Horwitz: Shift in Eating Habits

In “Eating on the Edge” Horwitz discusses a shift in our society from eating at the dinner table together to eating alone or on the go. According to Horwitz, “everything is under revision” (42). Whether it is Swanson TV dinners or Campbell’s Soup at Hand (no pots, spoons, or bowls necessary) our society is changing. Even though only twenty percent of household’s had televisions when Swanson TV dinners came out, the meals provided a “taste of freedom” (44). Horwitz argues here that these TV dinners were the dazzling effects that started a trend toward single serving and meals on the go. Horwitz continues his argument of cultural food changes with astronauts. According to a NASA nutritionist, European astronauts prefer to eat in groups while American’s prefer eating alone; this is a change from the picture in the article of a 1973 crew (44-45). Convenience—shift off of dehydrated food for astronauts—influences the way our society interacts with others around food.

Horwitz finalizes his argument of “Eating on the Edge” through college students. “Microwaves and refrigerators found in nearly every office and dorm room” (46) have allowed students and workers to eat at their convenience. Rigorous schedules prohibit eating times; some days all I have time for is to grab a sandwich from Olin’s cart and scramble to eat it before my lecture starts. In Horwitz’s article, he mentions his own student scarfing down a sandwich before the beginning of class.

Horwitz brings together his argument through his personal experiences: students in his lectures and eating Swanson TV dinners himself. Even though Horwitz argues our food cultures have changed, I still find time to eat with friends as much as possible. I no longer have the opportunity to have family cooked meals while at college, but I have started a new tradition of eating dinner every night with friends. Food cultures are changing according to Horwitz, but that does not mean traditions need to be changed.