Eating on the Edge

Horwitz places eating on the edge in the context of the American fast paced, action-packed lifestyle. In a society that embraces demanding and hectic schedules, food has evolved to meet the needs of contemporary culture. Starting with the idea of a TV dinner, the concept evolved from the basis that watching TV was new and cool, or at least it was in the fifties. Horowitz places an emphasis on eating in “timeless time”, where shifting from occasions such as group or family dinners has led to the development of more easy-to-access meals and snacks. Rather than taking the time to cook and indulge in a meal, a large portion of Americans are beginning to rely on snacks throughout the day to do away with hunger. The author's idea of an adapting and developing food culture is reflected through the way in which food, design and advertisement constantly strive to meet the demands of modern culture (Horowitz 42). That creative change is evident in the adaptive meals which are now offered on long-distance plane flights, such as foods catered to boost or lower your energy, or in the fresh fruits and vegetables that are now sent directly to the International Space Station. The idea of freezing food and dehydrating products is now reserved for the astronaut of past generations. The entirety of Horowitz’s article, Eating on the Edge can be summed up the example he makes of Americans eating on the International Space Station. When comparing the American astronauts to their international counterparts, “Some American crewmembers are content to ‘eat on the run’, and by themselves, whereas many European crewmembers prefer eating a complete meal as a group” (Horwitz 44). Such a distinction between cultures represents the various values that people embrace.

            Eating on the edge is a rather defining force in my life, as the amount of meals I have time to eat in groups or with friends is at best, once a day. When time allows, I rally some friends to go out and eat, either on campus or off campus. Between my classes I often eat alone during random hours of the day, as my schedule so permits. The majority of this time I spend multitasking between consuming food and completing homework. It is pretty sad to some extent that the communal gathering of friends and family seems only applicable to the history books. The future seems to only gain momentum rather than lose it, and with that, the act of eating will deteriorate into a time consuming process that must be addressed while on the road or while working. I know I am guilty of such crimes, and every time I sit down with friends and family not under the pressure of time restraints, I can actually relax and embrace the moment before me. For so long, eating was a staple in community affairs, as well as a unifying factor between immediate and extended families. I know with my small extended family, the time we do spend together is rare yet meaningful, making every family get together all the more enjoyable.