What Does “Real Food” Mean to You?

By Lacey / September 19, 2011 - 0 comments

Today I stumbled across a post by Jerry Russell of Cooking…By the Seat of my Pants! that really caught my eye.

The Hellman’s marketing team had asked Jerry to write a blog entry that answered the question, “What does ‘real food’ mean to you?” He wrote:

    “Real Food is any food that is made with love that brings people together and creates memories."

Yes, you heard me right. I did say ANY FOOD, regardless of how it was made, where it came from, or who made it. Anything from the perfect Steak Dianne all the way to Kraft® Macaroni and Cheese from the lil’ blue box. If it’s made with love in your heart, gets family or friends around a table and creates a memory for those involved, it is, in my humble opinion, the realest food that you can get." 

What a great definition! It got me thinking about how I’d answer the same question.

To me, personally, real foods are ones that my grandma would recognize. When it comes to foods like florescent orange cone shaped snack crackers, I can imagine her asking quizzically, “What are heck are these made out of?"

Beyond that, when I think of "real food" my first impression is about the kind of foods I eat with my family. Foods I’m used to seeing on my plate and that are easily identifiable as an entrée, side dish, dessert, and so on.

I guess I’d also say that “real foods” for me are also ones I’m not embarrassed to serve people who come over to my house. You know—foods that don’t spray out of an aerosol can.

How about you—what does “real food” mean to you? How important (or not) is it to you?