The first question to ask is “What is food?”. People describe food in many different ways. The first and most obvious definition is food is energy and nutrients in order to live healthy lives. The components of food are broken up into calories and nutrients and further into biochemical components that hold energy such fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Food also delivers important vitamins and minerals.
Food is also derived from living organisms and can be looked at in a very different way. In biology, scientists categorize plants, animals and fungi into groups. Why not do the same with food in order to learn more about its life cycle and production origin? If food is defined by species, how does this definition create a new and relevant eating experience?
I conducted a self-experiment to test this idea. I developed codes for common food species from different categories such as grains, legumes, above and below-ground vegetables, warm and cool climate fruits, herbs and spices, beverage plants, sweeteners and a host of different animal species. Then I set-up a quota system, for example if I ate a substantial amount of a species in a day I would count it.
I tracked myself for 20 days and the results in the above histogram were interesting. I ate about 100 species in a 20 day period or a rate of 5 new species a day. Almost everyday I ate wheat as seen by the bar on the left and, there were other species like onions and tomatoes. When it comes to animal products it was more variable, for example I did not typically eat a single animal species everyday but, I did eat different animal products such as beef, chicken, pork, eggs as well as cow and goat dairy.
When it comes to eating habits does someone like myself reach a plateau? Does the rate decline under high stress, at different times of year or during those not-so-healthy times? The variation would differ from person to person and can serve as a personalized indicator for consumption. To define food by species may also be a user-friendly way to track diet as opposed to a one size fits all approach like the food pyramid.
Finally, if we look at food defined by species, we will learn about food geography. If you’re living in the city or country, food looked at by species and where it is grown gives the consumer a new eating experience. Also, proximity and seasonality of food production leads to a better understanding of quality. For example, brassicas like broccoli, kale and cabbage have outstanding taste and post-harvest when grown in fall and crops like coconut, sugarcane, cacao and papaya are grown in tropical regions.
What does this mean?
The meaning for the individual depends on their view of food. Someone who eats to get through the day without a connection may find this definition to be useless. But, for others who know there is more to food like its connection to people, the planet and producers will find food defined by species to be refreshing and new. Food defined by species is a real tool to track diet and to give the food industry insight into consumer demand.
Daniel,
I am glad to see this post, as you guessed that as a farmer I am refreshed to see food looked at in a new paradigm. These are all important things to consider for a farmer that is looking to move away from the typical commodity system and specialize in new niche market. You have pointed out how food differs within a species depending on region and season, but I would also like to point out that there are several more factors to consider such as different varieties and breeds as well as the way it was grown and raised.
In beef most people are familiar with Angus beef characteristics because America has become comfortable with its conformity in taste and texture but their are so many other breeds that also have great flavor’s and texture to consider. Other things that need to be considered with beef is the diet it was raised on, Grass, corn, silage, distiller’s grains are just a few things that cattle can eat naturally and varies experience’s we get as we enjoy a good steak or hamburger. Each of us will prefer one over the other, I enjoy a good variety but my favorite type of steak is a naturally raised Simmental Steer that was grown on grass and finished his final months on a grain diet.
The same goes for other vegetable crops. Its common for people to select apples and peaches based on varieties and its important to decide what type you prefer when doing your shopping. Also remember that farmers are going to always provide what people are demanding, whether thats large amounts of low priced food, or specialized high valued and higher priced foods it is available based on demand.
Interesting Read! Thanks for writing it!
Good food for thought (OK, as a journalist, I really should know better than to trot out a lame cliche like that, sorry!).
I think the biggest issue with food is that too many people simply don’t think about it, or want to think about it. Others do, however, and your suggestion might be helpful for them. But we could do a world of nutrition good if we could simply emphasize the food pyramid and its basic food groups. When that message gets out there, and more fully embraced, then maybe a species break-down could be the next step.
Thanks for taking the time to really test your hypothesis. It’s clear you care about the food world, and that influence is important.
Daniel,
Great article!! I always like to think of where my food is coming from and the journey that may have had. This is a good way for people to try to really think of what it is they are eating.
Does the food pyramid still even exist? Wasn’t that just government propaganda for the meat and dairy industry?
Jared,
I believe that the food pyramid was developed and is continually studied and updaded by Harvard University school of public health http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/
If I am incorrect please correct me.
Mike
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