How many of us on social media post pictures of what we eat? If not us, we may have friends who do or we commonly see others upload pictures of the foods they enjoy.

Food has been part of world civilizations and cultures for generations. The concept of visually documenting food intake has actually been around for a long while. European paintings dating back to 1400-1800 show that food and banquets were matters of great celebration. Artists were commissioned to paint these pictures and they often carried a symbolic meaning or an allusion to the painting's subject. The famed ‘apple' which is said to have brought about the fall of mankind has been depicted in various paintings down through the ages. Delicacies enjoyed by royalty and nobility were dutifully painted by skilled artists. Foods considered exotic like shellfish and lemons were painted as stills. Game that was hunted like geese and fowl were ‘trophies' and had to be documented. Some popular works of art include- Still Life with Fruit, Glassware, and a Wanli Bowl by Artist: Willem Kalf (Dutch, Rotterdam 1619-1693 Amsterdam), Still Life with Lobster and Fruit Artist: Abraham van Beyeren (Dutch, The Hague 1620/21-1690 Overschie) (www.metmuseum.org)

With the rise of social media, our eyes are ‘fed' with mouth-watering images of foods. People are keen to ‘tweet what they eat'. Usage of Apps like Instagram is skyrocketing and the popularity of Facebook and Twitter rides on an all-time high. A vast majority of people believe in the concept that everything we do, things we eat, places we visit, movies we watch- all this needs to be shared for the world to see. We are bombarded by hash tags like #noshing, #YOLO (You Live Only Once), #Yummylicious, # FoodPorn etc.

A University in Canada even offers a Graduate Certificate Program on Food Media. This program encourages students to harness their skills and passion for food, while using the media to achieve the desired communication and presentation results. (www.centennialcollege.ca)

While people share these images for different reasons, how has this changed our approach to food and eating?

• Food is a social activity where people get together to celebrate culture and enhance inter personal relationships. People are by nature social eaters, making social media and food a perfect pair. Sharing pictures of food or meals allows people to capture their experiences. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words!

• Eating out and trying various cuisines could possibly reflect on the status of an individual. Food is no longer just calories used to nourish the body but is seen as reflection of one's status, experiences and tastes.

• With families spending more time apart, whether it is due to jobs, education, difference in work timings etc., sharing pictures of meals helps turn a solitary meal into a social experience.

• Fitness Apps use food photographs to give their users a visual on what they are eating so they are more accountable to stick to their goals. This also provides for easy documentation.

• Posting pictures of healthy food choices and sharing these on social media may also help one be more accountable to sticking to resolutions. On the other hand, pictures of skewed days, when your diet may have gone a tad bit in the wrong direction can help you get back on track. You may be encouraged or shamed by family and friends for these choices which can serve as motivation to stay focussed.

• Food bloggers share their experiences with various dishes and cuisines which help others discover, learn and share information about foods. This helps broaden one's culinary horizon in the comfort of their own homes with information readily available at their finger-tips.

• It is also satisfying to know that these reviews are coming from food buffs or ‘people like us', rather than from advertising. Social media allows this kind of ‘meal sharing' experience with ease.

• Social media changes our food behaviour as it garners a sense of curiosity. We may be willing to try out a different food or cuisine our friends are raving about.

• Apps like Zomato are increasingly popular. They let you have a virtual experience of a restaurant and its cuisine even before you dine there. From a detailed menu, pictures of the actual food and ambience, to ratings, it's all laid out for you. This can help while trying to make healthy food choices even before you walk into the restaurant.

• Posting pictures of your efforts in the kitchen after you have whipped up a scrumptious meal can gain you credits. People who post these pictures are on the lookout for ‘comments' and ‘likes' which give them a sense of satisfaction for their efforts.

On the other hand, excessive posting of images of food can indicate an unhealthy relationship with food and eating. It could be a silent cry for help. Posting pictures of rich, fat and sugary treats could indicate a person's craving for sugar and the nature of their culinary desires. Young children and teens are ever active on social media. Sometimes, peer pressure and being with the ‘in' crowd can skew their perception as to what is healthy and nutritious. They may prefer visiting fast food joints with their friends and look down on healthy home cooked meals.

Raving about new crash or fad diets also tends to go viral. This gives the wrong perception of good health and nutrition. Most of this advice is unscientific, but there is no strict monitoring or keeping tabs on a person's private social media account. Individuals have the freedom to post what they like. The Huffington Post in their article paints a grim picture of this scenario. They discuss about food disorders like anorexia and bulimia. There are communities that flourish online and are sadly managed by those who themselves are affected by these eating disorders. The moderators ‘help' and give suggestions to others who feel they are ‘fat' or want to look ‘skinny', while no advice is given on how to get help and seek professional treatment.

The Post reports- "Users share risky weight loss tips, provide tips for covering behaviours from peers, family, and health care workers, and share "thinspiration" images and videos of gaunt (mostly) girls and women, to enthuse further weight loss. The tips and tricks that earlier only were reachable by word of mouth from a limited circle of people in the days before social media, are now just a click away."

Whether we like it or not, we are living in a digital age. The arrival of smart phones has seen the rise of food blogging, apps and websites dedicated to discussing food and cuisine. This has reformed the way we now approach food and our food culture has gone digital. It is important we enjoy these benefits responsibly and use them to our advantage.