal the body and even reverse the signs of aging. Alternatively, it can age the body, harming the organs. We should all slow down and enjoy meal preparation. Take the time to actually feel the textures of the food. Smell the food. Vary the colors of fruits and veggies for maximum benefit. Arrange the meal on a favorite plate and sit, relax and enjoy. No distractions. If you chew slowly, you will actually taste the flavors. You are what you eat. Bologna cup notwithstanding.
talya
Musical Pairings:
Louis Armstrong, “What a Wonderful World”
talya
Musical Pairings:
Louis Armstrong, “What a Wonderful World”
