Does food have to look and taste good, or just be good?
By Carl Halling
@CarlHalling (3617)
United Kingdom
January 31, 2007 10:17pm CST
When you are serving a meal, should it look good, or just be good for you? If you pile everything together in a big chaotic jumble...rice, onions, broccoli, tomato, carrots, celery...it will all be very nutritious and very, very good for you! But would you do this, or is it important that a meal also look good, and of course taste good?
4 people like this
8 responses
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
1 Feb 07
I believe presentation makes a very big difference. Firstly, a well presented meal on a nicely laid table sets the attitude. Soft soothing instrumental or piano music in the background improves it even more (at least for our age group)
A plain and simple meal can be made to look like a feast and will become more enjoyable. The placement of colours on the plate make a difference to the general appearance.
Of course, the best ingredient of all is a happy disposition and enjoyable company. Happy eating!
1 person likes this
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
1 Feb 07
You're right, CW. Perhaps we all have too many TV dinners, during which we get all excited over what we are watching, rather than relax during meals. That can't be healthy.
@finlander60 (1804)
• United States
1 Feb 07
People do not eat only with their mouth. They eat first with their nose, by which I mean that if it smells good their mouth is already starting to enjoy it. They eat second with their eyes, which means that if it looks good their mouth is already enjoying it. They eat third with their mouth, which means that if their eyes and their nose have already decided that it is good to eat, their mouth can be fooled. I hope this answered your question.
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
1 Feb 07
It does, thank you, and I think you are right: a meal is more than its contents.
@ElusiveButterfly (45942)
• United States
2 Feb 07
If the food looks good before it is placed on the plate, it is good enough to eat. Of course the aroma has to be just as appealing. When it goes on the plate it does not have to look like it was plated by a 4 star chef. But, I don't want it dumped into a pile. I get a little perturbed when my husband serves say the mashed potatoes. He will just spoon it on the plate and let it land anywhere. I am not picky about foods touching each other, but don't pile them atop one another either.
My mother used to tell us when we were kids to shut up and eat, it all ends up in the same place.
@Idlewild (6090)
• United States
2 Feb 07
Guess I'm from the 'chaotic jumble' school of bachelor cooking... ;-)
It doesn't have to look good, but it does have to taste good (or at least NOT taste bad)
I try to make nutritious meals in a short amount of time, which doesn't leave a lot of time for style and presentation.
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
4 Feb 07
I don't like to spend much time preparing meals I have to confess. Somtimes I eat my breakfast on the go, although I eat very little for it.
@candygurl24 (1880)
• Canada
1 Feb 07
I take pride in how a meal looks as well as how it tastes. Appearance is alot for some people, but if I'm making a goulash type meal or mixed rice and veggies, it isn't going to look beautiful, but you can still make it look appetizing.
