Food as Radical Empathy

    As Alkon argues, food can be a connection between people. Christian communion, family dinners, or Friendsgiving. These examples are usually people who already have a lot in common and are used to sharing these meals. Empathy, though, is the ability to "put oneself in another's shoes" and may look like eating unfamiliar foods. I think trying different cultures’ cuisine is a great way to be open to learning about and respecting other people. 

I personally have seen an example of the socioeconomic gap related to healthy food. I’ve worked for a small, local, and organic CSA and know that our customers’ main demographic is wealthier, often older community members. Although each food item, like a lb. of potatoes or bunch of carrots, equals only $3-4, the overall price for a CSA share is more than many people can afford. I hear people complain about the prices, but I’m also out in the fields sweating, being poked by thistle, working hard and getting paid less than I could be making at Walmart- so I think the prices a justified.  

Just because fresh produce is available and affordable doesn’t mean it's entirely accessible. I can take whatever produce, mushrooms, and meat I want from the CSA for free but most of the time I don’t! That’s my own fault but heating up some chicken nuggets or getting french fries for Chick-fil-a seems so much easier! I still don’t know why I decide to spend money and eat food that makes me feel gross instead of cooking fresh, free healthy food for myself. I don’t have an answer yet, but my perspective helps me understand partly why few other people take the initiative to get a CSA share, grow a garden, and have a nutritious diet.