A food philosophy is sometimes based on a deep conviction one holds about a topic or environmental issue. Or, simply a lifestyle choice or habit informed by past or present experiences. It could also be a set of personal beliefs or values.
What is a food philosophy?
When I started studying culinary nutrition back in 2020, I was tasked to come up with a food philosophy. Assuming all newbie students have some idea of what their mission with food and health was.
I didn’t. I just wanted to learn how to cook healthy.
But, I was forced to think and really consider what that was.
Why was I there and what did I want to achieve with my culinary nutrition course?
When I began to contemplate it, I soon realised that I actually did have ‘eating values’.
I thought I just wanted to learn how to bake gluten-free from the experts.
But it was indeed a set of values I had subconsciously held all along.
This is what a food philosophy is:
It is a set of principles, usually individual but not limited to, which guides food choices and eating styles.
These principles can be dictated by health conditions, ideological beliefs about environmental sustainability and farming methods. Or it can even be influenced by eating styles as well as an awareness of what is beneficial for building optimal health.
My commitment to cleanliness, purity, minimalism, honesty, and authenticity drives my food philosophy in cooking, food preparation and eating.
So, in my culinary practice, I strive to maximize flavor and eat mainly unprocessed foods. I do this to eliminate artificial ingredients as well as seasoning substitutes used to imitate natural flavors.
I believe what is nourishing should be just as flavourful as regular food.
My goal is to maximize a few essential ingredients to create food that is delicious and satiating. As well as boosting essential daily nutrient intake.
Related reading: Snacks made healthy – Toated Coconut Tamari Chips
8 Values that underpin a culinary nutrition practice are:
- To cook with fresh raw ingredients: Remove shelf-stabilising ingredients by eating freshly cooked meals. In other words, know what you’re consuming and how it’s prepared.
- Use naturally grown and harvested ingredients. Don’t use or eat anything ‘fake’ – I know you’re consuming and how it was created
- Use natural flavours derived from whole foods or plant-based ingredients: Don’t use no fake flavours.
- Nutritious food should be easy to cook or assemble. Understand what you’re eating because it makes it easier to put together.
- Healthy food swops. Use natural ingredients that taste as close as possible to your favourite ‘regular’ food. Without worrying about sacrificing your health.
- Culinary innovation. Become more creative and innovative with whole unprocessed foods and flavours. You can do this once you gain a deeper understanding of its nutritional role and cooking potential.
- Adopt an eating style that has staying power. Knowing that I can create flavour in all my meals is a strong motivation to sustain this way of eating. As well as staying on this path of wellness and ‘clean-ness on the inside’.
- Take responsibility for your good health: The healing, prevention and maintenance of health challenges is ultimately my responsibility. This way of cooking and eating makes me feel like my food and health is not in someone else’s hands.
Related reading: What is culinary nutrition?
How to develop your food philosophy
Thinking about what you like and dislike on your ‘table’ or in your pantry will always be dictated by your or your family’s lifestyle and health goals.
This is a great place to start. Look at your buying patterns, what’s in your grocery cart, and what you generally crave.
Hopefully, it is along nutritional lines or a general sense of well-being and common sense.
Conclusion
You don’t need to be a certified culinary nutritionist or holistic health practitioner to know what is good or bad for your health.
Observe what you won’t compromise on in terms of eating style and ingredients. Investigate what those represent to you and what nutritional value they contain.
You’ll immediately see a pattern and soon you’ll understand and become aware of what you stand for when it comes to types of foods, what you’re eating, and where it comes from.
This is the beginning of developing your personal food philosophy.
So you see, having a food philosophy is not just for the ‘professionals’.
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Disclaimer: The content of this article is not offered as professional medical advice. It is nutritional insight that should be followed with discretion and/or in consultation with your healthcare practitioner or physician. Always consult your doctor before embarking on any dietary changes if you are suffering from chronic Eczema. Use the information provided at your sole discretion. See our Legal Policies for more details.
