So what is food after all? It is any nutritious substance that people or animals eat or drink, or that plants absorb, in order to maintain life and growth. And where does food up after ingestion and digestion? Yes, we all know where.

Food is what makes us walk, breathe, think, wake up in the morning; it keeps us warm when it is cold and cools us down when it is hot. It feels like a heartfelt hug when we are alone and enriches the presence of loved ones when we sit at a table and share it.

We miss food when it is not there and the simple whiff of a familiar dish can bring on a flood of memories from childhood, the smile of your aunt, a picnic on the beach or the joy of a first date. It fuels not only our body but also our imagination.

So why wouldn’t I take a picture of something so important? It took a while for people to understand my obsession with carrying a camera to every restaurant I go to. But they get it now.

If I do not take a picture of a food, how would it be preserved after it is eaten? Memories of meals prepared, shared, of laughter over a burnt roast, of tears shed and conversations that changed our lives will last even longer if you take the time to snap a photo of what was eaten when these things happened.

“There is something quietly civilizing about sharing a meal with other people. The simple act of making someone something to eat, even a bowl of soup or a loaf of bread, has a many-layered meaning. It suggests an act of protection and caring, of generosity and intimacy. It is in itself a sign of respect.” – Nigel Slater

So take photos of your food and share them. After all, it is part of your history and you would not want that to end up in a toilet bowl without being recorded, would you?

Cover photo by Anna Verdina (Karnova)

For more photos by Carmen Mariani

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmariani/