Let Them Have Cake!

Once upon a time, foods like brie, sparkling water, and Belgium chocolates used to denote high class and privilege. Indulging in such luxuries was considered just that, an indulgence, and far from the reaches of the common mill man. However, today these foods can be found in the most mundane of places from your local mall to your local supermarket, and moreover, at prices, which while are not affordable to all, are still feasible to most.

This is the point made by New York Time’s recent article, “When Class Meant Brie and Pears.” To be sure, access to food over the past decades has improved, thus creating the illusion that we as a society have taken steps forward in the food movement. However, as we all know, more is not always better. For what the poor, working, and middle class people actually have more of is not food, but chemicals packaged to resemble food. Don’t believe me, watch the documentary Food Inc.

The consumption of these foods has led to many health problems now facing our country such as obesity, diabetes, and the number one grim reaper, heart disease. Evidence of the movement to help educate the masses about proper diet can be seen in Jamie Oliver’s mini series Food Revolution and the film Food Fight in nytimes. Both demonstrate the danger of cheap over processed food and what we as a society can do to combat these unseen threats. While the article does present a valid point, we the people, are still light-years away from achieving healthy living where everyone has the ability to eat like the rich.

Though necessary for all human life, food has always represented a marker of class. In the past, those who were well fed looked it, hence why older societies used to consider shapely bodies ideal. Now, those with money can afford finer foods, which have evolved into products such as organic, free range, and preservative free. Likewise, society’s image of the ideal woman has transformed into a thin and sometimes emaciated woman who is most likely a vegan.

The idea that access to items such as brie and chocolate represent triumphs for the modern man is absurd. What people need more of is not only food that is free of chemicals, but and education of how to eat.

Side note: Though believed to have said, "Let them eat cake!" it is not clear if Marie Antoinette actually said these words, and more importantly what she meant. There are some who believe the comment, is not meant in sincerity, but as a cruel ironic joke. Sure, give the people cake, when pigs fly!