How to Feed the World: Understanding the Emotional Value of Food
A Plan for 8 Billion People and Beyond — Part 7
It is no secret that food controls our emotions. We crave certain foods instead of others. These subtle mechanisms evolved during our times as a wild species when we had to face constant scarcity and are in many ways backfiring in modern times of abundance.
For the most part, items of high caloric density, such as nuts, seeds, or insects, were hard to come by. Even sweet fruits were not always easy to forage. Animal meat carried its own set of risks for the hunter; animals don’t readily surrender themselves and fight with all they have; claws, paws, and other anatomical features that are designed to bite, sting, and provide self-defense.
Our taste evolved to give us a value system in that world. Cravings ensured we go the extra mile (sometimes quite literally) for foods with a higher nutritional value. We feel good and fuzzy inside when we find and eat such food; they provide emotional comfort and consolation. After a hearty fat meal, we feel less stressed out; our worries fade into the background. The only thing left to do is lay down and have a nice soothing nap.
Then again, other items have just the opposite effect; they make us agitated and even nervous at times. But why would…
