What is real food?
Beef jerky isn't generally considered real food, steak usually is. Why?
Potato chips are not real food, but mashed potatoes are. Why?
Is it just a "hot/cold" thing? But then ramen is real food. Or is that OK? And an apple isn't real food.
Is it a measure of nutritive value? But then power bars should probably be real food, right? And a lot of 'real' foods are very fatty.
Is an MRE (Meals Ready to Eat officially, Meals Rejected by the Enemy unofficially, a.k.a. three lies for the price of one...) real food? Is it real food only if you cook the thing?
Is it the setting? Is anything eaten in a restaurant real food, and something you eat in the car with one hand while you watch the road not?
Is it the intent? Real food is for enjoyment, non-real food is just for calories? But then, most people eat junk food for enjoyment.
Is it the prep time, the effort involved? But does that rule out food that comes from the microwave, which these days can be both healthy and tasty?
Is it the amount of food? A snack is not real, a meal is real? Does that mean one bite of steak is not real food, or an entire bag of chips in one sitting is?
People say "I can't define it but I know it when I see it." Well, I don't know it when I see it. Can you help me define it at least?
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5 comments:
WOW! That is one tough question. I think you're not right on any of those assumptions. who says an apple isn't 'real food.'
Personally I like this model: It's about how far removed from the thing the earth grew are you... If you can identify what came out of the earth, and that it's still relatively close to that original existence- then it's real food... if not; I wouldn't eat it (or at least not to much of it...)
Hmm. I like the "how far removed" idea - though spices would be somewhat problematic.
Why... spices are real food. Just because they don't make a meal on their own dosen't discount their 'real food' status...
But shouldn't enough "real food" constitute a meal?
Dragging this up again, which is perhaps odd, but I would say, sure. Just not a very /good/ one. You could, theoretically, eat a pound of basil leaves at a sitting and satisfy your hunger thereby, but unless for some reason you're trapped in a giant spice cupboard, why would you want to?
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