Exploring The Food-Culture Link

Beyond simply providing nutrients, food carries special meaning and there is more of a connection between food and culture than you might think.

- Dr Lakshmi

The subtle messages conveyed by a particular food may be a verbal exchange between people at a meal or a social occasion. Moreover, the food we eat speaks volumes about our culture. Did you know that the food you eat tells a lot about where you come from?

People from different parts of the world eat different foods as they belong to different cultures. Thus, they grow up eating their own staple food and eventually it becomes an integral part of their identity. Furthermore, many of us associate food from our childhood with warm feelings and good memories and this holds a unique and personal value for us. Our ‘family food’ becomes the comfort food we seek as adults in times of frustration and stress.

Where Did It All Begin?

Trade played a major role in cultivating the eating practices of various regions. Maize was taken from America to europe and then brought back to Mexico and shipped to as far as India and China. Rice came from China via traders from Europe and Africa. Africa contributed to coffee and palm oil and Central America gave chocolates and sunflowers. While spices came from Asia. The increasing interaction between groups of people has influenced the food we eat today.

Why We eat What We eat