The Importance of Food

[mrsweasley]

Food figures into many scenes in the HP series.
It had a part of bringing Harry and Ron together in the very beginning. Harry shared his sweets with Ron on the train. It could be perceived as a foreshadowing that Harry is going to share his life with Ron. I think they give and take a lot from each other. It didn't have to be that way. Harry could've been a selfish git and kept all the sweets to himself.
Anyway, I've always thought it very funny that Ron seems to always be thinking about food. He's always commenting that he's hungry and they'd better get to the great hall or they'll miss a meal. I think he gets fed well enough at home. I just think he's a growing boy. But JKR made it a funny Ron trait.
Does anyone else see any other food themes?

[ilovelifex1000]

Food also got Harry in trouble with Snape, when he had sweets in his pockets after sneaking to Hogsmeade, Ron and Lupin saved the day though.
The few times Ron gave up food was to Fleur in GoF. When she came over he mentioned how great it was even though he had avoided the french dish.
Didn't Neville spill his drink once- emphasizing his clumsyness?
Oh I am sure there are others that I can't hink of at 1:30am

[Virtuousdream]

Food is also used as a light relief after announcements by Dumbledore.

[mrsweasley]

References to candy/sweets come up a lot too.
Of course there are Bertie Botts beans (I've just been sampling some of those. So far I had bubble gum, banana and blueberry.
I'm scared to try some of the light colored ones. Don't want to get earwax or booger. Yech!). I wonder about the fizzing wizzies and the chocolate frogs. And, they have ice cream sundaes and butterbeer in Hogsmeade. I wonder what butterbeer tastes like.

[Cat]

I watched an interview with J K Rowling once, where she said that she used to want to know what characters in books ate whenever they were said to be eating. I suppose Harry Potter is a story for total enthusiasts. We're the kind of people that want to know what characters eat, too, and she satisfies us by telling.

Sadly, wanting to know what battling heroes do when they need a pee at the crucial moment might be a bit too enthusiastic.

You know why sweets are mentioned so much, of course. Kids + sweets = paradise. If Harry is in a sweetshop, the younger readers (or the young in mind readers) want to go 'Mmmmmmmmmmm' and dissolve into a pool of slobber. I never want to get out of that sweetshop when I read Prisoner of Azkaban.

[zora_domina]

Nobody has food allergies in Harry Potter's world. I like it there.

I look at all that great food in both movies - my GOD there's a lot of it. Whole pigs. Beef aplenty. Chicken of all types. Sweets that spill out over the tables.

They can't possibly eat ALL of it, I wonder if it dissolves into some kind of "not quite mush" and then gets magically reformatted by the House Elves? Heh. Had an rpg where that happened, actually, many years ago... Kinda like paste. Cook it 10 minutes on high, it's chicken. 20 minutes at low, it's milk.

Food seems to be the thing that Molly Weasley does best, and Hagrid does worst... If what he makes can be called "food". Harry's always loving it when Mrs Weasley sends cakes or food bits to him over summer. It bonds him to the Weasely family - like you said above. They're always going to be gifting each other with it, I think Harry's eventually really going to pay them back - not just the 1000 galleons that he won from the Tournament, but like really do something for them that they can't forget. He *does* owe them. Pay in food.

-zora

[mrsweasley]

I wonder where the food comes from.
Are there wizard grocery stores? Do they have their own gardens? Do they conjure the stuff up?

[Ava]

Yes, they have vegetable gardens, I think. As for the wizard grocery stores, do they have to call them Magik-Mart or something?

[mrsweasley]

Maybe the stores are called Enchanted Edibles ;)

I've thought it was unusual that they had butterbeer in bottles at the gala in GoF. Don't you think it should've been on tap or in a punch bowl for such a fancy party?

[periwinkle-blue]

:) Professor Lupin also did gave Harry a bottle of butterbeer after a Patronus practise, remember?

I love the part where Hermione discovered the kitchen, and dragged Harry and Ron too. The fruit bowl picture/door is magically delicious for me, somehow (I don't get it too :wacky: )

The idea of food at the snap of your fingers (referring to the toga towelled house-elves in the kitchen serving Ron and Harry) pretty much made me crave for food ;)

[mrsweasley]

Oh, just remembered, Hermione gave Crabbe and Goyle tained cakes so R & H could take the polyjuice potion and go talk to Malfoy.

[Virtuousdream]

OMG I'm addicted to the Fizzing Whizbee's that are sold!
The chocolate frogs are a bit of a Rip-off, and I'm not keen on Every Flavour beans. The Dragon Eggs are unusual and Honeydukes best Chocolate doesn't suit my taste - wierd as well!

I'm just waiting for those chocolates filled with cream and everlasting gobstobbers and droobles best blowing gum to come onto the market hehehe.

Anyway back to books...

I like the detail with foods, it makes the story even more special when she even makes up food!

[mrsweasley]

They must only have some of those in the UK, Hellhorns. I've tried Bertie Botts Beans (some ok, others pretty nasty). And I saw chocolate frogs in a store, but haven't seen the other candy. That somehow makes it more interesting because then you have to imagine what they might be.
I like her food references as well. She's got these weird sounding treats, but then the kids have normal stuff for dinner (pork chops, beef stew). It's not like they're eating lamb eyeballs or something. It shows that some things at Hogwarts are normal and familiar.

[Rowena Ravenclaw]

Originally posted by mrsweasley (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=175224#post175224))
I've thought it was unusual that they had butterbeer in bottles at the gala in GoF. Don't you think it should've been on tap or in a punch bowl for such a fancy party?


I always pictured butterbeer as being nice and foamy. It might not be able to keep that as well in a punch bowl. As for the tap, maybe they were afraid some of the less mature students would just guzzle directly from that.

Back to the main topic...food seems to play a big role in a lot of fantasy writing. Maybe it goes back to the whole tradition of the community gathering to eat and then tell stories.

[Chrissy_Weasley]

and then we have the hobbits, created by Prof. Tolkien

just yes, hobbits too like food as much as the nearest growing ten or eleven year old...

I don't quite have the guts to try those every flavor beans, though

[FoolOnTheHill]

I seem to remember Ron being surprised or shocked and suddenly "forgetting" about his food when somebody told him something..... Or Hermione starting to eat to avoid talking when the boys ask her about Lockhart or how she's managing to go to all her classes. Whenever Harry's nervous he won't touch his food. Food serves all kinds of purposes now that I think of it... wow.

[saz]

The reason theres probably so much food is because theres teenage guys at the school. They tend to eat alot. I always thoguht butterbeer would taste kinda like butterscotch. I n Australia u can get bertie bots, choclate frogs, acid pops and licorise wands.

[mrsweasley]

I'd imagined butterbeer to be sort of like root beer that has a foamy head. That's why I thought it would be good on tap. To give the ultimate froth. I think having the butterbeer come in bottles at the dance is out of place. After all, it's not a ballgame is it? It should have a little more festive presentation. I do agree that some people, say Mssrs. Fred and George Weasley, would be tempted to spike any sort of punch there might be.

[dobbygirl]

Hmmm, maybe Fred and George are the reason that they had butterbeer in bottles. Less chance of them contaminating it.:eyebrows: The food in the books always sounds sooooo delicious. I get hungry every time I read them. I wish I really could visit Honeydukes sweetshop.:drool:

[Weatherby]

I've noticed a food theme in most fantasy novels as well. Narnia, LOTR, etc.

However there is a slight contradiction.
Dudders is considered to be odious for eating a lot and yet the wizards seem to be eating constantly in the series.
Huge feasts too.

[zora_domina]

Yes, but most of them *stop* eating at one point or another, in order to actually "learn stuff" at school. :)

I loved the description of how Dudley had achieved his 3 year old goal of becoming the size of a small killer whale. lol!

-zora

[Charmed]

I like the fact that JK has included what they eat at Hogwarts and sweet wise. Because I know if she hadn't I would be curious as to know what they did eat.

[dorcasderr]

Hey, let's not forget that Chocolate is the cure for a run in with a Dementor! And what do we think of drinking pumpkin juice? Think about obtaining enough juice from pumpkins to supply an entire school. I wonder if pumpkin juice as a "normal" beverage seems at all strange at first to the Muggle born students. It would to me.

[HPviolinist85]

LoL, My cousin was reading CoS before we saw the movie and when she got to the part where they were in Snape's office and McGonagle put sandwitches out for Harry and ron....... I asked stupid questions (at 18 years old) I asked "how many sandwitches were on the plate, how many did Ron eat, how many did harry eat, how much pumpkin juice did each drink, wow that's a lot, didn't they have to go to the bathroom after" and It was just really funny and I find that worth mentioning.

[Linda]

I love that JKR is so explicit in describing food in the books. But I don't know what a lot of things are. Can anyone please enlighten me about these things:

Chipolatas
Spotted Dick
Treacle

Are there any others that an American may not know?

Thanks for any help!

[miri]

Chipolata - small, thin sausage apparently (Cambridge online dictionary)

Spotted dick - it's a kind of sponge cake with raisins in, I think. Rather old-fashioned, they explained it in History

Treacle - thick runny sweet substance. It's thicker than syrup and gets a slightly rougher texture than jam tarts when it sets. It's comparable to syrup, but different

[mrscoach]

Is the Butterbeer supposed to be alchoholic or not? I'm assuming not, because they're giving it to kids at the Yule Ball, but then again, the drinking age is different in Great Britain than here in the US, where you have to be 21. I remember reading that if the house elves drink it they get tipsy, though.

[miri]

It's 18 here! I doubt JKR would make underage drinking a completely accepted, no-questions-asked thing, even if in actuality underage drinking is very common, questions aren't asked as often as they should be, etc.

What WAS it Winky was getting drunk on?

[SullyFawkes]

I think it was butterbeer that Winky was getting drunk on. Maybe it has a different impact on House Elves? Or maybe it really is supposed to be alcoholic? I remember seeing somewhere that JKR imagined butterbeer to taste sort of like butterscotch, but not as sickeningly sweet as liquid butterscotch would be. I personally imagine it carbonated and frothy.

[miri]

It's got to be non-sickening as a drink, otherwise I'd imagine it like a non-alcoholic Baileys, but butterscotch flavoured...

root-beer, ginger beer, etc are all fizzy so butterbeer may well be too...

[SullyFawkes]

I think it was butterbeer that Winky was getting drunk on. Maybe it has a different impact on House Elves? Or maybe it really is supposed to be alcoholic? I remember seeing somewhere that JKR imagined butterbeer to taste sort of like butterscotch, but not as sickeningly sweet as liquid butterscotch would be. I personally imagine it carbonated and frothy.

[Linda]

She was getting drunk on butterbeer. I always thought it was very slightly, minimally alcoholic. I always thought that because after the second dementor/boggart lesson, Lupin tells Harry that he "deserves a drink," and gives him a bottle of butterbeer.

Miri: Thanks for the info on British food!

[Elangomatt]

Originally posted by zora_domina (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=193688#post193688))
I loved the description of how Dudley had achieved his 3 year old goal of becoming the size of a small killer whale. lol!

Actually I think the line was "He had finally achieved what he had been threatening to do since the age of 3; he had become wider than he was tall" You could be right though, I don't have my books around right now.

All of the food details is one of the things I like alot about the books. I think it serves the purpose to put you further into the world of Harry Potter. I personally have tried the Bertie Botts Beans. I like them pretty well. Most of the bad ones are not really all that bad with the exception of bogey and vomit. The vomit one almost made me literally vomit. I have also had some chocolate frogs, but there were kindof a ripoff. I think I might goto ebay and try to buy some other HP candy. I have not looked at prices on there lately. They were quite high around Xmas time.

I also thank whoever you were for the details about some of the British foods. I have always wondered about the "spotted dick".

[Beatrice Bottbean]

The character that sticks out most in my head with regards to food is Fleur. First she asks Ron if he is done with the bouillabaisse, which he gladly hands over.

What sticks out most in my head about Fleur and food is how she complains about the Hogwart's food being too rich and worrying about not fitting into her robes because of it. It struck me because while Fleur is described as a beautiful (part Veela) and accomplished (school champion) individual, we find her worrying about putting on a few pounds. Can you say Type A? Also, don't we all know someone like that? I have encountered numerous people like this who seem to have achieved some level of perfection about them and thus begin to obsess about the possibility of bigger flaws. I read Fleur's comment as either a genuine inability to be happy with herself or simply seeking out a compliment (You look great Fleur and even with a few extra pounds, you will still be the prettiest girl here). I know plenty of girls who tell me that they think they're fat when they know that they are not in the hopes that I will tell them that they are not fat and just how good they look. Fleur seems to like attention and compliments, so perhaps that was her motivation in making the statement. I guess I am not really sure which one it is, but they are similar motivations in my mind.

[Linda]

Good points, Beatrice Bottbean. I think Fleur is fishing for compliments. I don't even think I like her because she reminds me of the sorority/princess/get-by-on-your looks type.

But back to food, isn't it funny that Ron didn't know what bouillibaisse is. England and France are not that far apart. I guess Molly makes real "home style" foods.

And, I wonder how Molly makes her potatoes, when they had the big dinner in the garden in GoF. She peel them... but then what? Mash, potato salad, what? I love food references.

[Zahri Seb Melitor]

You have to remember the whole France-England thing, though. The countries traditionally hate each other.

I can't remember what she used the potato's for at the moment, and my brother has book 4, so I'll just say that I hope it was potato salad.

I still love the idea that chocolate is an accepted form of medicine in the Wizarding World. It is time it got its' recognition for its curative properties (and stay-awake properties, and help-me-study properties and... oh well, its value as a comfort food)

[Linda]

France and England hate each other? I didn't know that (I'm U. S.). Interesting...

Chocolate is used brilliantly in HP. Another quality of it: It gives you the same feeling as being infatuated, albeit for a short period of time.

[Zahri Seb Melitor]

It's basic European history.

All praise the cocoa bean!

[hermiones mum]

The references to food are very important it reminds the reader that we need to take a break and eat...otherwise our drool blurs on the pages. chocolate has well been known to make people happier because of its chemical make up...unfortunately it then converts into extra inches.

Has JKR got the points across that children who wear glasses are OK and that it is okay to enjoy your food...unless your knickbockers are no longer stocked in the school shop.

Butterbeer sounds great... but I'm sure its only alcoholic for elves.

[Zahri Seb Melitor]

Very true, hermiones mum. Must remember that eating is an important bodily function when I get my hands on Book 5, or I may not eat until I have finished the book.

[hermiones mum]

Just remember don't eat the book...you'll need to read it again at least 10 times before book 6 comes out.

Will we be seeing more overseas wizard food ... frog legs that really walk, sheep eyes that watch you eating....What size are the portions going to be for the giants? :wow:

[Zahri Seb Melitor]

Yes, hermiones mum, I'll be good... and my sister would kill me if I ate the book. Books are respected and I must be reverent towards them.

Hmmm... giant portions, of the type they served the BFG at the palace in the BFG?

Frog legs that really walk? I'll pass on those, thanks. I'll offer you hopping Easter Bilbies and Bunnies, and Easter eggs that hatch into sugar chicks that squark, though.

[Crystal]

I fear now that food will just be in for the marketing value. I mean Dragons eggs have just come out for Easter.

[Linda]

Crystal, are you serious? Where can I buy them? I hope JKR is getting some royalties.

When I read the first book, I loved the food references (because I love food and it's a big part of our life). At that time I wondered if JKR was so descriptive about food because she was writing SS when she was rather, well, poor. You know...I envisioned her writing about the sumptious banquets while she nursed a cold cup of coffee somewhere. And then I noticed that in CoS, there weren't as many food descriptions. I though Ah ha! Now she's getting money and has plenty of food, so she's not writing about it so much.

I think I was dead wrong. I think she just includes food and its description because food matters. Food is comfort, celebration, and an expression of love.

[Zahri Seb Melitor]

Crystal, are they Mrs Weasley-style eggs with homemade toffee inside? What country? If I can't get my hands on those I'll just have to fall back on Darrell-Lea... such a shame...

[fuzzi95]

This also means the people who make the food are important as well! HOUSE ELVES!!!

[Hpmons]

You have to remember the whole France-England thing, though. The countries traditionally hate each other.

What on Earth?! Im from England, and I dont know anyone who hates the French!

I personally always thought that the Americans and French dont seem to get on that well. In all American comedies like Fraiser and Will and Grace etc, they always make rude jokes about the French.

Anyway... I think that the food described in the books shows how magnificant Hogwarts is - all those plates filled with georgeous puddings and glorious food...

Also, it is very fun to write about food - JKRs things are quite similar to some things on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Many people fantisise about chocolates that fizzle, or ordanary objects, like quills, made out of sugar. JKR is writing what everybody want to hear about, and anyway, as somebody has already said, food is a big part of our life and culture.

[Potter80]

I want to hear more about the different kinds of candy and what they do. I wish I could have tooth flossing candy.

[rusk]

I just love the sheer quantity of food all the characters eat. They all pack it away without ceasing.

My guess is all the magical energy in their bodies needs more fuel than a non-magical person. They have to metabolize massive amounts of food.

[olivepitt]

Yum! I hope they start selling pumpkin juice! I tried to buy the multiflavored beans at the movies, but they were five dollars (in american money)!! That's insane...

But as far as hating the english or the french, I think we all need to cool it. This is not the place for that. This is where we discuss Harry Potter. I mean, if we can all love Harry Potter, why can't we all love each other. It just makes sense!!

[LumosSoleil]

I was just reading PoA for like the 7th time and I still don't get what chocolate does to make the "dementized" people revive again. Is this a reference for later events or nothing of real importance? Harry's constantly forced to eat chocolate after his encounters with dementors. But in OotP, Harry encounters 2 dementors and didn't eat a lick of chocolate. Does that mean he overcame his weakness of dementors? I'm lost :sigh: :no:

[Alicia]

I'm not sure. Maybe the chocolate gives warmth or something? It could be a normal remedy for wizards, but Harry didn't think of it in OotP because of the ensuing chaos when he got home.

[giantsquid28]

I am not good with biology, but to my understanding, chocolate causes the body to release endorphin which is a horomone. Endorphins make people happy. Now, the dementors make people miserable. It is not until people get away from them that they start to return to normal. I think the chocolate is used to get them feeling happier, faster.

As for the dementors OOtP, chocolate isn't necessary when someone comes into contact with dementors. Also, Harry was with muggles at the time. Chocolate counteracting the effects of the experience is obviously not something that Petunia knows about dementors. Otherwise, Dudders would have been given a piece of chocolate as big as he is :lol:

[Barbara Kennedy]

The chemical in chocolate that make you feel better is called theobromide (by the way, it is poisonous for dogs) or more properly theobromine.

This site has a lot of information on the subject of theobromine and its relationship to caffeine.
http://www.mrkland.com/fun/xocoatl/caffeine.htm

This one is all about chocolate. Check out the section titled "Feel good food."
http://www.exploratorium.edu/exploring/exploring_chocolate/

[rotsiepots]

I was just reading PoA for like the 7th time and I still don't get what chocolate does to make the "dementized" people revive again. Is this a reference for later events or nothing of real importance? Harry's constantly forced to eat chocolate after his encounters with dementors. But in OotP, Harry encounters 2 dementors and didn't eat a lick of chocolate. Does that mean he overcame his weakness of dementors? I'm lost :sigh: :no:

Harry hasn't overcome his "weakness", but he has mastered the Patronus Charm. :)

Harry was given chocolate after he collapsed on the Hogwarts Express before he knew about the Patronus Charm or even what Dementors were. The Dementors weren't able to get a firm hold on his emotions when he was walking to Privet Drive with Dudley, so he didn't need chocolate. He performed the charm too quickly and was more used to their presence than he was on the Hogwarts Express. Dudley, on the other hand, could probably have done with several large blocks.

Make sense?

[ginnybatbogeysyou]

It's 18 here! I doubt JKR would make underage drinking a completely accepted, no-questions-asked thing, even if in actuality underage drinking is very common, questions aren't asked as often as they should be, etc.
JKR doesn't approve in a ay. She makes Hermione stop Ron from ordering a Firewhisky when they are in the Hog's Head. So, in a way, she's still politically correct. :)
I noticed that wizards seem to eat huge amounts of food. Sometimes, I feel myself getting bigger and bigger when I read about a feast at Hogwarts. But on the other hand: that castle is huge, so they work out straight away. ;)

[LumosSoleil]

I am not good with biology, but to my understanding, chocolate causes the body to release endorphin which is a horomone. Endorphins make people happy. Now, the dementors make people miserable. It is not until people get away from them that they start to return to normal. I think the chocolate is used to get them feeling happier, faster.

As for the dementors OOtP, chocolate isn't necessary when someone comes into contact with dementors. Also, Harry was with muggles at the time. Chocolate counteracting the effects of the experience is obviously not something that Petunia knows about dementors. Otherwise, Dudders would have been given a piece of chocolate as big as he is :lol:

Very interesting! I never thought of that in a scientific way. Yea, I remember learning about that in biology and chemistry. I normally forget things I learn the instant I find no use for unless reminded. Thanks ;)

[persian85033]

Ah, food. Part of the reason I like Harry Potter. I like to read what they eat t the feasts, and especially what they buy at Honeydukes. I've always waned to taste a chocholate frog, sugar quill and ice mice. When I read those parts, I can almost taste the food. I've also wondered how well the house-elves cook. Especially since in the kitchen they seem to have no ovens, or even refrigerators, do they? Just the House tables.

[swishandflick]

I was just reading PoA for like the 7th time and I still don't get what chocolate does to make the "dementized" people revive again. Is this a reference for later events or nothing of real importance? Harry's constantly forced to eat chocolate after his encounters with dementors. But in OotP, Harry encounters 2 dementors and didn't eat a lick of chocolate. Does that mean he overcame his weakness of dementors? I'm lost :sigh: :no:

I vaguely remember JKR saying in an interview that Dementors represent depression and that chocolate would help her out of being depressed. She also said that she didnt do this intentionally, but noticed it after she wrote it.

[London_luv89]

Well I think that the importance of food is just to keep them alive don't u think?

[Azimuth]

You have to remember the whole France-England thing, though. The countries traditionally hate each other.


Do we? I didn't know that. Because we don't. :D

I am not good with biology, but to my understanding, chocolate causes the body to release endorphin which is a horomone. Endorphins make people happy. Now, the dementors make people miserable. It is not until people get away from them that they start to return to normal. I think the chocolate is used to get them feeling happier, faster.

I seriously doubt that this is true. I mean, I don't feel any happier if I eat chocolate. I feel sick. :shrug:

Well I think that the importance of food is just to keep them alive don't u think?

LOL! :lol: Yeah, I think that food plays quite a big part in all our lives in the real world, and not just in Harry Potter...

[rotsiepots]

Do we? I didn't know that. Because we don't. :D

England and France are traditional rivals and yes, there is still quite a lot of bad blood between the two countries.

I seriously doubt that this is true. I mean, I don't feel any happier if I eat chocolate. I feel sick. :shrug:

You might like to read this (http://www.chocolate.org).

The positive effects of chocolate are quite well documented. :)

[hesdead-dealwithit]

Regardless of whether or not chocolate makes you feel better - everyone is going to have an individual reaction to chocolate, though it seems that it gives most people a slight high - this is JKR's world. If she wants to have chocolate as the antidote to dementors, then so be it. What if she said that xcfjgq was the antidote to dementors. Would you accept that when anyone took xcfjgq they got cured ot the lingering effects of dementors? Of course - it's JKR's story, and if she wants xcfjgq to be the antidote, then xcfjgq is the antidote. Now fill in chocolate for xcfjgq. There's no difference, is there?

[swishandflick]

mmmm xcfjgq.... :drool: Yeah...the point is that chocolate is something that helps JKR...so she uses that in her books. I don't think you should have to be politically correct for those who have particular allergies. :p And The French hate almost everybody because...well...they're French (If your from France please dont have a fit; Im just an ignorant American anyways, don't listen to me).

[MadMagic]

My thought on the chocolate was that when a dementor comes near, you get light headed and queezy, like you are going to pass out. Obviously it would make you better to get something with a lot of sugar in it. At least when I feel like I am going to faint, chocolate makes me feel all better.

[nonrabbit]

I'm pretty sure there is actually some amount of alcohol in the butterbeer, because I remember Ron or Harry saying something to the effect of "but it's pretty weak." Then Dobby replied that it is weak to humans but not house elves.

I was surprised that Harry didn't tell Petunia or Vernon to give Dudley some chocolate. I think that would have helped his case with them thinking he'd done something to him. But I guess helping his case wouldn't have helped the storyline then. I haven't seen the chocolate frogs here in the U.S. Do they have them here? (This is where a hungry smiley would go if they made them.)

[MadMagic]

Ah yes, but would they have given him chocolate. Is little diddykins still on a strict diet? Ok, I'm sure if they knew it would help they would have ripped out their secret stash of chocolate.

[nonrabbit]

You're right. I completely forgot about the diet. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

[Barbara Kennedy]

The chocolate phenomenon may have something to do with Dumbledore's fondness for hot chocolate too, but then again, he may just like hot chocolate.

[Windstar]

Have any of you tried any of the recipes for butter beer found on the web? I have tried a couple of them. BLAH! I guess I was thinking it would be sweeter or something. But I tried.

I was under the impression that butterbeer was harmless to humans/wizards, but it had a different effect on house elves. Maybe the comment about it being weak was just a comment about the flavor of it?

Does anyone else wonder if the feast that the kids eat on the first night at Hogwarts is somehow charmed? I mean, after they eat, they suddenly find themselves so tired. They all go right to sleep, practically before their heads hit their pillows.

[Puffskein]

I'm pretty sure there is actually some amount of alcohol in the butterbeer, because I remember Ron or Harry saying something to the effect of "but it's pretty weak." Then Dobby replied that it is weak to humans but not house elves.

It might not be alcohol, just a substance that inebriates house-elves but has no effect on humans. Just as there is a substance in chocolate which is poisonous to dogs but harmless to humans.

Back to the Dementors: JKR says they are a metaphor for clinical depression, so it makes sense that the remedy is a substance that increases the "happy" hormones in the brain. Actually someone's already said that. But I'll add that chocolate makes me happy inside, as does the distributor of the chocolate in the book :love:

Incidentally, the scientific Greek name of the cocoa plant is Theobroma, meaning "Food of the Gods"!

[Kaonashi]

Does anyone else wonder if the feast that the kids eat on the first night at Hogwarts is somehow charmed? I mean, after they eat, they suddenly find themselves so tired. They all go right to sleep, practically before their heads hit their pillows.

Nah, I think it's a combination of things. The train takes off at about 11 am. some kids bring lunches, others (Like Harry) buy sweets from the Cart witch. So either way there's really nothing nutritious being eaten. They don't get to Hogwarts until after nightfall, which at that time of year is about 8pm. At this point, the kids are starving, having been on the train about 9 hours. Traveling in itself can wear you down too.

Then they have to sit thru The Sorting and some announcements. Add about a half-hour 45 minutes to that. Then finally they get to eat, and a big meal it is, with all sorts of heavy sauces and desserts and rich meats...they probably finish the meal and everything at around 10:30, at which point they are all worn out and ready for bed.

[sharls]

sorry if these have been mentioned already

remember in book one harry gave neville chocolate to calm him down

and i was thinkin... the amount of food hogwarts students eat... they'd have to be fat!! hehe. cos it doesnt seem like they do much exercise. except walkin from one classroom to another

[Barbara Kennedy]

They also heft along pounds of books and a lot of those classes are pretty far apart, not to mention all the stairs they have to run up and down. You try doing that every day and see how trim you are.

[Windstar]

Now that would be the way to diet, trudge along long hallways carrying loads of books to neat classes where you get to do magic. You wouldn't even notice that you were exercising because you would be so anxious to get to your classes!

I think it is cool that the feasts and meals at Hogwarts are able to accomodate everyone's tastes. But those poor house elves, the work they must go through! Especially at feast time!

[magicsocks]

Food figures into many scenes in the HP series.
It had a part of bringing Harry and Ron together in the very beginning. Harry shared his sweets with Ron on the train. It could be perceived as a foreshadowing that Harry is going to share his life with Ron. I think they give and take a lot from each other. It didn't have to be that way. Harry could've been a selfish git and kept all the sweets to himself.
Anyway, I've always thought it very funny that Ron seems to always be thinking about food. He's always commenting that he's hungry and they'd better get to the great hall or they'll miss a meal. I think he gets fed well enough at home. I just think he's a growing boy. But JKR made it a funny Ron trait.
Does anyone else see any other food themes?


I think it is used to enrich the series. Magic castles and wands and creatures paint a pretty picture and all. But people everywhere share an appreciation for luxurious food.

[Windstar]

Ahh, food. The one thing that can bring people together! I think JKR is just using the feast and food desctiptions to bring the whole picture into view. Everyone sitting down like a family to eat a wonderful meal. That has to inspire friendships doesn't it?

[Liselle]

Just re-reading OOTP....and chapter 12 where Harry is in McGonagalls office....and she gives him two biscuits (ginger newts I think)...she practically forced him to take them, re-read the end of the chapter and you'll see what I mean. I think Harry is a little more Docile after them which got me wondering if maybe there was more to them than just sugar or a treat. What do you think?

Liselle

[cleansweep11]

I think the biscut thing was just mcgonagall(whose quite forceful) being nice. Its a bit more impleasent then just insisting but in the mind of mcgonagall the forcefull she was just being percistant. nothing else to it.

[Lupin_Lady]

Food is something that all creatures- human, non-human, good, bad and otherwise- need, and consume.
It is a way of bringing people together. Notice how most adults way of going out to socilaise is by going out for lunch or dinner?
I think that the repeated references to food is a way of showing that all the creatures in the book are equal and are sharing the age old social act of eating. There's probably nothing else behind it.

[Windstar]

If the biscuits that McGonagall gave Harry made him more docile, then couldn't the beginning of the year fest also be charmed in some way to make the children sleepy?

But, I do agree, that when I read that part, I just interpreted it as McGonagall's way of being nice. I didn't get the impression that they were charmed in any way.

[Liselle]

Yeah there probably isn't anything sinister behind it but I just think that Harry heard McGonagall differently after them

Liselle

[fruitia pickleweed]

Fun thread. Sharing food is a repeating theme, from Harry sharing with Ron in the train, to..well, endlessly. And that's interesting because systematically sharing food is part of what makes us human versus animals among whom it's very rare, apart from mothers and young of course. And basically all the alliances in these books are signaled with sharing food.

I agree that a lot of children's books have a food theme...when you're a kid, food is a vital issue, kids need a lot of calories to grow. Food is also interesting to kids because there are new things to try (or refuse to try), and there is a degree of suspense because as a kid, you don't usually control your own access to food, someone else does, so there is a question, will I get enough to eat, will it be something I can stand....Then you grow up and take it more for granted, and something else becomes more interesting, i.e., boys or girls as the case may be....

Detail, when Mrs. Weasley made the chicken and ham pie in Book 2, a creamy sauce poured out of her wand, and does that mean some food can be created out of nothing, or do you always have to have ingredients...?

(Confessing a case of arrested development: last fall friends and I made a list from the books and cooked a Harry Potter dinner with the chicken and ham pie, minted green peas Hagrid, roasted potatoes, Mrs. Weasley salad -- which had every wierd thing in the produce section and a few from the garden -- rhubarb crumble, and a gray cake with black icing saying Happy Birthday Sir Nick. I better not tell you the respective ages of the happy participants.)

[Windstar]

That sounds like a fun party!! What a neat idea!

Food does seem to be mentioned quite a bit in the books. But then again, food is also mentioned quite a bit in real life. I know I think about it quite often! What am I making the kids for breakfast, what will we have for lunch, what can I make for supper? And what dish will I take to this party or that relatives. Alot of life seems to center around food, not just life at Hogwarts.

[LumosSoleil]

You know, I was reading one of the books where Harry is eating fried tomatoes and sausages, and I just thought that sounded pretty tasty. So I made it one day, and it actually tastes good. I'd like to make more of the food they eat in the Great Hall--always droolworthy :drool: :D

[Elidor]

Friendships seemed to be formed by food in HP. The Gryfindors all become friends over food. But also, Draco and gang try to take Harry's food. Harry won't share any food with Malfoy, nor would he drink andything provided by snape (probably wise as both would probably poison it!) Sharing food seems to show trust and refusing = distrust. Just and idea.

Also, where do the students all get there food from? They buy sweets and cakes somewhere other than Hogsmead and ther Hogwarts express. They have to! Otherwise, how in yrs 1 +2 could the students get them? It doesn't mention a tuck shop. Nor does harry notice any sweets other than humbugs in the great Hall. ????? :huh: Are all other food products odered by Owl? They keep getting sweets for Christmas (how on earth does it get to their beds?!) do they just appear?

Just a few ideas, sorry for going off topic.

[Liselle]

I'd say that the sweets abd presents are brought up by the houseelves, a bit like student trunks at the beginning of the school year.

Its true that though that food does seem to symbolise trust, Snape doesn't eat at Grimmauld place (why we're not sure)....I suppose alot of the eating thats done is at a large table, symbolising togetherness/friendship/building trust.

[Barbara Kennedy]

Again in the new movie food comes into the picture. We see the boys in Harry's dorm room sitting around eating candy and goofing off, just being typical kids. The candy helps to establish this friendly atmosphere.
It is a symbol of their comfort and friendship that they all share the candy and delight in its effects on each of them.

[imperfect prefect]

just one mention canary creams a la Fred and George - didnt Neville have some with some magical results?

[koli]

You know, I was reading one of the books where Harry is eating fried tomatoes and sausages, and I just thought that sounded pretty tasty. So I made it one day, and it actually tastes good. I'd like to make more of the food they eat in the Great Hall--always droolworthy

haha i did the same exact thing w/ the fried tomatoes and sausage. i was hooked for awhile. lol

Harry potter food sounds so much better than well real food. idk maybe it's just visualizing this fantastic feast. and all the sweets they mention sound so perfect, like honeydukes. I went to this candy store at a themepark in florida when i was down there. it reminded me kind of what honeydukes might look like.

I <3 food.

[Kirsten]

I've thought it was unusual that they had butterbeer in bottles at the gala in GoF. Don't you think it should've been on tap or in a punch bowl for such a fancy party?

Not all beer is brewed and put into barrels - many varieties are available in bottles only, so draught butterbeer might not exist. The butterbeer in the pub comes in bottles, it's not draught, so I suspect it'd only a bottled beer. And beer would never be served from a punchbowl in Britain. It just wouldn't happen.

I don't think there's any significance about the McGonagall biscuit incident. She offered him a biscuit and Harry didn't take it because he was sulking. She offered it more forcefully, pointing out he was being ridiculous, and he realised he was being an idiot and took it - and as his temper calmed, he became less irate.

[Loony_Lupin]

I was rereading POA, and a question struck my mind that hasn't sturck it the others time reading the book. Why does chocolate seem to help get rid of the feelings when a Dementor has been near?

[Classical_Wizar]

maybe here All about Dementors (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=28783&highlight=dementor%2Achoclate)

[~Tonks~]

Here is a thread that may cover this...

The all inclusive dementors thread (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=6718&page=7&pp=30&highlight=dementors)

This is where a lot of people discuss them, what works against them, what doesn't, the remedies, etc...

If the mods deem this unique enough to stay open it can be used as a reference :)

Remember to do a search (http://www.cosforums.com/search.php?) before posting a new topic :)

Happy posting

[Nikki_Star]

Chocolate has an ingredient in it that makes us happy. It's like prozac, but for recovering from dementor related attacks.

[Jerrika]

Chocolate has an ingredient in it that makes us happy.
Yea! And most people associate chocolate with good and happy things... like parties or... chocolate... or even christmas. Yea. That's my two cents on the chocolate thing.

Cheers! Jerrika

ps - about the forums? I can't use the 'search the forums' thing to save my life, do not fret. There should be a FAQ about it... maybe there already is. Doesn't matter, I still wouldn't be able to find it.

[Barbara Kennedy]

This is partial information from this site.
http://www.exploratorium.edu/exploring/exploring_chocolate/choc_8.html


One of the most pleasant effects of eating chocolate is the "good feeling" that many people experience after indulging. Chocolate contains more than 300 known chemicals. Scientists have been working on isolating specific chemicals and chemical combinations which may explain some of the pleasurable effects of consuming chocolate.

Caffeine is the most well known of these chemical ingredients, and while it's present in chocolate, it can only be found in small quantities. Theobromine, a weak stimulant, is also present, in slightly higher amounts. The combination of these two chemicals (and possibly others) may provide the "lift" that chocolate eaters experience.



Researcher Daniele Piomelli explains why his group decided to study chocolate.

Phenylethylamine is also found in chocolate. It's related to amphetamines, which are strong stimulants. All of these stimulants increase the activity of neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) in parts of the brain that control our ability to pay attention and stay alert.

[Loony_Lupin]

http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro04/web1/kcoveleskie.html. (http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro04/web1/kcoveleskie.html)

Chocolate can affect the brain by causing the release of certain neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are the molecules that transmit signals between neurons. The amounts of particular neurotransmitters we have at any given time can have a great impact on our mood. Happy neurotransmitters such as endorphins and other opiates can help to reduce stress and lead to feelings of euphoria. As connections between neurons, they are released from the pre-synaptic membrane and travel across the synaptic clef to react with receptors in the post-synaptic membrane. Receptors are specified to react with particular molecules which can trigger different responses in the connected neurons. The proper neurotransmitter can trigger certain emotions.

[thrushcross]

I just love how the Harry Potterverse fulfills all my childhood fantasies... didn't you guys always wish that chocolate was good for you when you were growing up? :)

[Weatherby]

I've merged the chocolate thread with the importance of food rather than the dementors because the discussion could include loads of benefits besides detracting dementors.

[atherella]

I've browsed through this thread briefly, but it seems to be more the importance of food in the books. One thing I've always been struck by, ever since my first reading of the books is the large QUANTITIES of food they eat. For example, in CoS, Harry has 6 egg and bacon sandwiches for breakfast before using the floo powder to get to Diagon Alley. Or when they arrive at the school after crashing into the Whomping Willow and eat in Snape's office - plate after plate of sandwiches. Harry is always described as being very thin and a bit underfed at the Dursleys, but how in the world do these skinny children put away that much food? I'm an adult and pretty thin, yet I could NEVER eat 6 sandwiches. Is there any importance to how much they eat? The way Jo describes their eating habits just don't sound realistic at all, and that strikes me as odd, because she makes everything else in the books so realistic. Anyone else noticed this? (Not that it is probably of any importance to the eventual outcome, yet, it always jumps out at me.)

[Gryffindorgod]

I've browsed through this thread briefly, but it seems to be more the importance of food in the books. One thing I've always been struck by, ever since my first reading of the books is the large QUANTITIES of food they eat. For example, in CoS, Harry has 6 egg and bacon sandwiches for breakfast before using the floo powder to get to Diagon Alley. Or when they arrive at the school after crashing into the Whomping Willow and eat in Snape's office - plate after plate of sandwiches. Harry is always described as being very thin and a bit underfed at the Dursleys, but how in the world do these skinny children put away that much food? I'm an adult and pretty thin, yet I could NEVER eat 6 sandwiches. Is there any importance to how much they eat? The way Jo describes their eating habits just don't sound realistic at all, and that strikes me as odd, because she makes everything else in the books so realistic. Anyone else noticed this? (Not that it is probably of any importance to the eventual outcome, yet, it always jumps out at me.)

Teenage boys are notorious for always being hungry, you should see my three teenage cousins at dinner, it's like the food just dissapears.

France and England hate each other?

Sadly, yes as I discovered when I moved schools halfway through primary school and some kids were "French-bashing" I was too scared to tell them I'm half-French. The American's kinda took the heat off us when you started hating the French for not wanting to take part the war against Iraq (Freedom fries anyone?)

[Tane]

Actually has anyone noticed that the most powerful wizards and witches tend to eat less or nibble there food. Dumbledore, Snape and Minerva all eat far less and Snape well not at all at the moment, then there are the children. Harry, Hermione and Ron, which out of the trio stuff there faces Ron of course and he is not that great when casting spells. Ron also comes across as the weakest in terms of power within the trio so perhaps the more a witch or wizard nibbles or the less they eat the greater there power.