Human-Food Interaction

— J.R.R. Tolkien

— Luciano Pavarotti

Food is undeniably an essential facet of our life. From birth until the moment we die, we spend countless hours procuring, preparing, eating and digesting food (Rozin et al., 2003). Food engages our senses and connects us with other people. Food also has a rich cultural and social history. Its preparation, consumption and even its mere sight bring us immense joy (Cabanac, 2010; Lupton, 1996). As French gastronome Brillat-Savarin (Brillat-Savarin and Buford, 2011) notes, pleasures associated with eating and drinking constitute some of life’s most enjoyable...