My name is Catherine, and I am a foodie.

I’ve seen a disturbing trend on social media lately: food photo hating.  That’s right–there are people out there right now who are bored to tears by the photos we post of our delicious meals and culinary masterpieces.  If you are one of those people, this post is for you.  I’d like the chance to explain to you why I post photos of the food that I grow, eat, and love.

When I initially wrote this post, I included a witty, but snarky apology for forcing others to look at our food photos.  Before posting I decided it was probably a little too heavy with the sarcasm, so instead, I will say this: if you don’t like what anyone posts online, hide them from your news feed, don’t follow them on Instagram, and don’t click on the link to their blog.  That’s what I do when you post photos of… er… never mind.  The choice is yours.  I won’t be offended.

I post photos of food because I get excited about food.  You post photos of what excites you, right?  Scrolling through my Facebook news feed right now I see photos of: new boots, a sailboat, a double-layered marble cake with chocolate frosting, a baby deer, a wedding, a new haircut, the sorority squat, a football helmet, a new purse, a baby with a dog–We post little glimpses of our lives, and a good meal is one of those glimpses for me.  Here’s why:

1. Food powers everything we do.  All the activities we love are possible because we have good food in our bellies.  Running marathons, hiking, playing with your kids, focusing in school or at work (okay, maybe you don’t love that, but it has to be done), simply hanging out with friends–your performance and ability to be in the moment will suffer if you are not well nourished.  What you put in your body matters;  while we may not be what we eat, we certainly feel the effects of what we eat (or don’t eat).  

“We are indeed much more than what we eat, but what we eat can nevertheless help us be much more than what we are.” -Adelle Davis

2. Food tastes amazing.  As vital as food is to our lives, it could have been as boring as breathing–something that just happens naturally and keeps us alive.  Instead, God gave food taste, and why in the world would He have done that if we weren’t meant to enjoy it?  Eating, like other activities that ensure the survival of the human race, is meant to be pleasurable.  Food is a gift, not only in the fact that we have it and aren’t starving, but that it tastes so good!  Why would you not celebrate that?

“Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity.” -Voltaire

3. Food builds relationships.  Because we need food to power everything we do, and it’s not a boring pill that we have to take each morning, the act of eating gives us reason to pause a few times during the day, often with other people.  How many relationships in your life have developed over the course of many meals?  The vast majority.  From childhood dinners with your family to school lunches in the cafeteria with friends to dates with your husband, sharing a meal bonds us with others.

“If you really want to make a friend, go to someone’s house and eat with him… people who give you their food give you their heart.”       -Cesar Chavez

4. Food is art.  Some of the most beautiful colors I’ve ever seen are in my garden.  I take no credit for this, but I certainly enjoy it!  Fresh produce is inherently visually pleasing.

   

“Did you ever stop to taste a carrot?  Not just eat it, but taste it?  You can’t taste the beauty and energy of the Earth in a Twinkie.” -Astrid Alauda

That’s why I post pictures of what I ate for dinner–because that meal was a crucial piece of my day that gave me energy to do what I love, provided quality time with people I care about, and pleased my senses in a way that compelled me to turn and thank my Creator and Provider.

If you aren’t at least a little bit excited about food, it might be time to reconsider what you’re eating or the pace of your day–I wouldn’t get excited about eating a fast food hamburger in my car or macaroni and cheese from a box before running out the door either.  Good food doesn’t have to take hours to make, it just has to be real food.

So, happy eating to all.  And don’t forget to post photos. 🙂