Why do we eat what we eat?

I often wonder if it is true that we are what we eat. Have you ever wondered why we eat what we do? Many factors influence what we eat: our religion; ethic background; the region we live in; growing season and many more.

Unfortunately, these factors are less and less the main reason for our eating habits. Television, radio and billboards are now the top three reasons for eating what we do. The nation as a whole has stopped thinking of food as a pleasurable, nutritional part of the day and has replaced it with a fast, sustenance providing option. This on the go, fast food-infested, slow death in a non biodegradable box is replaced only on the occasion that the drive through is too busy or the gas station is out of their week old sandwiches. It is replaced by a power bar, candy bar or protein shake, downed by a diet cola.

I ask that you consider a different point of view about food. Food is the one thing in this world that we can control. How cool is that? We have the ability to control something in our lives. We can have total control of every aspect of the single most important aspect of our life.

Though many people will disagree with me I would simply like them to live without food and then tell me what is more important. Food has the remarkable job of sustaining life, building bodies, minds and communities, none of which would exist without the presence of it.

We have lost our way in this busy world that we have created for ourselves. So why do we not take back the ability to decide for ourselves what we eat and when we eat it?

We are blessed to have an agriculturally diverse and prosperous region that gives us the most delectable fruits and vegetables that I have encountered in years. We have meats of all breeds, vegetables of the new world and the old, fruits fresh from the tree, and let’s not forget the grapes from the vines.

Food is the easiest way to happiness that we can control. My greatest memories of my family and friends all revolve around food. It ties us to each other and to the ground in which it was grown. When was the last time you truly enjoyed what you ate? A meal that, when you take that first bite a wave of memories of days gone by floods your mind and you get to enjoy the pure pleasure of the moment?

The feeling that you get, after the first bite when you sit there not wanting to chew again in fear that the moment might end.

We have at our finger tips the tools to help us reclaim control over our eating habits. The farmers market, the “Buy Fresh, Buy Local” campaign and a new Web site that I have found called farmfoodie.org all use these tools to get in touch with the local farms and fresh produce. This Web site is a great way to know where the local produce is and who is growing it. “Farmfoodie” was developed to connect farmers across the country to the people who want their food. It is a free site that allows you to receive bulletins about what foods are in season and where to get them.

I hope these tools help you rediscover the true pleasure that can come from great food. Enjoy what you eat for life is to short and too precious to be unhappy because of the one thing we have total control over.

Here to searching for that next great meal!

Frank Maragos, Chef and Owner Foti’s restaurant can be reached at or at 829-8400.