#sociology-of-eating

#sociology-of-eating

Oftentimes, fast-food employees are working long shifts, and standing there serving customer after customer while freezing is incredibly miserable for the employee. It can also make the floors of the store wet, creating unsafe working conditions... Instead, just turn the wipers back on after you are a few feet ahead of the window.

"It's exploding! 253 bouillon restaurants have opened in France in four years," Bernard Boutboul, a restaurant consultant, told AFP.

Hugo Steinhaus formulated a problem in 1938: Is it always possible to bisect three solids by one plane? He illustrated this with a sandwich example.

We generally average about $250 a week on food and a Costco trip every six to eight weeks that hits between $500 and $600. We've been shopping primarily at Aldi's & Trader Joe's because we go through so much fruit. A year ago, that $250 a week would actually last close to two weeks.

You may have heard that organic vegetables are right-wing now. That raw milk is the gateway to MAGA. That supplements are for fascists. You may be unsure just how this happened. It seems like only yesterday that vegetables were for hippies; that eco-communists-not MAHA momfluencers-were spreading the good word of pesticide-free potatoes.

I grew up in a Mexican household where food was our love language - but there was also stigma and very little guidance around diabetes. When my aunt, and later my mom, were diagnosed, it took time to understand what healthy eating could look like for them. That's why this partnership means so much to me. Our culture and our food are not the problem - they're part of the solution.

A 72-count box of store-brand K-Cups is almost $30. A 64-ounce bottle of coffee creamer is almost $8. A 4-pound bag of sugar (shrinkflation; it used to be 5 pounds) is almost $10. These aren't luxuries.

Can architecture be built from food? Between the fire that warms, the smells that spread, and the bodies that gather around the table, the apparent banality of cooking and eating reveals itself as a choreographed dance of spatial appropriation and belonging. These gestures organize routines, produce bonds, and transform the built environment into lived place. The kitchen- domestic, communal, or urban -thus ceases to be merely a functional space and affirms itself as a territory of encounter.

Last month, I found myself at a friend's dinner table, surrounded by strangers. What started as polite small talk about the weather quickly evolved into a fascinating discussion about urban development, the role of art in society, and how different countries approach healthcare. Three hours flew by. Walking home that night, I realized something. The people who seemed most at ease weren't necessarily the ones with the most degrees or the fanciest job titles.

A 2025 survey by Nation's Restaurant News and Belle Communications found that about 73% of millennial and Gen Z diners visit restaurants based on social media reviews. Search for "New York City Semma review" to find feedback on one of the city's most acclaimed Indian spots, and you'll see TikTok videos appear in the results before written reviews from The New York Times and The Infatuation. The way we learn about restaurants has changed, and as a result, a notable degree of power has been handed to food lovers on the internet.

"Red meat can definitely fit into a balanced diet," she says. "It is rich in iron, vitamin B12, zinc, and high-quality protein that supports energy levels, metabolism, and muscle growth. Despite these health benefits, however, overconsumption is possible. "Where we see more concern is when intake is higher over time," Benson adds, "especially with processed red meat, and especially when fiber intake is low."

I used to think it was just good manners drilled in by strict parents, but after interviewing behavioral researchers for a recent piece on social dynamics, I've discovered there's something much deeper at play here. This seemingly small gesture-waiting for others before diving into your meal-actually reveals a fascinating cluster of personality traits that psychologists link to both personal and professional success. The research suggests these patient diners aren't just being polite; they're demonstrating qualities that make them exceptionally good friends, partners, and colleagues.

Food waste in America is a significant and persistent problem that often goes unnoticed. According to a 2010 USDA study, 30-40% of our country's entire food supply winds up in landfills each year - almost 70 million tons. That's about $161 billion worth of food, meaning the average family's food waste totals around $3,000 a year. And while an enormous portion of our food supply is simply thrown away, roughly 48 million Americans - including one in five children - experience food insecurity.

I'm thrilled I did, and my learning curve was vertical in this page-turning work that "offers a hopeful and rigorously researched exploration of how science, policy, and industry can work together to satisfy the world's soaring demand for meat, while building a healthier and more sustainable world." There is nothing "radical" about what likely will become a classic, one that is already endorsed by experts in global hunger, global health, climate change, and food security.