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Because of media hype and woefully inadequate information, too many people nowadays are deathly afraid of their food, and what does fear of food do to the digestive system? ... I, for one, would much rather swoon over a few thin slices of prime beefsteak, or one small serving of chocolate mousse, or a sliver of foie gras than indulge to the full on such nonentities as fat-free gelatin puddings.
Julia Child
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote emphasizes the importance of enjoying food without fear and the absurdity of avoiding indulgence due to misinformation.

Julia Child encourages people to take pleasure in enjoying good food rather than succumbing to the fears and misconceptions propagated by the media about what is healthy. She implies that excessive caution around food can lead to negative effects on our enjoyment of eating and our digestive health. By contrasting the delight of rich food with bland, low-calorie alternatives, she advocates for a balanced approach to food that celebrates taste and quality over unfounded fears driven by hype.

Themes

FoodFearEnjoymentIndulgenceMediaNutrition

In practice

Example use cases

In a cooking class to encourage creativity and freedom in the kitchen, one could quote Julia Child to emphasize the joy of cooking.

More from Julia Child

We had a happy marriage because we were together all the time. We were friends as well as husband and wife. We just had a good time.
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The egg can be your best friend if you just give it the right break
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I always give my bird a generous butter massage before I put it in the oven. Why? Because I think the chicken likes it -- and, more important, I like to give it.
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Upon reflection, I decided I had three main weaknesses: I was confused (evidenced by a lack of facts, an inability to coordinate my thoughts, and an inability to verbalize my ideas); I had a lack of confidence, which cause me to back down from forcefully stated positions; and I was overly emotional at the expense of careful, 'scientific' though. I was thirty-seven years old and still discovering who I was.
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The best way to execute French cooking is to get good and loaded and whack the hell out of a chicken.
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Wine is one of the agreeable and essential ingredients of life
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