"You Are What You Eat"

Whenever I’ve heard of “you are what you eat,” it’s usually from a position of caution. My dad used to repeat this mantra whenever I would go into the kitchen pantry, scavenging for snacks. However, I’m not exactly sure what this phrase means. Maybe I’m looking at it too literally. If I take out a bag of Cheetos and starts chowing it down, does that automatically make me a Cheeto? I don’t think so.

What people probably mean when they say this phrase is something more metaphorical. If you continually eat unhealthy food, such as cake, ice cream, and chips, that must make you an unhealthy person. If you eat your fruits and veggies, on the other hand, that makes you a healthy person. Something you should strive to become.

But can this phrase be looked at from other angles? Probably. What if the true meaning of “you are what you eat” is related to personality?

Surely we’ve all seen those Buzzfeed tests online, where you choose your favorite foods and it’ll tell you what Harry Potter character you are. What if these tests were based on “you are what you eat?”

If I see someone try frog legs, I’m going to assume they have an adventurous personality. That they’re bold and brave, and nothing ever phases them. If I see someone order bubble gum ice cream, I’m going to assume they have a bright and bubbly personality. And if you only eat rice, beans, and chicken for lunch, I’m going to assume that you’re probably a gym rat who’s on the cut.

So even though my dad always told me this phrase to steer me away from the “junk food,” maybe I was simply born to feast on chocolate cake and popsicles.

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