What's in a "foodie"?

Having thought a lot about whether I might be called a "foodie", and feeling uncomfortable about being labelled as such, I started thinking about why I feel uncomfortable with the term and what it really means (to me).

I think it is safe to say that when we think of a "foodie", we think of somebody who is almost obsessed with great food, who has the level of interest and takes the time to learn about it, often going to great lengths and expense to get their hands on top quality ingredients, to cook and/or enjoy (and probably be served) a tasty meal. Nothing wrong with that. There are worse things to be obsessed with! However, as implied above, it is inevitable that a foodie is normally comparatively well-off and, let's be honest, a bit of a "food snob" (which is probably a term that requires its own analysis!). There will always be dishes that a foodie will not touch or places that a foodie will not eat at, because it would literally be a sign of "bad taste". And this is precisely what bothers me about the term. The term "foodie" is in itself, firstly, exclusive, and secondly, narrow-minded. My aim here is therefore to make a particular point related to the "democratisation" of food. Bear with me while I explain...

Vote with your food

Calling you - yes, you - to vote with your food! Where is your food vote going at the moment? Inform yourself about what you are putting in your mouth - not only for nature's sake, but also for the sake of your and your loved ones' health and quality of life. What exactly are you supporting when you are buying your food? Dig deeper, past the greenwash if there is any. (I for one will be contacting Sainsbury's to ask them about their sourcing for their organic produce.)

Nobody puts the power that is in our hands - or rather, our mouths and stomachs (!) - into words any better than my oft-quoted favourite author Carolyn Steel:

"How food shapes our lives in the future is up to us. Whoever you are and wherever you live, we can make choices that together would make an enormous cumulative difference.

Growing up

I am changing direction... I am growing up... a sapling slowly turning into a tree; its root system deepening and widening, connecting with other trees, with other life forms and the energy in the soil; my branches reaching out into the air, the sky, catching the energy of the world, harbouring loved ones, providing a home - even if only temporary - for others. I still have a long way to go. It is a slow growth, but persistent - I can't stop it. It keeps coming back to knock on my door (the door of the house a little mouse has made itself at the base of my trunk :). That is the natural course of life.

But still I wonder: what is my course of life? I have an inkling now, but it's not yet graspable. I can't pick it off a tree yet, like I would an apple, thinking: "This is my apple now. I am going to bite into it and taste its deliciousness and relish it ... and share it! I know it is just right for me."