Over this module, the range of media in which food has been portrayed has been unsurprising, but something that stuck out to me is the influence of food trends. Somehow, we seem to keep falling into following the newest drastic diet for “remarkable results!”
In the Middle Ages, people followed the Humour Theory which categorized people on their personality and recommended what foods they should eat based on it. Each of the four humours had two properties that reflected their general temperament: temperature and moistness. This theory recommended that people eat foods that oppose their humour to prevent an accumulation of a certain trait.
The Humour Theory lacks scientific bases, but understands the principle that food can be transformed into something that either keeps us alive or detriments our health. This powerful theory, albeit incorrect, changed the way people ate during the time it was popular.
From slimming teas to paleo diets, modern food trends are taking extreme to another level. Often times, people are drawn to simplicity over complex ideas. So, the phrase ‘sugar is poison’ is more impacting than explaining how too much of one food group is unhealthy. This leads to misunderstandings on nutrition which advertisement often uses to lure people in. Anthony Warner uses his ‘Angry Chef’ persona to debunk dietary pseudoscience and educate the public on food science and chemistry through his blog.
It is interesting how we fall into patterns of following trends and how throughout time, this point in our nature has not changed. The trends have developed and yet, we are still fall victim to popular culture. Perhaps it is human nature to follow the herd?
Great post 🙂You talked about the idea of ‘following the herd’ as just being a part of human nature, and I totally agree. I think we as humans, have this innate need for affirmation. We think that by conforming to other people’s standards, we’ll earn recognition – be ‘good enough’. Food trends acts as a tool to allow people to fit in.
But I think food trends are also driven by this idea of obtaining ‘perfection’ and not being left behind; being counted in the ‘in crowd’ has become a top priority for many people.
When we see someone achieve some miraculous change, everyone else is quick to try and emulate that, following in that person’s footsteps. There seems to be a genuine lack of contentment in our society, so we’re always looking into new ways to better ourselves, whether it be for personal benefit or just to outcompete others.
Even if people are at first suspicious, that logic of ‘everyone else is doing it, so I should too’ kicks in, and people join in. Trends are pushed by a fear of being marginalised and ridiculed by society, if you don’t adhere to the unspoken rules.
It’s a shame how people are often very quick to start following trends if everyone else is doing it, yet they never stop to question the rationale behind those trends and make sensible judgements. In that way, I think people of today could be in danger of losing their common sense all together.