by Mary Caliendo

Created on: August 03, 2009

Food influences our lives in so many ways. Food, for some each day is a simple meal, requiring nothing more than a zap in the microwave oven and into the mouth and out the door. Still for others food influences our lives because it brings together not only family but binds many a culture to traditions, ethnicity, and legacies left behind from prior generations.

Food influences us as it is tied to so many memories for many. Memories relived with food can be that of good or even bad memories. Who doesn't remember the great smell in your grandmother's home during the holidays? These food smells spark memories vivid with feelings of warmth and happiness. But on the same hand, who doesn't remember tea, and memories of warm flat lemon-lime soda and saltine crackers? That usually meant we most likely had the flu, and that would not be a very fond memory!

But for the everyday person, food influences our health, our future generations of children, and even how we view others. First, our very health depends on the foods that we eat. We seek to follow a guide line plan that is issued through our government and the doctors, nutritionists, and those in the know. We administer to our children lunch boxes full of those guidelines to school each day. Our hot lunch programs are supposed to follow these types of guidelines to promote the health and wellbeing of our growing children. Thus, producing well-rounded children. We know that the obesity level is now rising in children. We, as adults know that the foods we give our children, weather it is in the hot lunch line, lunch boxes, or in our homes causes the unhealthy weight gain.

By maintaining a healthy approach to our meals we will influence our children to seek out a piece of fruit instead a bag of chips or a candy bar. And the hope is, is that these children will grow up and pass these great skills to their own generation of children they will have. But we all like to slip away from the food pyramid from time to time. We cannot help ourselves when a holiday approaches. Who doesn't want their aunts special casserole packed with cheese? Who passes up the turkey with out having stuffing, mashed potatos, and gravy? And for desert, what about pie, jello molds, and cookies? Who can resist?

Food during holidays spurs the feelings of warmth, comfort, and the sense of belonging. Our families together at the table, sharing each others dishes to pass helps to bring our ethnic traditions to the forefront. We associate our family foods with our happiness. We associate food with the caring of others. We can give the gift of food to those we love and for friends to cherish. We influence each other with the foods we eat, the foods we make, and the foods we give. We will continue to feel a sense of connection as we draw on our personal lives as we to share our memories with all those around us. Our connection to food is as special as a gift wrapped present at Christmas time!

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