erewhon hauls, ozempic, and chefluencers

#Sponsored ‪@audible‬
New members can try it free. Visit audible.com/gremlita for a free trial of Audible.
➤ NEWSLETTER
minale.substack.com/
➤ PRODUCTION
written by Mina Le
edited by Charlee Reiff
➤ SOCIALS
Instagram: / gremlita
TikTok: / gremlita
Letterboxd: boxd.it/7YgX
➤ CONTACT
Business email: [e-mail]
➤ SOURCES
From Haute Cooking to Fast Food Chic: The Pairing of Food and Fashion by Melissa Marra-Alvarez
Haute Couture, Haute Cuisine by Elizabeth Way in Food & Fashion (2022)
Hippy to couture: Slow food fashion and fast food fashion by Adam Geczy and Vicki Karaminas
Food Power: The Rise and Fall of the Postwar American Food System by Bryan L. McDonald
The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan
Avocado Toast and Blonde Salad: Critical Perspectives on Fashion and Food on Instagram by Monica Titton
Don’t Eat That: Food, Fashion, Dieting, and Disorder By Emma McClendon
www.voguebusiness.com/fashion...
core.ac.uk/download/pdf/21351...
www.bbc.com/culture/article/2...
www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/f...
“The Fabulous Market for Food,” Fortune, October 1953, p. 137
“Fill Your Easter Basket with These IGA Savings,” Lewiston Daily Sun (Maine), April 8, 1955, 9.
philau.digication.com/greenhi...
www.erewhonmarket.com/about/
www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mcki...
www.empowordjournalism.com/al...
www.thecut.com/2010/09/terry_...
www.esquire.com.au/food-drink...
www.viksbusycorner.com/p/hot-...
www.independent.co.uk/life-st...
www.cartoonshateher.com/p/fri...
www.nssmag.com/en/lifestyle/3...
www.voguebusiness.com/fashion...
fashionista.com/2016/03/bella...
web.archive.org/web/201508080...
www.seventeen.com/celebrity/n...
www.toronto.com/things-to-do/...
www.theguardian.com/lifeandst...
The Diet’s the Thing,” in Vogue, September 15, 1913, Vol. 42, Issue 6: 108.
digitalcommons.georgiasouther...
www.thecut.com/2010/09/terry_...
www.cnn.com/2023/10/05/invest...
www.wsj.com/business/ozempic-...
0:00 - intro
3:57 - food as luxury
7:27 - the food system
14:43 - the rise of chefluencers
22:02 - brandification
30:30 - conclusion

[@pixiequeer]

with regard to the male chefluencer -- cooking is regarded as "women's work" until it comes to the professional sector. women struggle to gain prestige in kitchens, and it is mostly men who are famous chefs. similarly to teaching, where it's "for women" until you get to higher education, where the archetypical professor is assumed to be a man.

[@Kaybye555]

My thoughts exactly as I listened to that part

[@OpheliaNL]

Because it's fine as long as it's in servitude to men, not to rise above or god forbid... Command men in the kitchen.

[@katdifranco]

Women are expected to ~bake~

[@SawyBoy]

One of the first things we learn in culinary school. Plus it’s obvious in the classroom to begin with as there are like 5 women to 12-15 men. Most of my teachers were men too.

[@meghansullivan6812]

Omfg totally

[@originaozz]

The last bit with the rise of Ozempic reminded me of a scene in The Hunger Games where the capitol citizens feast on extravagant meals only to gag it out to stay in shape. All that while everyone else is starving.

[@_iyakin]

the way the hunger games aged is something else isnt it?

[@merrymermaid]

the roman aristocracy did that in real life. our class system literally has not changed for thousands of years

[@chrisaeco5894]

I will say that you cannot do this on Ozempic or any other semaglutide. It physically makes you unable to eat mass quantities of food. Your stomach gets fuller and most of the nausea occurs if you eat a food the medicine does not agree with like greasy foods, sugar rich, etc.

[@joreadsbooks1]

I was just talking to my husband about this! Hunger Games stays relevant lol

[@katphew]

actually if i remember correctly they did it not to stay in shape but to be able to eat more, as there was just so many different dishes prepared, which makes it even more gruesome

[@sanj2053]

Babe wake up, new unmissable long form essay on moments of culture by miss ma’am just dropped!

[@tib8072]

sis literally does not miss

[@439801RS]

Miss ma'am 😂

[@b6yce]

I always thought that post lockdown , that Rich people now use food (and an abundance of it) to show their wealth. for example Kim Kardashian using REALLLLL fruits for home decor.

[@nathy0308]

Yep I've noticed this too

[@sunnydays07]

She’s really going for the Georgian England “ooo I have a pineapple everyone look at it” vibe

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Also, Miss Kendall cutting cucumbers??

[@FM-jk6ii]

Jordan Theresa made a video talking about this!

[@dylpickled]

We are NOT post Covid

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Erewhon erewher all at once.

[@yashikasahrawat]

Omg hi 😭

[@PokhrajRoy.]

@@yashikasahrawat HI!

[@Sandra-lu3ri]

ha!

[@brennaalexis8342]

Nice

[@PokhrajRoy.]

@@brennaalexis8342 Thank you!

[@Scipio0404]

I feel so bad for the foods that those tiktok chef men violated. 😭😭

[@ayanomar1408]

I feel like their accoubts should be flagged or somethibg😵‍💫

[@bakedpotato1717]

Seriously 💀 my skin crawled seeing him lick the dripping milk Ew!

[@phoebethesapphic7289]

@@bakedpotato1717that’s not even the worst of it 😳 there’s one guy that basically f*ngers the animal before cooking it 😳😳😳

[@sadmermaid]

I ordered a late night sadness dinner-dessert, and accidentally got food from one of the main gross dudes, it had a weird name so I googled it. It wasn't very good, tbh.

[@milikoshki]

I do not get HOW and in what world people find that appealing 😑

[@PicturesqePrincess]

Partner of a chef here: although the romanticizing of cooking/being cooked for is lovely (and very helpful for when you’ve had a busy day), most of this content conveniently glosses over the fact that chefs work super long hours (often very late and over weekends/holidays) in hot environments for 10+ hours on their feet, with sometimes no breaks for meals themselves or even to go to the bathroom. One of my favorite parts of the Bear was in episode one when Camry comes home after a shift, haphazardly makes himself a PB&J and immediately falls asleep, because THATS more realistic for a typical night as a chef.

[@Jordan-db2og]

I've gained at least 50lbs and a lot more aches and pains in my less than 5 years as a chef. It's so physically and mentally unhealthy but it's upheld by a super toxic "suck it up" work culture

[@johnindigo5477]

A review of the show written by a chef said the same thing about the crashing home scene

[@supersonicrocket-ship7489]

When I was a chef. I had the worst diet. My health and weight was at an all time low. So glad I’m out and now can enjoy cooking

[@marygem]

When visiting France, I learned that the 14th, the Sun King, had Versailles designed so that he could be seen in the sun all day by moving from room to room as the sun moved. 😊☀️

[@Dr.k0ckersmd]

He also was a pioneer in ballet being imposed into French culture.

[@moustik31]

So THAT's what all these "salons" were for?!

[@melonjuice7441]

@@Dr.k0ckersmd ballet was a front for prostitution

[@petronille7877]

@@moustik31not only they where also places in which people socialise.

[@teadrinker214]

i think fashion as an industry has always been obsessed with what celebrities and models are eating-models used to pretend they ate hamburgers and fries like everybody else, and now they're showing off their "organic," "clean," and "natural" food that likely isn't that all that much healthier than any other fruit/vegetable heavy diet. and we're dealing with the growth of orthorexia as a eating disorder, more and more people are convinced they have to have the appearance of a perfect luxury diet along with the appearance of a luxury life. and like most ways class differences shape consumerism, we've created a two-tiered food system, one for wealthy or upper class people, and one for poorer people. and the proliferation of aspirational wealth has also created an aspirational diet.

[@Matt-id5mi]

ortho what

[@trillabee475]

​@@Matt-id5mi orthorexia is an eating disorder in which you only eat "clean", healthy foods, thinking anything else will cause significant weight gain or harm. it's prominent in gym or any other exercise-addiction circles the most, but it can happen to anyone. as far as i know, it hasn't made an appearance in the DSM-5 yet but it's well known enough to have it's own criteria for diagnosis and can land you in a treatment facility.

[@melowlw8638]

​@@Matt-id5mi from what i understand orthorexia is an eating disorder that "looks" like everything is okay, and is characterised by the person controlling their food and the way they live (workouts notably, from what i see) in a way that makes it seem they r very healthy and balanced, when in fact they r over thinking every calorie and exercise to an excessive and stressful degree so some people for example, who base their media influence on eating healthy and being very fit, are actually constantly stressed and over controlling their food consumption and sport practice i hope that helped?? do check google for more precise info lol

[@bandanarathore]

I personally think that the middle class think that they are among poorer when compared to really rich people and influencers. But we are not poor. We have a full belly roof over our heads and then we also have money for following the stupid trends (I know many do it on credit, but actual poor people aren't able to have multiple bug limit cards). Middle class is the most mentally troubled class.

[@rai2423]

@@bandanarathoreThat is cause the middle class is slowly disappearing. People can tell that they don’t have as much as their parents even though they are middle class.

[@RyneKlym]

As a woman who has worked in the kitchen industry it is one of the many things in the world that are "women's job" until money is involved... being a women trying to make it not just as a professional chef, but just in a regular kitchen employee is choked full of sexism. Men cooking is not sexy to me, it's just bad memories of sexist egos

[@user-ts5cj3kx9k]

agree. was thinking the same thing.

[@liisaky]

Same with “nurse = woman, surgeon = man”

[@Jordan-db2og]

Besides our head chef, the kitchen I work in has an all female team and we featured in a local newspaper for intl woman's day and the sexist comments on it were disgusting

[@MC-uq3qj]

well said.

[@Neyam_Star]

Wow

[@sheridanfrancis4814]

As a Canadian, food is a really hot button topic right now. Prices for food have never been higher, and a major grocery store chain is even being boycott starting this month. I feel like the current cultural obsession with food is similar to other wealth signifiers. It’s aspirational to the masses, and a flex for the rich. I think knowing as well that many of the ultra rich, and ultra thin, are not even really eating that food ads a layer of fascination and contempt.

[@summer-xt1gg]

As a Canadian with family in the north; food prices have always been astronomical for some Canadians. People in Inuvik etc pay $30 USD for a bottle of juice and it’s been that way forever! To me, it feels dystopian that only when it impacts everyone do we care. Even now, most of Canada is paying cheap prices in comparison to the North.

[@Violet.18]

Let the Loblaws boycott begin!!! 👏👏👏

[@CoCreation.with.Qualia]

@@Violet.18I want to know! Because they actually are my source of food a lot of the time, making expensive foods more affordable

[@CoCreation.with.Qualia]

The groceries have been pricy for a while, yet you are right, we don’t even know how bad it can be - and in a big city like Vancouver you can still find discounted high-value foods.

[@itsanu1420]

And the problem is greedflation but people keep spinning this as a problem with too much regulation when it’s an issue of not enough regulation:(

[@zerochill3637]

the amount of research and deep dives you do for your video essays is phenomenal but the way you present them is even more arresting somehow? I love how you seamlessly blend issues together, it always feels so interconnected, almost like you weave a cultural tapestry. also it's lovely how you've always got a pulse on the zeitgeist. forever fascinated by your work, thank you, mina.

[@elishesthestrange]

Just what I was thinking but I could not have said it better than you.

[@_iyakin]

Mina's work is underappreciated, and even though she mainly focuses on N. American or American culture/society, many of her points are relevant in other countries.

[@a.mckenzie1940]

Re: cooking thirst traps. Interestingly, while home cooking has traditionally been performed by women in NA, paid cooking (professional chefs etc) is still considered mens work. There are more men than women in professional kitchens to this day. Obviously that doesn’t account for people’s perception of the profession, though.

[@DavidCruickshank]

Yeah, '* thing * is feminine unless you're a professional' is worryingly all over the place. But even at home, cooking in the kitchen is feminine but grilling meat on the barbecue is masculine, so many double standards.

[@bandanarathore]

​@@DavidCruickshankif it is done on daily basis for free it is feminine and if it is done occasionally without worrying about the budget for the monthly groceries then it is masculine. The reason 'men cook some dishes better at home is because they don't have to worry about the budget or the amount of fat /heart attack giving etc that will be going in it. So expensive ingredients+ lots of fat = ooo... Men making the best non veg etc at home.

[@poisonkatz]

I have thought this before as well! domestically, cooking is for women but the professional ArT of cooking to cook FinE foods as a chef is for men, not for women. and this has been the case since.....at least when people lived in castles and shit. women aren't as commonly seen as the "crafters or inventors" when it comes to cooking. baking is different....but still! it's so gendered and strange. cooking isn't manly unless you are a chef I guess lmao

[@fibonacci2112]

​@@bandanarathore the health aspect is a great point. Mom has to make sure everyone is eating a good general diet, but when dad grills twice a year it's a special occasion.

[@thisorthat629]

@@poisonkatz most kitchen staff (aka professional "fine art" of cooking) in european castles and manors was female. men came in later, at a guess, about when cooking became "important" profitable bussiness. yk those bussinesses women, mostly, weren't allowed to work in, and even less allowed to front. you can see this across a lot of inudstries, eg programming was, depending on specific industry, female dominated, at the very least women weren't rare. but the moment attention and fame came knocking, women were replaced, and it became more and more male dominated. tho even back then research projects etc were male fronted, actual work was often done by women tho. tldr a lot of things only became masculine/male dominated when fame came knocking quick add on baking, even "fine" baking is male dominated.

[@pootoobaby738]

The Ozempic trend makes me so fucking mad because it's affecting my mother. She has diabetes so her doctor recommended giving Ozempic a try, and her prescription kept getting flagged so the pharmacists weren't allowed to give it to her. When she with her doctor were finally able to convince whoever accepted or denied patients that yes she does in fact have diabetes and will use Ozempic for its intended purpose (I think the insurance company?), there's a shortage so she can't use it 😂I have to laugh so I don't lose it every time I see someone openly talk about using Ozempic as a dieting drug for themselves. My mother just doesn't even bother anymore and gets her go to insulin.

[@ivypoe1697]

You're mom is able to use insulin and doesn't need Ozempic. There are however limited drugs for weightloss and it isn't the fault of regular people who want to lose weight that your mom can't access ozempic.

[@wysteria.]

​@@ivypoe1697 i so badly hope this is bait because if not,,,,💀

[@Isabelle-hv6ny]

I hope its ragebait. If its not you need help​@@ivypoe1697

[@maxineo7392]

@@ivypoe1697 You’re comparing people who *need* to lose weight for objective health reasons to people who *want* to lose weight for aesthetics. Imagine _not_ prioritizing more vulnerable classes of people because of your own vain desires fueled by stupid beauty standards.

[@Monicalala]

Metformin works better for lowering A1c than ozempic, it’s fully fact

[@aaaamnaaaa]

'I love being Asian' and that CACKLE and head thrown back NEED to be a meme or else there was no need for memes to have been invented

[@schonlingg.wunderbar2985]

I honestly don't know what this is supposed to mean in this context. Is it supposed to be related to mid last-century gelatine food? Would be strange, because there are recipes with really unusual textures all over asia, too.

[@CupofCha2001]

@@schonlingg.wunderbar2985 maybe she laughed because how stupid and unseasoned the gelatinous food looked. As a fellow Asian I do agree that some of our foods can have weird textures too but almost all of our foods are properly seasoned and doesn’t look like that.

[@schonlingg.wunderbar2985]

@@CupofCha2001 "all of our foods are properly seasoned and doesn’t look like that." What properly seasoned means is highly subjective and depends on societal norms. Also culinary sculptures and artsy or wasteful bullshit that is used as a status symbol is and has been fully global.

[@CupofCha2001]

@@schonlingg.wunderbar2985 I just gave my honest opinion on why Mina said “I love being Asian” before laughing. She could’ve laughed for some other reason too so yeah let’s just chill out and enjoy the video without having an argument over a comment that she made.

[@bean2046]

​@@schonlingg.wunderbar2985those gelatin are pretty universally considered monstrosities these days. It's also probably nice for Asian people to have western dishes that are open to be ridiculed with hardly anyone disagreeing, since white people have a history of not being very nice about foreign foods

[@evawang5745]

the « sexy » chefluencers make me wanna wash my eyes with bleach LMAO Great video and essay as always ❤

[@esikazemese]

Oh yes, big time... My algorythm found me an other cooking channel by a man, who is doing meal prep- quick an easy recepies while feeding his whole family of 4 (even has a video about that). That is way more appealing to me than these guys dunking chicken in the kitchen. YUCK

[@absolutelynotellen]

Erewhon was basically was another case of "overpriced-stuff-with-questionable-quality" situation. I saw food content creators reviewed that the only good things were the smoothies, but the food was straight up flavorless LMAO.

[@gedelgo3242]

A lot of these trendy food prep companies are just meals on wheels type kitchens with a new website.

[@radikaltandans1902]

its great to watch bunch of people without a personality eating shitty food for more expensive just because its the trend. hilarious

[@wolftownesque]

you have to go out of your way to get to an erewhon. it’s just a lot of phonies being phonies. shame mina fell for it when she came to visit.

[@princessnicki63]

The smoothies aren't even good. Paying $18 for bland mush when Jamba Juice is probably down the street is so insane to me LMAO

[@fnnygrndm]

the hot bar food kinda hits :/ the smoothies are not worth it lol.

[@zoef5933]

I struggled with anorexia for several years and one thing I've found is that starvation (self-inflicted or otherwise) tends to actually reinforce and fuel obsession with food - thinking about it, looking at it, watching videos of it etc. sort of like eating vicariously instead of actually eating. i bet that a lot of these models are actually super food-obsessed and that the uptake in food trends is reflective (not contradictory) of mass propagated starvation

[@mrggy]

Yeah, my thought with the Gigi Hadid and pizza thing was that I totally believe she loves pizza. It probably is her favorite food. But I doubt she’s eating it everyday as a casual snack. I think that aspect of the interview was untrue and the reason for her looking so awkward. When she does eat pizza, it’s likely in smaller portions than what the general public would eat. I remember that clip of her mom, Yolanda, telling her to only have a bite of her own birthday cake. (Not suggesting that Gigi has anorexia, but I think restrictive diets and intense focus on your body can still create food issues)

[@chiinyecerezo_]

100% I suffer from an ED and I used to starve myself, the only thing I remember from that time is the hunger and the power you have over food. I was obsessed about all kind of food tho, I would cook my entire family or friends just to not eat myself. Mukbangs were a must everyday. I believe that when you struggle with eating habits your main focus is food because your body is trying to save you. Therefore, I find super interesting how society is trying to impose healthy food obsession in us more and more. The fact that influencers are participating in that sort of behavior is even more weird

[@grace.1123]

Mina I so genuinely mean this, as someone who works in higher Ed administration at an Ivy League, you would be an AMAZING Ph.D student

[@ilyanaw]

I’m in my PhD now and think about this every time I watch her videos!

[@CindyCya]

I want ur job

[@grace.1123]

@@CindyCya I'm actually resigning this month due to burn out from a horrible boss :(

[@balticrevolt2552]

Literally! The way she does such thorough research is just chef's kiss

[@jonnycraig9444]

@@ilyanawme too!!

[@485OCEAN]

"im not like u bitches" I SCREAM LAUGHED AHAHAHAHAH

[@aix9545]

SAME HAHAH 😭

[@tragicallyhoney]

The heroes are the people who pick the fruits for us in this weather.. All day.

[@natleaver]

I'm from Costa Rica, and here we have the "feria del agricultor" which is a farmers market towns put up on the weekends (Sat or Sun) so people can purchase produce, grains, meats, and dairy (and so much more, honestly) straight form farmers. It's great and I've been going for 14yrs since I moved out of my family home. I go to a big one in the center of the main town where I live in and I can find pretty much anything I need at a fraction of the price from supermarkets, and better quality as well. I love food so I actually enjoy going and shopping for ingredients.

[@nicolec.5352]

In Chile we also have “ferias” (like open markets) on most neighborhoods where they sell really fresh fruit and vegetables with very affordable prices, and they’re delicious. I buy most of my healthy food from there, I hardly ever eat junk food and I make my own meals, it takes more time but even I’m extremely tired after work, cooking healthy meals is part of my favorite activities of the day. I enjoy preparing food even more than actually eating it lol

[@himboirl]

in Mexico we do this too, must be a latinoamerica thing

[@lorotacaradepipoca]

We also have those in Brazil! I've lived in different cities and different states but every single one has a variety of this. In the current city I live at, we have a public space designed for feiras, and every day of the week their's something there (food, arts and crafts, vegetables, flowers, books)! My parents go almost every weekend for groceries and when I lived in a nearby town, I used to come every 2 weeks for shopping there as well. I also had my favorite food sellers in the feira I used to go in Rio, it's just a blast having quality, decent prices and community

[@Kaybye555]

We have so much abundance of fruits and veggies in latin America, we're honestly so lucky in that sense. I love getting cheap and healthy produce

[@lafemmepiege]

In Germany, i would argue the food at markets is often more expensive than in a grocery store (especially if organic) and, when not organic, sold by food distributors, not necessarily from the farmers themselves.

[@MeepsNcheese]

The portion on Nara Smith was much needed, and changed my mind on her. Perhaps it's not that I dislike her content, but it's how she's been weaponized

[@leahscontemporary]

weaponized by?

[@jazzlynnoel3265]

how is she weaponized

[@dionysus9876]

Same!

[@PassiveAgressive319]

9:35 baby guzzling 7 Up is insane😭😭😭😭

[@eduferlim]

in Brazil we have street fairs everyday where we can buy fresh vegetables and fruits for a cheap price, its very common and also a cultural thing - go to the 'feira' (street fair) is part of our week. food shoudn't be a luxury, especially healthier food. our access to natural ingredients is probably one of the best things about being in the global south (no that everyone is allowed to eat properly - we know how capitalism works down here)

[@louiselins]

That is the single thing I most miss from Brazil. There are street markets in Sweden, but you can only buy so much from them. The access to fresh fruit!

[@DeadKraken]

We have easy access to fresh fruit and vegetables in southern Europe too, in Italy they cost MUCH less than anything unhealthy, especially if compared to fast food chains like McDonalds or Burger King, and they are seasonal and much much more regulated\controlled than anything US has to offer. When I visited US, I went to LA and I kid you not, their supermarkets are huuuge but the part where fresh produce is sold is like....1\10 of the area reserved to fresh produce in a small italian supermarket. They literally had apples, tomatoes and zucchine, that's all. I was shocked lol

[@eduferlim]

​@@DeadKraken i have never been in the US but I always saw their supermarkets as something completely alien to me lol even their fresh products seem processed, everything in plastic etc!

[@athenax]

Imagine going to LA and thinking that sets the standards of supermarkets and yes...farmer markets, because we have farmer markets where you can go to buy fresh fruit, and thinking that speaks for the entirety of the United States, Europeans really have a nasty habit of traveling to one or two states in metropolitan areas and thinking "this just be the entire USA" , although it's not really your fault, your countries tend to be the size of US states to makes sense why you think LA is a testament to all of the USA. ​@@DeadKraken

[@DeadKraken]

@@athenax Imagine reading loads of whines by americans talking about food deserts in all states, then being to LA, New York, San Diego and Chicago and seeing perfect confirmation of the things americans denounced online(I just cited LA because it was my FIRST experience, not my only one lol), having american friends and colleagues that confirm it, then being called out for saying this by a rando that has also obviously never been to an urban area outiside their little yankee town in US, that blabbers about "FaRmErS MaRkEt" that are either difficult to reach or straight up don't exist in cities. This is also a well documented phenomenon, you can find tons of american articles written by americans(since my opinion doesn't count) that denounces the lack of cheap fresh produce for working class ppl. Like, imagine thinking an european of all people is not well traveled enough to give an opinion, but you're american😂😂😂stop confirming the stereotypes bro, do you even have a passport lmao

[@melissastarr7451]

Yes, canned chicken can diced ham, canned roast, beef, canned turkey are all still available and often chosen as cheaper alternatives for people who can't afford a whole chicken or a pack of chicken breasts or those who cannot cook and they are in the same aisle as the tuna. The old school term for this product and products like it is " potted meats" for the obvious reason that they come in little pots/cans

[@desertels5119]

And to add, food banks like the Trussell Trust ask for them song with tinned vegetables

[@Kay-id5qc]

fr, like yes poor people actually do eat canned chicken 🤯🤯🤯 idk like that was a bit frustrating to hear in a video like this

[@Jordan-db2og]

They're not even cheap anymore 😞

[@rahrahcamel]

class totally impacts how we feel about what is "healthy" food too because that canned chicken breast you showed is a fairly good way for low-income families (or anyone with limited refrigeration) to get lean protein!

[@gwennorthcutt421]

ive had that canned chicken, its really good! its really useful when camping but honestly just drain it and season it and you got dinner

[@jennitrnn]

The “I love being Asian” and cackle 😂😂😂 I felt that in my soul

[@spinstercatlady]

"Soup and Sandwich" jingle is gonna be stuck in my head all day (possibly many days)....thanks a lot Mina 😅

[@newnewmee44]

sounds a lot like the jingle from the intro of the show "Married with children", but the lyrics are "love and marriage" instead of the "soup and sandwich"

[@spinstercatlady]

@newnewmee44 omgosh, I knew it sounded familiar!

[@kalka1l]

@@newnewmee44’Soup and Sandwich’ was a jingle version of Sammy Cahn’s ‘Love and Marriage’ made famous in 1955 by Frank Sinatra, whose version was used for Married with Children. It’s been an earworm for decades. 😭

[@nicolec.5352]

I loved Married with Children. They even made a Chilean version that catapulted many actors into “Chilean” stardom 😅

[@julsandthegiantpeach]

i genuinely appreciate mina’s videos. i often feel like a lot of commentary videos are repetitive and rushed to stay on trend of internet discourse, but mina’s content is has a great balance of relevancy and creativity in that aspect. but more so you can tell how much time, research, and attention she puts into each video topic

[@PoopWoman]

Idk why but this vid encouraged me to look at Google reviews for Erewhon and omg 😳 One of the reviews called the employees "bums" and that paints the overall vibe of the people shopping there. They also love to mention the race of the employees they have issues with

[@sunglassesemojis]

I read chefluencer as Che-fluencer as in Che Guevara and was very curious to see where this video was going 🤣

[@JP-ve7or]

Same, Comrade. Same. 😂

[@tedddybear]

Me too 😭

[@phoenixfritzinger9185]

Those were more of a thing in like the 00’s through like the Occupy Wall Street movement

[@catiebaldridge]

Me too, only I thought Michael Che...

[@a.toupikov3722]

@@catiebaldridge thisss

[@samvictores7919]

I really like that you clarified “Big Organic.” I work as an organic inspector and despite being in the industry I agree with all you said& your research. I’ve seen all types of organic operations and the really large ones always make me upset because they aren’t that different from conventional agriculture. A little better for sure as you mentioned but consumers would definitely be shocked. I will say, the smaller operations for the most part are really trying to improve food systems and our environment and I implore everyone to look for small, local organic farms because they really are the people you should be supporting

[@SimplyAdrxjaMore]

Chef Mina has delivered 🤍

[@TheEmeraldElf]

Honestly as someone who sews their own clothing (and been size 2 when seriously ill, size 8 as a teen and now a curvy 14) I think the fashion industry pushes skinny as Ideal BECAUSE it is cheaper for the company. Less yards of fabric per garment, easy to fit properly cause skeletons are pretty similar. Boobs can vary greatly in shape and carriage as you size up. Same with butts. Fitting garments to an individual body curvature is time consuming, so if you want to turn out clothes fast, with less fabric and be able to swap out models last minute (without anyone knowing) you set Skinny as the ideal.

[@leah9374]

another thing to consider with the upcharge on "healthy" foods is for a lot of people with allergies/diseases those are the only groceries they can get. i have celiac and anything gluten free is Always more expensive, it gets irritating that i'm essentially having to pay some sort of "luxury upcharge" just to buy food that won't make me violently ill

[@charmainen8475]

Mike's Mike yesterday, Mina and Jordan Theresa today. I love it when my fave yappers post right after each other. We are being FED😭

[@edenfroze]

this is perfect timing because the big luxury food stores in chicago like foxtrot and dom’s just closed down

[@introxgrunt]

they were super shitty anyway

[@seoraumi]

sponsorship fit is giving widowed "poisoned my husband" ghost vibes (in the best way possible)

[@zuhasyunjin]

the reason i love your channel so much is you really have a way of finding common threads between current trends and presenting them with your own take rather than just talking about whatever is trending and regurgitating the comments.

[@xo_oblivion]

the "i love being asian *cackle*" is such a big mood

[@avantgardenss]

I would also say that there is a very real connection between the rise of the wellness industry and a shift to “healthier food” and the rise of chronic illness and autoimmune disease in America - especially post-COVID.

[@alienpotatosquid7850]

hi, as someone with chronic autoimmune conditions that were diagnosed at various times, up to 15 years before the pandemic, i don’t understand what you mean by this and ism am curious if you could clarify the link that you see? i’m not upset with this statement in any way, just curious. :)

[@avantgardenss]

@@alienpotatosquid7850 Hi, also diagnosed! I mean that as we as a people get sicker and sicker (which you can see in rising autoimmune diagnoses, chronic illnesses, and so many people battling long COVID as well) it makes sense to me that there’s a shift towards people wanting to “heal themselves” with food and supplements. Especially considering how abysmal our healthcare system is.

[@zkkitty2436]

It doesn’t help that people have dropped all precautions and are allowing themselves and others to get COVID over and over again. We know how dangerous repeat COVID infections are but people would rather preserve a eugenicist norm than keep chronically ill ppl safe. I definitely correlate this health obsession to the exponential increase in chronic illness bc of this damn pandemic, and health is even more of a status symbol than before.

[@cocteautwin]

covid is still happening! we are not post covid! the emergency has ended (bc the USA cares for economic profit over health) and as mentioned, lots of ppl probably have new health issues from repeat infections and instead of seeking out proper healthcare (which to be fair isn’t helping many ppl with chronic health issues in the first place) they seek out “clean eating”!

[@zkkitty2436]

@@cocteautwin exactly this. I’m so annoyed with “leftist creators” atp bc like… Mina talks about covid constantly like it’s over. It’s contributing to a eugenicist norm and these bitches don’t care!!

[@RF-ye7wu]

The part about the element of “freedom and play” associated with men who cook is so fucking gooooood. It’s that element that makes the male celebrity chef or male restauranteur admired and celebrated above others that I’ve anyways felt was off (not the first person to have this thought obviously) but could never articulate exactly why. You are a gem, thank you for these videos

[@alisha9197]

Fun fact about the banquet style you mentioned: when the whole table was full with food you could only eat the food near to you. Sets foodwaste in a whole new perspective

[@sc6658]

The cooking being a woman’s job thing has always been so wild to me because my father has worked in food my entire life and has always done the bulk of the cooking (my parents have been married 29 years and are still together too). My mom can cook but my dad definitely does it more, and like. It is definitely in part because it’s a thing he really enjoys and it’s a hobby as much as it is a career for him, but I hate to break it to any girlies fantasizing about a chef husband. But my dad is so enthusiastic about cooking he often just cooks random stuff he finds recipes for without thinking about if anyone else in the house may enjoy the dish and then the fridge gets full and my mom gets annoyed. He does cook for her tastes specifically a lot, but there is also that other side to reckon with.

[@3nnik]

my mom has cooked for most of my life, but my dad has started cooking recently (like abt these past 3 years) and his cooking is honestly so good and i keep telling him to make his version of the food cuz i like it better 😭 but i love my moms food too

[@fibonacci2112]

My husband is a professional cook too, but his hours are long (and sweaty and exhausting), and I work a tech job from home, so I still do most of the cooking lol

[@Sing_A_Rebel_Song]

Same here 😂

[@tonystonem9614]

Most ppls fathers aren’t chefs so that’s why it isn’t wild for that sentiment to go around

[@sc6658]

@@tonystonem9614 I know that, but what I was saying is that I grew up with my father being the primary cook in my household so that societal norm surprised me a lot once I became more aware of the differences between my family and others as I got older.

[@abigailberkoben3642]

I wish I could log every time I watch a Mina Le video on letterboxd because I always feel so educated from watching these. I want people to know I have good taste!! The production and content of these videos have such an iron grip on me.

[@celtyjustcelty9258]

Louis XIV Life was entirely a theatre and Versailles was a huge stage, the architecture of the place i mean (from the gardens to his own room) So every act of his life was watched by the court, as if they were watching a play. If you were invited to his wake up moment of the day, you could be considered important. And you would have the privilege to see him wake up and observe his whole morning routine (and I mean EVERY PART OF IT ). At some point Louis decided he wanted some privacy and build a small palace for him to be alone. Despite all the power he had, all the money and luxury...idk if I would want a life like that .

[@Alexandra-nu4dv]

Mina you're so funny, I died with the Tyra clip "who was scared"

[@Tina-fj4xo]

I want to note something totally off topic, but I really appreciate the care you take when you pronounce certain words and especially names. It's that extra step to research, recognize and practice the pronouciation of some less common words/names that so SO many KZbinrs just fumble and say " sorry if I butchered that!" or "yeah idk how to say that so i'm just going to call them xyz". I've noticed that you do this EVERY single time when you are quoting and citing your sources and that level of integrity and respect elevates your work in my eyes. Love you!

[@C-uz8md]

I think part of this is also backlash to the 2010s food trends like mukbangs and epic milkshakes and bacon on everything. The current influencers and models that cook everything from scratch and only eat organic are at least more honest than the ones of yore that pretended to stay thin eating 3,000 calories a day.

[@gwennorthcutt421]

the kicker is that those were only acceptable and fascinating when consumed by skinny people. scrawny hipsters going "lol i love bacon!" were Fun And Quirky but my god if you weren't eating a dry salad as a fat person you were open season to the vilest vitriol... i literally couldnt feel comfortable eating in public for years.

[@allycat9592]

​@gwennorthcutt421 Haha, yep, know how you feel. Some people don't seem to get that weight loss doesn't happen overnight. It felt horrible getting judged for eating when I was on a diet because "friends" would just assume that I was still overeating on a daily basis without knowing of the months of hard work I was putting in and make their snide comments. Now that I'm slim, I no longer get those dreaded smug looks ordering at restaurants from friends and even strangers. I've since cut those nasty individuals out of my life, but I get angry occasionally remembering how I was treated like a second class citizen for my appearance at the lowest point of my life. 😢

[@gwennorthcutt421]

@@allycat9592 ppl just assume you're like... idk eating two whole cakes for dinner bc why else would you be fat amirite. but im just fat no matter what i eat. and even if i was fat from eating, why should i be treated like a disgusting inhuman monster?? like health shouldnt be a prerequisite for respect to begin with. people like to pretend its "concern" but its such bullshit, they just want an excuse to express their disgust for me daring to exist in public. im happy with my body now but i still feel such hatred and rage for society and people who made me hate myself so much for so long and treat myself and others as just. lower than animals. like scum. thanks for the sympathy, its hard to talk about when people wont listen.

[@questionmoney]

Don’t know if the subtitles (cc) are edited or looked through, but I do appreciate that they are well done. Some Channels or videos have wonky ones which is a pain when I don’t wanna hear anything. (Edit: So thank you for having clean and readable captions.)

[@kelleenbrx6649]

Canned chicken is so fantastic for camping. it's pretty hard to keep animal proteins while backpacking that aren't super dried out. It's been awesome to add into pastas and various meals when out back.

[@gwennorthcutt421]

literally same. honestly ive had it at home too, its really easy to prepare and i dont have to get as stressed about contamination.

[@frankiebelle]

Subtle but amazing Easter egg that you matched the background colors of all your edited inserts with your eyeshadow.

[@analuisarezende5239]

I LOVED that you said açaí with the correct brazilian pronunciation!!! First non-portuguese speaker that i see doing that. Kisses from Brazil, I watch your videos religiously xoxo

[@Liliya_2]

Listening to this as a sleep podcast is the best. Her voice is so calming

[@vanessatran2474]

so glad you're talking about this! I'm starting my Master's in Public Health Nutrition next fall so this is right up my alley.

[@rizkillla]

I love your videos so much. you put a lot of effort into giving us a history lesson but your visuals are fun and make it easy to consume without feeling boring. I have no choice but to stan

[@Squishbiscuits]

Support your local C.S.A!!! Community Supported Agriculture is the way to support local farmers who care about the earth and community. ❤

[@user-qy8jv6et9q]

This hand gesticulation with long nails is soo aesthetically pleasing 🤩

[@adrianaraats5122]

I totally agree the Bear isn't a comedy! I started watching it because I thought it would be, and then it just stressed me out instead.

[@firebellybella]

The clip of the person adding Bloom to bottled Dasani water is absolutely mind blowing.

[@MooChoochan]

A way to directly support local farmers is to look for CSA’s in your area. It’s legitimate farm to table without the Whole Foods price tag, and you can visit and vet where your food comes from instead of trusting the label and hoping it was ethically produced.

[@arpoehler]

I will second checking out CSAs (community supported agriculture)! I started buying a CSA half-share this year. With a half-share, I get a box of produce every other week, for $30, and it lasts for my household of 2 adults for 2 weeks. It's the best produce I've ever tasted. The quality of the food is way beyond what I could purchase at a Whole Foods or a Sprouts. It also supports a local farming family. My CSA farm also shares recipes with each box, and that helps out with meal planning.

[@selenakeller4910]

Absolutely! Also for those on a budget a lot of CSA's especially in my area at least, the earlier in the year you purchase the cheaper they are.

[@selenakeller4910]

@@arpoehler i also like to add many have u pick options as well which can increase your value of your share

[@quinn8370]

The segment about “food becoming content” reminds me of a chapter from Sylvia Plath’s “The Bell Jar.” She and other girls from a magazine ate a restaurant in order to write about fashion or the food. They were given gifts at the dinner. I thought it was interesting to share. It’s interesting to see how food was always seen as content rather than a necessity people need to survive.

[@dilaraceran]

I just love your new editing style. It has changed so much over time, and now it looks so aesthetically pleasing that it makes my eyes glued to the screen like an iPad kid.

[@Ghost-lt4sf]

Yeah! She used to be a youtuber to listen to in the background, but now the visuals are too good 😅 I have to *actually watch.

[@dilaraceran]

@@Ghost-lt4sf I agree! I used to just open her videos, switch to another app, and listen to the video as if it were a podcast, but now I watch her videos like they are a five-star movie lol.

[@katefinch9328]

You really do craft your video essays so skillfully. Your references and points you put together never feel like ones ive heard put together. Thankyou for your hard work, I am so grateful for your unique intelligent content.

[@scaryzoomba2903]

this was a great video!! thank you for making it. just wanted to add that the tv award categories are actually also based on the length of the episodes. typically shows that are 30mins or less get categorized as comedy and anything over 30mins is a drama.

[@serenaposthumus1382]

Mina you’re the QUEEN of video essays! In depth, visually pleasing, and so delightful to listen to!

[@marmaduke5207]

I’m studying sustainable food systems and this video is going to do good work in making people think harder about where they’re sourcing their food. Also, if anyone reading this is interested, a lot of farmer’s markets accept EBT (food stamps)- the USDA has a (slightly out of date) list! Look into it, eat good! I’m so glad that you’re making content like this.

[@hananana9308]

What I find interesting is the shift in perception of self/garden grown foods. I was raised in a household with a garden and we grew our own vegetables and fruits for purely economical reasons, the store bought ones were just at times really expensive (back in the ‘90s in Europe). When I grew up I realised how most of the foods at stores are simply of a worse quality but more accessible and less labour demanding obviously.if you wanted high quality, organic grown, straight from the garden vegetables you needed to pay a hefty price. Nowadays, growing your own foods is a sign of social status as you have enough time to engage in labour demanding activities to provide best foods for your family (see all the bread making influencers). I think my grandma would cackle if I would have told her that some people choose to do go through this labour-some process, as for her food growing and preparation was a necessity to provide meals for the family (again predominantly women’s duties) despite working full time.

[@mikemillerdesign]

The Emmy’s categorize any half hour program a comedy. It’s antiquated but it’s a loophole.

[@psyoperator2127]

Your videos always yank me into a sense of connection with culture at large even in a notoriously isolated post-covid world; I'm a professional cook and realized I basically followed the same trend described here- I was experimenting with cooking while the world was shut down and fell in love, and finding people like Anthony Bourdain and depictions like the bear framed chefing as this very aspirational and markedly masculine thing I could get lost in. And it's more than a trend fs, I love my career, but god damn it hits home to hear my past few years essentially summarized in a few seconds

[@myrasherrill777]

I’ve been waiting for a video like this!!😚🫶🏻

[@riveronyoutube]

I’ve been binge watching all your videos for the past week Thank you

[@v.marcoq.1393]

I always make it before 30 minutes after you post, I think I'm obsessed with your commentary

[@kamlalrauna]

i’ve been watching you from the start of ur channel and i love the way you have grown i like the fact that you’re more laid-back that makes watching you even more enjoyable you really came a long way and keep it up!! listening to you as u talk ab the things that im interested in made me luv u even more BTW!!! your makeup is stunning bangs that you have really suit you!! keep going girl sending love 🌸🌸

[@hannahmaclean5582]

I love the editing of your videos and it’s been so great to watch your channel grow!

[@sarahlily2719]

Mina please keep doing your podcast! I love listening to you talk 😢

[@user-rx6gb5uz2l]

binge eating disorder was added to the dsm only 10 years ago, is super underdiagnosed, but is already considered the most common eating disorder in the United States. i do find it curious that people skirt around the topic of binge eating disorder whenever the massive increase in grocery spending comes up, and it somehow gets attributed to clean/restrictive eating lol (this might be only video 2 or 3 that's done this, buts its weird that it happened more than once). disordered eating comes up but the one with vast overconsumption in the diagnostic criteria is glazed over, would personally love the awareness as a sufferer but maybe its for the best not to bring up an already stigmatized disorder in this context. food for thought i guess.

[@Dreaming5]

I’m going through a big life change so things are upside down right now, but I’m glad to have Mina as a constant! Another great video essay Mina, thanks!

[@underthesamemoon7348]

i love nara! have been enjoying her content for a while it’s interesting i never realized lucky is mormon. i agree with you mina i think that her content really shows cooking is not simply an effort to play out traditional roles as a wife and mother but rather her channeling her creative and passionate and nurturing self. let a girl do what she enjoys doing! and totally agree that her making content is a job in itself as well as raising 2 children. let women and people do what they enjoy doing not everything has to be a critique. thanks for pointing this out

[@iheartravi]

babe wake up mina le posted!

[@lykkas_days]

and can we please appreciate the amount of research and sources that went into this video?? didn't expect this depth after clicking on the title and was blown away!

[@envision_embody_become]

This was a GREAT one, Mina! Thank you!!!!!!

[@aranaelsaldeur]

As a global south asian, the existence of Erewhon, luxury groceries, and big organic is wildddd

[@jadyassine8484]

Thanks! (didn't realize this would post as a comment, lol. Love your videos!)

[@mkznan5963]

Interesting, I recently read an article titled "Why don’t rich people eat anymore?" and it says how fatness is now more associated with the working classes as opposed to thinness. And how being able to demonstrate a lack of need for material goods, like food, suggests social transcendence. It also mentions Ozempic is still primarily used by the wealthy.

[@Kaybye555]

It's just a link to the beauty standards. Thin is in, fat hasn't been in a very very very very long time here in the Americas at least. Fat is considered looking loke you "don't care" like if you didn't shower, you're not trying. That seems to be more what is psychologically portrays. Self control= poise, discipline= hard and therefore saught after. A lot of people (not all before it becomes a thing) who are low income are not ready for the conversation that there is a link between a personality who doesn't "take care of themselves", have no self control, overendulge, do not care about anything, etc. and not being able to get a higher paying job. You need ambition, drive, discipline, to reach a goal. Most people don't for a myriad of reasons. Low income people eat more junk food because it's easy not because it's cheaper.

[@gwennorthcutt421]

@@Kaybye555 you cant get a higher paying job by "drive" alone if you're poor. education, connections, location, transportation... and money most of all, are all obstructions. bootstrapping ones way to upward class mobility is a myth.

[@tanishee1865]

OMG i had a feeling you had posted before clicking on youtube AND YES U DID!!!!!! DAY MADE THANK U MINA

[@sebastianespinoza2125]

You genuinely have the best channel ever thank you for putting so much effort and time into creating these vids!

[@saravstgbjug]

mina i love your white dress in the add/sponsor portion of the video!

[@mogly6167]

Your content is pure quality. I really really like your chanel,your project,your whole persona. Lots of love from Greece

[@sunnyheart4598]

I love your videos! The way you break everything down so effortlessly, the lingo, the clips & the fonts, just the aesthetic in general, and the EVIDENCE! you draw my attention in every time and I’m entranced, wanting to know more!

[@reedschindler309]

I'm always so excited to see another video of yours pop up on my feed! They're always so well-thought out and I really appreciate the amount of dedication and research you put into each one!!

[@fibonacci2112]

I love all your content, but you were SO funny in this video! One my my faves of recent ❤

[@paulamorenosuay934]

I love how you always adress the historical reasons for seemingly new phenomenons. Good job!

[@zyishere]

Another great video! My personal interest in food increased through learning about how many chemicals are in our food that poisons us, giving me an incentive to learn more about nutrition and ethical sourcing, as well as cook from scratch more. I would assume that many other people had a similar path as well

[@Vampyre_Brat]

“classical bodies have no open orifices” is so raw, im running to purchase that book

[@chelseashurmantine8153]

The editing on this video is amazing

[@disgustinglittleman2357]

This vid was amazing!

[@clairehudson6488]

Loved the editing and vintage food visuals in this vid! ❤

[@Aurora-fz6sq]

I would also recommend Stuffed and Starved by Raj Patel if you want to understand the world’s food system. Reading this book helped me to understand the systems that determine what food I have access to, how power has been consolidated into the hands of a just a few at the center of the food system, and a roadmap for how we might get to a world with a more equitable food system. No joke- this book totally changed the way I see food. Highly, highly recommend.