When you thought about your most recent meal, what was the first thing you thought?
"What am I in the mood for?"
"What kind of flavours and tastes do I want?"
"Who can I eat with?"
During an emergency or conflict, food takes on a new meaning. It's no longer about comfort, enjoyment or socialisation. In survival situations, the questions instead become:
"What am I able to get?"
"How long does this meal need to sustain me?"
"Is it safe to go outside?"
During emergencies and conflicts, the types of foods that people can access become far more restricted, especially when supply lines deteriorate or food producing industries are disrupted.
Emergency foods also tend to be very basic, like rice, dry biscuits, watery soups and other basic staples. Variety is a luxury, and priority is given to shelf-stable, non-perishable items.
Survival situations caused by human conflict strip away a profoundly human experience.
The simple pleasure of choosing and savouring flavours is stolen, and opportunities to share meals with others vanishes. It's a minor cruelty that's easy to overlook, and one of the many ways that conflict dehumanises people. This is an equal reality in non-conflict zones too - areas experiencing drought, extended food shortages or bad crop yields have to make similar choices.
Next time you have a meal, reflect on the comfort, joy and sustenance it provides. Think of those who don't have that luxury.
It's a testament to human creativity when people can make the best of what little they have - adding spices, stretching out ingredients and coming up with creative solutions to bring some comfort to their meals. But in many cases, the resources simply aren't there.
Jen (our Operations Officer) took some emergency rations with her to The Abbey so that people could taste and see first hand what survival food is like. Check out their surprising reactions below!