Zoe Bauer
Intercultural Comm.
Br. Nich
4-18-13
You Are What You Eat
Have you ever heard the phrase “you are what you eat”? In 1826, Antheleme
Brillat-Savarin, a French lawyer, wrote, “tell me what you eat and I will tell you what
you are” (Martin np). Some people might use this phrase in the same way Antheleme
used it, to describe how healthy a person is, what they look like, or what their diet has
done to some physical characteristic. But this phrase can also be used as an inkling to
what a person’s lifestyle is, or, ultimately, what a person’s cultural values could be. If
someone were to eat fruits and vegetables, on a well balanced diet, one might conclude
that this person values their body and image. Also, one might assume that this is an active
person, who also goes to the gym and has a ‘fit’ lifestyle. A person’s diet therefore tells a
lot about a person; similarly, a nation's food culture tells a lot about their cultural
personality. European American, Japan, and Italy are all very different cultures and can
be thought of as three individuals. The United States is sometimes stereotyped as the fat
and lazy culture because we are ornamented with fast food restaurants, hot dogs,
cheeseburgers and french fries. Japan is often described as a more restrained culture. The
Japanese food culture parallels their description as they eat very disciplined as well, their
meals consist of the foods that they need, rather than the foods that they necessarily want.
In the Italian culture, they are known for valuing family and time; everything Italians do
is a craft. Their food culture takes after their history of passion and art as they tend to
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spend most of their day eating, not because they eat a lot of food, but because they eat
slowly, over a longer period of time. The patterns in each of these countries’ food
cultures’ were not constructed solely by cultures themselves, but are made possible
because of their geographical location. Although information can be obtained about a
culture through their food culture, it is the geography of a nation that shapes what their
food culture will be; therefore, cultural patters are shaped by where we are located and we
are shaped by what we eat.
The Italian meal is typically a long process from start to finish. The cooking
process begins on the farmland; unlike America, Italy, as well as other European
countries, will usually raise their own meats, make their own cheeses, spices, and other
ingredients instead of buying their food processed, or premade. In Italy particularly,
housewives, as well as restaurants, will visit the market daily to pick up fresh produce for
their daily meals (Scribner np). Making the meal is a long process as well as raising the
ingredients because everything is done from scratch, from the production to the
preparation. Also, everything Italians do is art, food included, which is why it takes even
longer because preparation includes presentation. Italians are not only concerned with
making their meals, but with making them look good as well. Italy is the home of the
Renaissance, and this craftsmanship is reflected in their food culture (Merlonghi).
Similar to the Italian respect for food and the overall understanding of food as art,
demonstrated by their way of preparation and consumption, the Japanese culture too
portrays their culture through food. In a segment on BBC News on Japanese lunchboxes
for children, Japanese lunch makers referred to the importance of their food as something
deeply concerned with presentation and precision (Buerk np). One woman added, “I think
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that (presentation and precision) is part of this culture” (Buerk np) thus, showing how
food culture reflects a holistic depiction of a culture, and how cultures might use their
food to reflect their personality as a whole.
Furthermore, in Italy, after high school, Italians can choose to attend university, or
are encouraged to pursue cooking school. In an Italian cooking school students learn how
to prepare, serve, and host meals properly because it is taken so seriously. Unlike
America, if one works in fast food in Italy, it is actually a respectable job. The fast food
industry is taken as seriously as any other restaurant job (Merlonghi). For example, in
comparing an American McDonalds to an Italian McDonalds, it is often surprising to see
the difference in how the Italian establishment and its food differ from the average
American McDonalds. The Italians present their food as a reflection of themselves, or in
this case, a reflection of their establishment. For example, in America, people do not
regard McDonalds as a nice place to eat, typically because it is fast food and it looks
unappealing, however, in Italy it is different because they handle all their food with care.
Comparatively, Japan also upholds the same respect and craftsmanship for all
food and takes the same steps in learning about how to handle food in their country.
Japan is known as the “pinnacle of the sushi world” (Discovery np). There are certain
skills to be required to prepare their meals properly, similar to Italian food culture. The
Japanese refer to sushi more as an art rather than an exact science. While the Italian meal
is complex because of its length and it being made from several ingredients, the Japanese
meal is complex because of the preciseness involved in handling the different kinds of
fish and trying to make it look like actual pictures. Some of the meals the Japanese
prepare can be described as “edible art.” This is why Japanese food is referred to as
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“creativity and passion poured into the pursuit of the perfect meal” (Discovery np). It
sounds and typically is much more elegiac than American meals as we are happy with
peanut butter-jelly sandwiches and potato chips. Americans tend to have many meals that
include meat as the main course. Meat is available in abundance to many Americans
because of the vast amount of land that covers the United States. The land enables
Americans to raise cattle and other livestock so that many restaurants and households can
serve meat as their main course.
Italians, as well as Japanese, use the same guidelines when dealing with any food;
not only by the time they take to prepare it, but also by the time they take to consume it.
In Italy, meal times are a time of bonding and conversation with friends and family. On
the other hand, in America, we usually take 15 to 30 minute lunch breaks, and sometimes
skip meals. American lunch breaks reflect our fast paced lifestyle and our values –we
would rather get more things done, than enjoy our food and think about what we are
eating, which ultimately gives us the image of an undisciplined culture. In Italy, it is
almost mandatory to take your time while eating because there are 5 courses to each meal
except breakfast. The traditional Italian meal consists of antipasti, first course, main
course, contorni (side dishes), and dolce (dessert) (Merlonghi). Along with these courses
there are certain rules, or regulations, to eating them. The antipasti is usually a regional
dish, as each region of the 20 Italian regions is known for a certain dish, ingredient, or
wine (Merlonghi). However, one may also choose from a selection of appetizers. The
first course is always a soup or pasta. Pasta in Italy is never considered a side dish; it is
always a course of its own. The main course is typically a meat, poultry or fish. The side
dishes are usually of vegetables, potatoes or salad. Finally, the dolce is offered at the end
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of a meal and consists of fruit, cheese, cake or gelato. Following dinner, one might be
offered an after dinner drink. These various parts of the Italian meal are meant to take a
long time, which reflects the respect; the Italians have for food and for time with family.
Italians are also considerably relaxed as a culture and often take a siesta, a two hour
break, in the middle of every day to spend time at home, relax, and enjoy the day. As for
Americans, we do not show that we care about the order in which we eat our food, nor do
Americans care to sit down for a long period of time just to eat. The European American
culture is always in a hurry; therefore the respect of food often gets overlooked. In
America we usually eat a one-course meal that includes the first four courses of the
Italian meal, unless we go out to a fancy restaurant that serves a 3 or 4 course meal. The
Italian meal, therefore, would be considered a very fancy occasion for Americans. The
European American lifestyle is not used to eating in such prolonged measures of time,
nor are they used to having an abundance of food for a simple occasion. Typically, the
European American lifestyle is so face paced that sitting down for a long period of time
to enjoy a meal is just too much. There always is something that is more important,
therefore food often comes second to most American activities.
The Japanese food culture is similar to American food culture as far as speed in
which they eat. The Japanese eat their food very fast as a reflection of their fast paced
lifestyle, similar to Americans; however, they do not lose procedure no matter how fast
they wish to go. For example, in America, people are more inclined to lose their order
when they are trying to go faster, whereas in Japan they keep their order and go fast,
which is why they are known for their efficiency. The Japanese culture as well as their
food culture moves fast and progresses, BBC News says, “Japanese are always perfecting
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and inventing” (Discovery np). An important term in consideration of the Japanese
culture is “dento-tekina”, which means tradition. “Preservation of some things and the
constant innovation of other things” is a term reflects the entire culture of Japan and is
characterized by the story of sushi (Discovery np). Sushi evolved from fermented fish to
different compilations of raw fish as technology changed and allowed the Japanese to try
new things. The Japanese food culture, and overall culture, changed with technology
because they believe in dento-tekina (tradition) (Discovery np). The story of how sushi
evolved demonstrates the growth of Japanese food, and presents Japanese creativity in
the same spirit of innovation that would inspire the country (Discovery np).
Undoubtedly, the unique characteristics of cultures around the world can be
exemplified through their food culture. While comparisons can be drawn between the
Japanese and European American cultures through their fast paced food industry and
lifestyle, differences can be traced as “fast paced” compromises the image of Americans,
as messy, while enhancing the efficient image of Japanese. Likewise, the artistic, family
oriented, and particular culture of Italy is reflected by the meals on their plates and the
time these meals take. In some respect, these cultures were meant for the food cultures
they uphold today. Although food culture is shaped by the values of a culture, a lot of
what a food culture is relies on where they are located and what foods they actually have
access to. Since America is heavily populated and highly industrial we rely a lot on
genetic technology to modify our foods, to serve more people, and imports, to get our
variety of food. Whereas, Japan, though it is also heavily populated, the nation is 70
percent mountainous making them unable to raise cattle like Americans; therefore, they
rely on the sea life surrounding their archipelago, resulting in their prosperous sushi
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industry. Italy is a nation that relies on its own resources; thus, they use their land to
make foods according to regions and buy and sell within the nation. The Italian food
culture is affected by their geographical location because they are able to raise everything
by themselves for the most part, and make their culinary dishes from scratch. “You are
what you eat” is an old say that really proves to hold some truth. The Japanese, Italian,
and European American cultures all have distinct cultural identities along with distinct
geographical layouts. It is quite amazing how these different identities and geographical
landscapes can be seen just by what food a nation consumes.
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Works Cited
Buerk, Roland. 10, December 2011. Close-Up: Japan’s Amazing Lunchboxes.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16069217
Discovery Channel. 12, February 2012. Culinary Asia Japan Part 1/4.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbtHl8kaLWg
Martin, Gary. You Are What You Eat. The Phrase Finder.
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/you%20are%20what%20you%20eat.html
Merlonghi, Franca. Oggi in Italia. Houghton Mifflin College Div, 2006. Print.
Scribner, Charles. The Encyclopedia of Food and Culture. May 2013. The Italian Meal.
www.gale.cengage.com/servlet/ItemPrintServlet?id=167309&type=p&region=9&
titleCode=S117
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