Man V. Food: The Cable Television Show that Turns My Stomach

"Man v. Food" is the Travel Channel's latest United States-only travelogue mixed up somehow with an eating contest or challenge. The host of the series is one Adam Richman, a self-trained food professional who has years of experience sampling foods across the country, from many different cultures. In addition to his dining experience, he has a Master's Degree in Drama from Yale University, which no doubt contributes to his TV screen presence.

The show does have many redeeming qualities. Mr. Richman spends time beforehand touring many restaurants and sampling their foods. The viewer is treated to cooking techniques and insights from the chefs and restaurant personnel, and tours of whichever area is being profiled as well.

The problem I have with the show is the eating challenge part. I should preface my comments by saying that I don't understand the title of the show, "Man v. Food." I need some clarification here - was Mr. Richman ever assaulted by a frittata? Or ambushed by a salad? As far as I can tell, Mr. Richman has the advantage in these "fights." I have yet to see a cheeseburger take him on wearing boxing gloves. (If I ever do get to see this, my bet will be on the cheeseburger.)

I could object to this show on many different bases. For instance, I could object to the spectacle of watching this guy stuff four one-pound sandwiches into his mouth at one sitting, while many people across the globe right now (including a substantial number in the United States) are unable to obtain food. I guess the Travel Channel's argument would be that anyone who can afford cable is probably not going hungry right now, but that may be a dangerous assumption.

Or I could object to the spectacle of watching someone slowly commit suicide onscreen, episode by episode. Mr. Richman is consuming restaurant food, which is typically high in fat and laden with animal proteins. One of my oncologist friends pointed out that animal proteins are perfectly okay to consume, as long as they're served with an equivalent amount of vegetables and carbohydrates. It strikes me that much of Mr. Richman's onscreen eating is awfully top-heavy on the food pyramid. In fact, his food pyramid is inverted, with the animal proteins on the top.

But my biggest issue with "Man v. Food" has nothing to do with world hunger or Mr. Richman's health, although it probably should be. I object to the show's general attitude towards food. I believe that the production and consumption of food should be regarded with reverence, and "Man v. Food" falls short in that department.

Every prominent world culture regards food with respect. That's the basis for "giving thanks" before meals. We're not just thanking God, or a Higher Intelligence, if we are so inclined. We are also thanking our forebears, for all of their valiant efforts to ensure that we won't suffer periods of hunger like they did. The Native Americans have a tradition of thanking both the Creator and the animal who gave up its life to feed them, during the hunting and cooking procedures. Foodbycountry.com states that, "Native Americans had a number of spiritual customs connected with food. The Comanches used to thank the Creator for their food. They would hold a piece of food toward the sky and then burn it as an offering. Cherokee medicine men offered a special apology to the Corn Spirit after their people cut down the ripened corn stalks. In the Southwest, hunters tried to inhale the last breath of animals they killed so that the spirit of the animals would be kept alive."

It's interesting to speculate on what the Comanches of yore would have thought of "Man v. Food." I'm thinking the general response would have been outrage and disgust. And this is sort of what my response is. "Sort of" because the other parts of the show are actually kind of cool. If you'd like to check out Adam Richman's vlog on his experiences as he eats his way across the United States, I have listed it as a reference below, along with a link to the Travel Channel. He's an interesting guy, and I'm sure there's a lot to be learned from his travels. It's just the eating challenges that scare me ...

http://www.foodbycountry.com/Spain-to-Zimbabwe-Cumulative-Index/United-States-Native-Americans.html

http://www.travelchannel.com/Video_&_Photos/Video_Detail?lineupId=3826925001

http://www.travelchannel.com/