What is it about food that makes it such a joy to be around? Is it the taste, look, texture, or aroma? And how about when all these things amalgamate to provide the individual with one of life’s great pleasures – eating!

So how does it feel when you lose any of these practical yet emotional factors? When everything looks or tastes the same, there’s little or no aroma to savour, and you have to let go of all the fun.

It seems that today many people live with a food restriction or allergy.

Sometimes this is self-imposed, and other times it’s a requirement of living a life without uncomfortable symptoms. There are gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, pescatarian, vegetarian, full carnivore, and chemical-free, just to name a few choices.

Trips to the supermarket are quick, with whole aisles being bypassed, something I’m now familiar with in my pescatarian, mainly organic, colourful vegetables-only world. But that pales when compared to one of my best mates (C.B.), who lives on a meat-only diet that occasionally sees a slab of blue cheese added. Although it’s easy to fall into judgement, it’s best not to.

Food doesn’t need to be a battleground. Instead, it’s a way to show love and care and is an essential part of life’s adventure. Well, it is for me, and I trust it always will be.

So, eat up (what you can!), be happy, and enjoy the experience that great food (of your choice) provides.

Appetite for adventure: how we choose our food