Part 2: Salt, Sugar, and Social Media

A personal essay about how and why I quit

When we were newlywed, my husband used to say to me, “Your family lives to eat, but my family eats to live.” I couldn’t really argue with that statement. There’s truth to it, but I would add that in my family, food doesn’t just grab our taste buds; a meal is an event of laughter and deep conversations. It’s sharing memories and trading recipes. It’s a chance to catch up on the family news and marvel at how much the babies have grown. It’s an opportunity to gather in a circle, grab the hand of the person next to you, and pray. Yes, the food is delicious, but it’s mainly a valid excuse to be together because…you gotta eat.

The food I grew up eating had lots of salt and flour. I would venture to say that just about every meal had to have these two very crucial ingredients even to be considered a meal. Breakfast, seasoned eggs, and a stack of …