Through food studies, one can examine the relationships people have with food and analyze how this association discloses an enormous amount of information about them. The food choices people make, either as individuals or as a group, can reveal views, passions, background knowledge, assumptions and personalities of those people.

A common yet strange question that people may run into in their life is “what kind of food would you be?” People can answer this intelligently and impressively if they just think about their strengths and characteristics, and then find a fruit that can explain the importance of these characteristics in a different way.

Asking a few NK students the question of, “if you were a food what would you be?” it was interesting, especially seeing and hearing the different types of reactions that people had. Some individuals were awkward and confused, while others were positive and ready to answer right off the bat. People who knew immediately what they would want to be and why appeared more confident as a person. These type of questions can help people develop a deeper feeling of who they are and how to describe themselves on another level.

When senior Zachary Haines was asked what kind of food he would be, he knew right away and replied with confidence. “I would be a jelly donut because it’s what matters on the inside,” said Haines. Haines is an example of someone who is aware of his personality, embraces his inner self, and appreciates the value of others.

Senior Kate Thomas said, “I would be Dasani water so no one would drink me and I would get to live,” she says. She strongly prefers Poland Spring or Acadia and dislikes Dasani water, so she would never want to drink that and believe no one should.

Junior Tess Chiappone is someone who believes a food that best describes her is an acai bowl, which is a fruit smoothie that has coconut, granola, and fruit on the top. She says, “I enjoy my super fruit and believe that I am one with the earth, and an acai bowl relates to the earth and I am really down to earth and spend all the time I can outside.”

Food has the power to impact people on a level deeper than just our physical well-being. Acknowledging what different food means is an important part of cultivating a good relationship with food. The question, “What food would you be?” allows people to explore their inner self and deeply think about what kind of characteristics they show through every day, as well as think about food in a different way.