"Im Thin Therefore I Am" by Nicci Gerrard

In society today, I believe that Gerrard's excerpt can relate to many issues that people face over weight. Between the peer pressure that claims the most attractive people are those who are slim and fit, and the media that idolizes slim beautiful models, weight can be an overwhelming issue for overweight individuals.   

In the excerpt, Gerrard seems to place food on a pedestal by continuously repeating, "food is symbolic" as if a meal empowers the person who makes it, especially women. On page 113, Gerrard states, "When a woman cooks a meal for her family, it can be as if she is offering a bit of herself-as if food actually comes from her body, like a sacrament (this of course makes it difficult to reject, and so food gets all tied up in guilt, as well)." According to Gerrard, food gives the woman the ability to sacrifice a bit of herself to her family.

After reading this excerpt, I noticed that Nicci Gerrard is a very descriptive writer. She began this section by describing the foods she eats during each mood she encounters throughout the day. Using such examples as eating roast peppers, rice pudding, and shortbread biscuits when tired, and eating a tomato or carrots when she was bored, paints a vivid picture for her reader. She also uses sensory imagery such as bakery smells to draw in the reader even further.