In this episode of Food People, Dr. Vivek Murthy, the 19th and 21st US Surgeon General, discusses the importance of food in building community and combating loneliness. He shares personal stories about his childhood and how food brought people together.
Most people know the US Surgeon General as the nation’s doctor who sets the agenda for health and wellness for the country, encouraging Americans to eat more vegetables and quit smoking, and more recently, giving guidance throughout the pandemic. But Murthy, who is closing his second term, has reshaped ideas about the nation’s health by prioritizing warnings about gun violence, mental health, and loneliness, which he calls an epidemic.
In his latest project, Recipes for Connection, he says that food is a power connector. Gathering and cooking together, he says, are ways to build friendships, deeper relationships, and community. “Food is much more than calories; it’s the love your mother gave you as a child,” he says. In this episode of Food People, Murthy shares his dreams for America and how to meet people on a food journey. Jamila Robinson: I am Jamila Robinson, Editor-in-Chief of Bon Appétit and Epicurious. And this is Food People. Food People is the show where I get to sit down with the luminaries making big moves in food, from chefs and entrepreneurs to celebrities and activists, because food is something we all participate in. And this week I was honored to sit down with the 19th and 21st US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. In addition to his public service, Dr. Murthy is the author of the bestselling book Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World. Our conversation centered on the themes of his book and how food and gatherings around the table can help combat what Dr. Murthy sees as an epidemic of loneliness. I hope you enjoy. Dr. Vivek Murthy, the nation's doctor, welcome to Bon Appetit. It's so lovely to have you here in the studio. Dr. Vivek Murthy: Well, thanks so much. What a treat to be with you. JR: We are so excited to talk to you, but I first want to start off with a question we ask all of our guests, which is what makes you a food person? DVM: Well, so many of my memories, my good memories are tied up with food. When I was growing up, my mother, when we would have prayer services, she would always prepare food and we would offer it on the altar, and then we would all eat that food afterward, and that became a symbol of our spiritual practice. I also think when I was growing up, we used to have friends over a lot. My parents came to the country without a whole lot of resources, but they knew community was important, and so we used to gather with friends, and my mom and I and my sister would spend a lot of time together in the kitchen making that food. It was my job to not only help with chopping the vegetables and assembling things, but to keep the list of all the dishes we were making and to cross it off when they were done. Even to this day, when I go home, when we have people over, my mother will say, 'Vivek, make the list,' and I'll know that that's my job. But lastly, even at moments where I've felt homesick, like when I had my freshman year in college when I was just really just feeling so sad because I missed my family so deeply, relief came in the form of these small packages with homemade food that my mother would make and send to me, and that was like a lifeline to me. So, oh, food has been a really important part of my life. A source of joy, reflection of my relationships, and I'm very grateful for it. JR: What was in those little food packages? DVM: So there was a particular dessert that my mother made, which I loved called , which is a very simple semolina-based dessert. And usually there were some other tidbits, maybe some other Indian sweets that she had made, but was the was always the center point. It's what I looked forward to. And now what's really amazing and fun is my kids have come to like it too. And so my mother makes it for my kids and on occasion I do as well. JR: I imagine that when most Americans think about the Surgeon General, they are thinking about warning labels and telling you how to eat your vegetables. But you're a person behind this important role. Can you talk a little bit about your job as the US Surgeon General? DVM: Yeah, and look, I think a lot of people have heard the title of Surgeon General, but they may not know what Surgeon General does. But here's what the job is. There are two primary responsibilities. One is to make sure that you're communicating to the public what critical health issues they need to be made aware of. And the second responsibility is actually less known. It's to oversee one of our eight uniformed services in the US government. People are familiar with the army and the navy. We also have a US public health service, which has 6,000 officers, nurses, doctors, pharmacists, physical therapists, and many others who respond to emergencies, whether it's a hurricane or a tornado or another disaster. And they provide basic healthcare. They help build up and support the public health infrastructure. And as Surgeon General, that's the service that I'm privileged and honored to overse
Dr. Vivek Murthy US Surgeon General Food Connection Loneliness Community Recipes For Connection Together: The Healing Power Of Human Connection Bon Appetit Food People
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