June is for #munchread...and its not all about food! #rwpchat

This is a month we think about munching.  You might even be munching as you read this.  Do you have favourite things to eat and drink while reading, watching and playing?  Does it depend on what you are reading, watching or playing as to what inspires you?  For example do you have second breakfasts when reading The hobbit or feel inspired by pasta when reading about the Mafia?  What is your favourite kind of popcorn to eat while watching a film?  Do you prefer other film snacks?  Do films snacks have to be quiet so the munching does not drown out the soundtrack?  Are there foods which should be avoided when playing games (because they will mess up the game)?

Vampires, zombies and werewolves are characters/species you might encounter in a book, game or film for whom munching is a critical part of their identity.  Kraken seem to munch a lot too, which is why they are scary.  Are there foods you avoid when reading, watching or playing paranormal or horror?  Or are red foods a must?

Folk tales and legends often feature food as part of the story, and munching in the story can cause a lot of problems.  What would Snow White be without an apple?  Hansel and Gretel without gingerbread, Persephone without pomegranates, the three bears without porridge and the Mad Hatter without his tea party.

Are there books, films or games you approach in small bites – maybe because they are short works, or because you want to slowly munch your way through the work?  Are there others you almost binge munch on (almost, because bingeing is not a good thing to do), or really sink your teeth into? I’m thinking most cookbooks are good binge munching, all those delicious photographs but why do I reach for the munchables as soon as I start to watch any healthy lifestyle/ exercise tv or dvds? Do you? Is moderating what we munch made easier with the plethora of diet/exercise/lifestyle information available?

Our lifelong affair with food starts with board books (apple, banana, strawberries etc) for babies, but can you really get the children to eat peas by reading Jasper McFlea will not eat his tea.

They say everything old is new again. Grandma’s recipes are now cool again,  so do you grow your own munchables? The backyard (and paddock) to plate movement is “growing” almost immeasurably. Are you and avid reader or watcher of Gardening Australia, Gourmet farmer, follower of Stephanie Alexander’s kitchen garden scheme, or a member of yourlocal community garden? Do you devour how-to-cook dvds? Do you come to the Library for your latest copy of  Delicious,  or Australian Gourmet traveller magazines? Do you travel the world through kitchens and restaurants?

Do you love fiction stories that include recipes or stories about food? Do you see food as healing, an essential part of belonging to a community, or lifestyle? So much choice.

Oh and don’t forget …while you are reading, playing or watching your #munchread, you might like to tweet about it using #munchread #rwpchat so that other people can have a conversation with you about your #munchread.  You can add to the discussion on Pinterest too. You might like to post your photographs to Instagram or Flickr and use #munchread #rwpchat so others can share in your reading, watching and playing.

There will be a twitter discussion on 24 June starting at 8.00pm Australian Eastern Standard Time.   9.00pm New Zealand  Time, 6.00pm Singapore Standard Time, 12.00 noon Central European Summer Time, 9am – 11am; 2pm – 4pm; 6pm – 8pm BST.  Note this is a staggered discussion.

Use the tags #munchread and #rwpchat as you discuss the reading, watching playing that is your experience of munchread, so others can join in the conversation too.