Indeed, you could say, if it were not for food, we wouldn't have family histories. We definitely would not have so many wonderful memories and stories to share. We now live in a time when food is analyzed for its caloric content, fat percentage, carbohydrate value, etc. It is true that food can help us with all of these things. But in our desire to be scientific and analytical, let us not lose the joy of food, and the deeper meanings of shared sustenance.
Meals provide more than just physical fuel, but help nourish the soul and cement family bonds.
For many families, whose lives were so often fraught with poverty, premature death, and uncertain futures, the kitchen table was a place of reassurance and connection. It is not coincidental that the largest room in most older homes is usually the kitchen. It was both the literal and figurative heart of the home. Family historians often focus on male ancestors, their names, their professions, and their military exploits. Indeed, our female ancestors' names often went unrecorded, and their contributions unrecognized.