Not long ago I read a review in Salon of the book Hungry Planet, and I was immediately captivated by its concept. Photographed by Peter Menzel and written by Faith D’Aluisio, the book documents 30 families in 24 countries and the food they consume over the course of a week. It’s a simple idea that reveals a wealth of cultural detail.
I’ve always been fascinated by what people eat around the world. While some people ask about the weather, I instinctively ask about meals — “What did you have for breakfast?” or “What are you having for dinner?” My curiosity has often made me the butt of jokes: friends teased me for carrying snacks everywhere or thinking about dinner while eating breakfast. But planning and preparing food is central to daily life, and understanding that process matters.
Are we what we eat?
