In the modern era, our relationship with food has undergone a significant transformation. With the rise of supermarkets and pre-packaged products, we find ourselves increasingly detached from the sensory experience that once characterized our interactions with food. Gone are the days when we would touch, smell, and listen to the produce before selecting the perfect ingredients for our meals. Instead, we are presented with neatly sealed packages, depriving us of the rich sensory connection we once had with the nourishment we consume.
One of the senses most affected by this shift is touch. Previously, when shopping for fruits, vegetables, or even baked goods, we could feel the texture, firmness, and ripeness of each item with our hands. We could assess the freshness of fish or meat through its texture, and we could gauge the quality of bread based on its crust and springiness. However, in the era of sealed packaging, we are unable to experience these tactile sensations. Our hands are denied the pleasure of interacting directly with food, robbing us of a primal and instinctive connection to our sustenance.
The sense of smell also suffers in this sensory disconnect. Aromas play a crucial role in our enjoyment and understanding of food. The earthy scent of freshly picked herbs, the sweet fragrance of ripe fruits, and the savory aroma wafting from a bustling kitchen were all once an integral part of our culinary experiences. However, in the hermetically sealed aisles of modern supermarkets, the aromas are confined within the packaging. We are no longer enticed by the tantalizing smells that used to beckon us towards a particular product. Our ability to discern the subtleties of different ingredients and savor their olfactory profiles is diminished, leaving us with a diminished gastronomic experience.
Furthermore, the absence of sound exacerbates our sensory disconnect. The crisp crackle of biting into a fresh apple, the satisfying sizzle of food hitting a hot pan, and the delightful crunch of a perfectly baked loaf of bread are all auditory cues that we used to associate with our meals. However, as pre-packaged goods dominate the shelves, these sounds are relegated to memories. The symphony of sounds that once accompanied our food preparation and consumption has been replaced by the monotonous opening of plastic wrappers and the sterile silence of the supermarket aisles.
This sensory disconnect has consequences beyond the loss of pleasure and engagement in our daily lives. It affects our connection to the source of our sustenance, distancing us from the natural origins of our food. We become detached from the farms, fields, and kitchens where our meals are cultivated and prepared. The sensory experience of interacting with food grounded us in a deeper understanding and appreciation of the process that brought it to our tables.
As we navigate this era of sealed packages and supermarket convenience, it is essential to recognize the importance of re-establishing our sensory connection with food. Exploring local farmers’ markets, growing our own produce, and frequenting artisanal food vendors can help rekindle the tactile, olfactory, and auditory experiences we have lost. By actively seeking out opportunities to engage our senses, we can reclaim a richer, more meaningful relationship with the nourishment that sustains us.
This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with Zariya Healings.
You’re right. Online shopping has brought food home, but jas taken away the pleasures of shopping. Buying fruits and vegetables by feeling their texture is altogether lost. The flip side of technology, alas!
I so agree with you, this is the biggest reason I avoid going to supermarket, specially for fruits and vegetables. I prefer local vendors, road side market where the vegetables and fruits are kept unwrapped, Where I can touch, feel and smell the fruits and vegetables before buying them.
I agree, getting in touch with our daily food and their aromas helps in choosing more nourishing veggies.I buy a lot from the local vendors, where I can touch the veggies. I also avoid plastic covered veggies from the department stores. But must visit more farmers’ markets now.
I can totally understand where you’re
coming from Dipali. This topic isnt something I have given much thought to or pondered over. It’s such an interesting thing actually n yes I agree that the convenience of online shopping has robbed us of all these sensory pleasures. But, I for one dislike grocery n vegetable shopping so it’s a boon for a shopping lazy person like me…😛
It is true that no experience is complete and satisfying if it does not involve our five senses. Seeing, Smelling, tasting, feeling, and even hearing. Eating with the hands does give a tactile stimulation which again eating with cutlery has taken away.
I wholeheartedly concur with you, Janaki. While my daughter suggests ordering groceries, I firmly assert my preference to personally visit the vegetable market and handpick fresh fruits and vegetables, allowing me to see, smell, and choose them myself. Every morning after my walk, I pick up absolutely fresh fruits and veggies. The vendors are there at 6am itself.
Sorry i got the name wrong-I wholeheartedly concur with you. While my daughter suggests ordering groceries, I firmly assert my preference to personally visit the vegetable market and handpick fresh fruits and vegetables, allowing me to see, smell, and choose them myself. Every morning after my walk, I pick up absolutely fresh fruits and veggies. The vendors are there at 6am itself.
I so agree with you, touching felling smelling makes alot of difference that to canned food, and in time people are slowly failing to know about food items int heir natural state. Jow they smell or feel.
I agree with your post, the sensory connection to food plays a huge role in gastronomic experience and nourishment. In current times, we often do not realise it or just don’t have the time.
You’re absolutely right that online shopping has made it convenient to bring food straight to our doorstep, but it has also taken away the delightful pleasures of in-person shopping. I can feel you as my sister shop vegetable online because of her hectic schedule.
However, I firmly believe in preserving the joy of connecting with our food firsthand. Personally, I make it a point to venture out and personally select my vegetables when I go shopping. By immersing myself in the process, I can engage my senses, touch and feel the freshness, and truly appreciate the quality of the produce I bring home. It’s an experience that keeps me connected to the primal satisfaction of choosing and preparing my own nourishment.
Absolutely on point, Dipali. Not just for veggies, convenience has taken over everything else too. Back in college, I recall walking by Keventers in CP and being drawn in by the aroma of freshly baked goods. Now the double doors and air conditioning have made it too sanitized. I could well be walking by a clothing store.
Online shopping has changed the concept of buying anything and everything. Whatever we want these days can get it straight at our doorstep and sometimes in some few minutes time of placing order by service providers like Blinkit. I will talk about the pros and cons of these online shopping of food items.
Pros:
1. It saves time which helps us in managing the busy schedules we have in our life.
2. It helps us with fast delivery especially at time of emergency or some surprise gift at home
3. It simplified the life of senior citizens who finds it difficult to reach the market every day for fresh veggies
4. One price with no space for bargaining and sometimes free gifts for being regular customers
Cons:
1. Prices are bit high than regular vedor’s veggies and bargaining not possible
2. Some items are available as packed food which restricts our understanding of the product before taking delivery
3. Freshness sometimes found missing
4. Missing the chance of meeting people whom you know while buying from veggy market
5. No space for bargaining
Its on you to decide if online shopping of food items will be a right choice for you or not. Our lifestyle changed and no more the same like our parents and thats why online concept came into market. We cannot ignore the advantages of in person shopping…. but how much it is feasible in todays time?
I miss the good old days of mandis and haats. These days it is items packed in plastic that you can’t even feel. How can you buy a kharbooja without smelling it first? The worst is getting them online when the quality is dependent on the packer.
Sensory eating didn’t made sense to me until I learned to be a mindful eater. Being the woman in the house, I’m the one in-charge of our meals and therefore, the health of our family, somehow, depends on me. Being mindful in picking the right ingredients and choosing the right recipe to instil a good and healthy body is important.
wow I have no words, every sound has its rhythm that reaches our hearts and yes food has the power to relish our senses.
That was a thought provoking post! I am a big fan of touch and smell and feel and hence I try to do that whenever possible. Even if husband orders online, I try visiting markets just to have a feel of the fruits and vegetables. It gives me a different kind of satisfaction.
So true, with everything being available online we have lots the censory touch. We still love to handpick the fruits and vegetables we consume from the market. Even I prefer to touch and smell the fruits I buy more than just ordering them online to be delivered at our doorstep.
I, with all my heart and soul, agree with you. I do not miss a chance to go to the local supermarket only to touch and check my vegetables before buying. The experience is wholesome and it brings so much joy. I tried the online delivery platforms with Swiggy and Amazon fresh. Though I shouldn’t be disappointed because they provide fresh produce, I did miss the personal touch wrt going grocery shopping. So, I am back at it again 🙂
While I indulge in online shopping for many things, I mostly still buy my veggies and fruits from the local market. I like to have a choice with them based on what looks & feels good. And local produce ensures it is fresh and stays longer in the fridge. I agree completely with you….the pleasure of touch and smell when you shop adds to the charm. For example mangos and jackfruits are plenty this season….and part of what I like when I shop for them is the heady smell.
Well said. I remember the importance my grandparents placed on feeling and smelling the produce to determine its quality, and my mother did the same. It’s different now but we should certainly attempt to go back to this practice.