Food Environment Re-write

    India is home to a lot of weird food customs. I was really excited to visit and spend some time with my extended family I rarely get to see, but I was almost spending more time consuming fruit and fruit derived product. If at any time you go to a household in India, they will offer you either juice, tea, or fresh mango, and in the unfortunate situation that you refuse all, they may resort to forcing some food down your throat against your will. This culture was more prominent back when my dad was a kid, he consistently tells stories of going to his aunt’s house to just talk to his cousin for a few minutes and come back, but he wasn’t allowed to leave until he had a full meal (no matter what he had eaten before).

    In my eyes that was just pure torture, but this practice is very understandable if we travel back in time. My great aunt, (the aunt that forced my dad to eat) and probably her ancestors, were told to always offer food to a guest. Not only is it polite but also because you may never know what they are going through and when/what they last ate (this part she was not told, I made sense of the situation myself). Indians being Indians (especially at that time), strive to be seen as the best, and so most of India went to not only offer, but force food into people not fully understanding the limits of the human body. 

    

I have never been forced that badly to eat food, but I have been urged to eat more food most times we eat at a relative’s place because I “looked starved” (my fellow female Indians understand).  Time is the biggest cause of change in culture, over the past few years people everywhere have gotten access to the internet and reliable information. More people are becoming aware of the effects of their actions and its very much a good thing. People have changed dramatically now, and if an Indian house offers you a meal, it is out of love, so don’t refuse too much and have a good time.