What are your qualifications for writing about food?

None, officially. My undergrad degree is in Biblical Studies, and I’ve got a Master’s in English. In the space marked “occupation” on forms, I usually put “writer.” But homemaker (or maybe even homesteader) would be equally accurate. I came to writing about food because of my own ‘issues’ with it; I’m writing about it still because I love it, an I love how it points me to God’s love. I’m also passionate about issues of food justice ranging from environmental justice to policy making to school lunches and global hunger.

Do you write about other stuff?

Why, yes I do! I write pretty regularly about other stuff at her.meneutics, the Christianity Today blog for women, and at catapult. I’m thinking of beginning a separate blog to cover other interests (family life, birth–I’m a doula–books, films, all from a faith perspective). I’ll keep you posted on that; meanwhile, I’ll post occasional off-topic stories and reviews–but this blog will always be primarily about food & eating.

Are you into healthy eating?

Kind of. In a way, I’m all about healthy eating, but I like to think of ‘health’ in a broader sense than it’s frequently conceived of. Truly healthy eating, to me, means eating that takes its proper place among the many good gifts of God and creation, and that’s considerate of the needs of the body, of the planet, and of others. For me, ‘healthy’ eating  starts first with gratitude (eg., giving thanks to God) then with consideration of others (eg., buying fair trade and sustainably grown food) then with creativity and enjoyment (preparing food with attention and care) and then with balance (eg., most days we eat fairly simply, but we eat special meals–and cake or something–on special days)

Are you a vegetarian?

Once upon a time I was. And for a time my family and I were de facto vegetarians–we couldn’t really afford sustainably and humanely raised meat. We do eat meat, but sparingly, and, as much as is possible, only from sustainable and humane sources. I’m aware of the arguments in favor of Christian vegetarianism, and while I do believe that the ideal is a nonviolent creation with no death, not even for animals, I also think humans benefit from small amounts of animal food in their diets. (Although not at US levels of consumption, which are unhealthfully excessive.)

Who are some of your favorite food writers/chefs?

I really like Robert Farrar Capon, who wrote The Supper of the Lamb (and, weirdly enough, pastored the church 200 paces from my house when I was little and couldn’t have cared less), Michael Pollan, Wendell Berry, Barbara Kingsolver, Julia Child, Marion Nestle, and Ellyn Satter. Not much connects these folks except a shared love and respect for food and a desire to see it connected to something larger than narrow conceptions of personal health or weight.

Do you struggle with your weight?

Not anymore. While I have never been overweight, I struggled mightily with my weight for a good 10 years (ages 14-24). I’m almost 30 now, and while I do have moments when I ‘feel fat’ or look in the mirror just to tear myself apart, or have the urge to restrict my eating, they are very few and far between. For a period of time in college, I struggled with overeating, perhaps a rebound effect of the rigorous dieting of my high school years. The fact that my actual numerical weight hasn’t fluctuated all that much is probably more reflective of my genes than anything else.

But doesn’t the Bible teach this or that about healthy eating?

There are plenty of ‘Christian diets’ out there. Over the past years, I’ve read every Christian diet book I could get my hands on. I even read a whole book ABOUT Christian diet books. (It’s by Marie Griffiths and it’s really interesting.) But no, I don’t believe that the Bible teaches any particular diet. But that doesn’t mean the Bible has nothing to say about food–far from it! But a theology of food is a different thing from a diet–a prescriptive plan for “what you should eat.” The Bible isn’t that kind of a book. I see it as giving a framework for understanding God, humanity, and the rest of creation, and food plays into that, but as far as teaching “what you should eat”–I don’t think it’s possible for the Bible to do that. It’s asking a question the Bible can’t answer by nature of the kind of book it is.

So what do you think the Bible says about eating?

I think that food is a good gift from a good God who wants to give good things to his children. I think that God created people to live in loving, caring, community, and that eating together is a universal way of forming and cementing that community (most weddings, worldwide and throughout history, involve some kind of mutual feeding–like the cake ceremony). I think Jesus talked about himself as the Bread of Life and the Living Water because his self-sacrificing death and resurrection promises to make all creation New, and food and drink are daily reminders of his sacrifice and that redeeming grace. I think Christians have a real responsibility to practice the Eucharist not just at church, but whenever we eat and drink, and especially when, in eating and drinking, we make an effort to share with those who don’t have enough. And I think that all our eating and drinking and enjoyment is both a wonderful gift in the here-and-now and an anticipation of the day when we’ll sit at the supper of the lamb “and taste how gracious the Lord really is.” (That last bit’s from Robert Farrar Capon.)

Are there any books you’d recommend?

Why, yes. Look at the ‘Books’ page of this blog.

And my book will be appearing from IVP sometime late this year or early next!

Can you answer my specific question?

Don’t know. Maybe! You can contact me at RachelMarie9 AT gmail DOT com.

Why are you blogging on this?

Because I’m grateful to have found peace and joy in my relationship to food (and God, and my body, and others) and I hope that sharing what’s been helpful to me will be helpful to others.