Whole Food? Try "Any Food".

In New York, I feel good about my lunch when the ingredient list is composed of locally sourced, organically raised food in a minimally processed form. I like to know the farmers got paid (fairly), that the watershed hasn't been bathed in pesticides, and that the food is in some way nourishing my body.

Of course, these factors aren't really factors at all in India. There is a shadow of a green and organic movement approaching, but for the vast majority these concepts are still, well, foreign. Only really privileged people can worry so much about their food being sustainable rather than about sustaining themselves with food-- any food. I'm not going to worry about that while I'm here, because it'd be really silly.

Today, I feel good about my lunch because my veg biryani, which cost Rs 25, filled me up. And I was able to leave Rs 10 for the server, and pack up half my plate (as if I even needed half of that mass of rice) in a bag which I carried around the corner to a set of old ladies on the sidewalk, who bowed heads to hands in thanks.

I know this sounds preachy, but forgive me, I'm happy about it.