Learn to think like Marije
It’s remarkable how limited our imagination can be when it comes to food—or many other aspects of life, for that matter.
I’m not referring to the occasional theatrical dining experiences, though those have their charm. What I mean is a fundamental shift in how we perceive the simplest yet most essential act: eating. The reason we don’t often approach food with creativity or artistry is that we’re not encouraged or taught to think differently about it. We just consume, without much thought.
But when you begin to see food from a new perspective, it becomes easier to craft memorable and engaging culinary experiences—whether at home, at work, or when hosting guests. Food then transcends its role as mere sustenance and becomes a catalyst for transformation.
searching
for ways to get your creative flow going
Excited
about food, and it’s transcendental qualities.
Curious
To discover new ways of thinking with food.
Sensitive
To what food has to tell you.
Let’s challenge your creative mind on food.
Imagine being able to:
- Help people reconnect with forgotten, precious memories through food
- Get your kids to love vegetables
- Make breakfast magical, lunch something to help you fall in love, and dinner an experience that makes you feel truly alive
- Become the top person everyone wants to invite to parties
- Activate your creativity on command
- help others experience how f*cking amazing it is that there’s food in the first place!
- deepen your love for food in a creative way
learn to see the world of food with new eyes
This course is for food lovers who:
- are interested in food beyond taste
- want to enjoy philosophy in their mouth
- like to be challenged mentally and creatively
- look for tangible and tasty inspiration
- want to train their creativity on food
- want to experience the magical side of food
You are interested in food, in flavours and food experiences but you are ready to explore the next level of food
In our society, we’re not often trained to think creatively—especially when it comes to food. Creativity is usually confined to traditional ‘art materials’ within established frameworks. We’re even taught not to play with our food.
But when someone tells you not to play with your food, what they really mean is that they want you to respect it—and they probably don’t want to deal with the mess.
However, being creative with food doesn’t necessarily mean making a mess (most of the time). Often, the food remains just as it is; it’s your perspective that changes. Imagine a wine tasting, but with tap water instead.
In fact, respecting food can be done through creativity. You can help people experience the true value of food, allowing them to fully appreciate just how incredible it is that we have food at all.
Creativity isn’t about making food look artsy or strange; it’s about shifting perspectives to create new meanings. For example, you can help someone recover a lost memory with just a single bite.
Edible Philosophy is a 5-week online course designed to ignite your creative mind through food. You’ll discover how most people think about food in a surprisingly narrow way, despite its huge impact as the world’s largest economic force. Food is both incredibly complex and beautifully simple.
In much of the world, food is abundant, often taken for granted. We may enjoy its flavors, but do we truly experience the magic of food? This course will explore how food helps us understand the bigger picture—how it shapes our identity and connects us to the world around us. You’ll learn that food isn’t just about nourishment; it’s about us, the people who eat it.
Here’s what you’ll master in Edible Philosophy
WEEK One
Food and identity
Food is more than just sustenance—you already know that! It’s a cultural force that shapes who we are. Let’s explore how food influences your personal identity and the identities of those around you. How do your unique choices reflect who you are? Together, we’ll uncover and create your own “food fingerprint.
WEEK two
Food and memory
We’ve all experienced that moment when a bite of food instantly transports us to a forgotten memory, reliving it vividly. This is known as the Proust effect. This week, we’ll dig into your own food memories and create a personal memory bank you can draw from. You’ll also learn how to harness the Proust effect to craft unforgettable experiences for others in a creative way. And you’ll learn how to bend negative memories into positive ones- through food.
WEEK three
food and imagination
Unpopular opinion: food doesn’t truly exist—until it’s eaten. In that moment, you, the eater, transform organic matter into something we call food. And because you’re not a machine but a human full of emotions, expectations, and senses, there’s no such thing as an objective food experience. Your imagination is always at play, even subconsciously, when you eat. But what if we made this a conscious process? This week, we’ll focus on activating your imagination with food—learning how to enhance your own eating experiences and gain the tools to create memorable, imaginative experiences for others.
WEEK four
food stories
Humans are natural storytellers. We don’t just believe in stories—we live by them. They shape our reality, giving us direction and meaning. Without them, we’d feel lost. Once we understand how this works, we can apply it to food, creating our own narratives to transform our food experiences and those of the people around us. This week, we’ll experience how stories can be used to influence the taste and value of food.
WEEK five
ethics
In our graduation week, we’ll delve into the surprising aspects of controversial ideas about food and eating, and embrace free creative exploration. By confronting the darker side, we’ll gain a clearer understanding of how we normalize unethical practices in our daily lives. At the same time, we’ll discover innovative ideas and alternatives for a healthier future. You’ll learn how to engage with challenging topics in an empowering way, equipping yourself to navigate the complexities of the food system without feeling overwhelmed.
SPECIAL BONUS
Chance to win A free personal coaching session with Marije!
Edible Philosophy
While many courses focus on creative thinking in general, none are dedicated specifically to food—until now!
Creative thinking is a powerful tool for boosting resilience, flexibility, and problem-solving skills. But when applied to food, it unlocks a whole new level of possibilities. Food is more than just material—it’s ephemeral and alive. As the world’s largest economic force and a key element of our survival, food is foundational to our existence. Yet, it can also be frivolous, wasted, or misunderstood.
Food serves as a tool for economic power, a subject of superstition, and an agent for ritual. It holds deep layers of meaning. In this course, we’ll explore how to use these layers in innovative and creative ways. While you might use creative thinking for designing websites, consider this: What’s more essential—eating or surfing the web? Food touches the essence of life, and imagination is our natural state. Let’s connect these two to generate powerful ideas that nourish both body and mind.
Moa Marklund studentI loved that the Lick It Challenge was so sensitive and kind with its delightful little workshops. I particularly enjoyed the Proust experience session, which truly created new realizations and fostered fresh ideas. I am grateful for the space you created for us, bringing together people from different practices and experiences, yet sharing a likeminded approach to the edible.
What do you get for your investment?
You’ll gain a fresh perspective on food that will change the way you see it forever, and you'll also learn how to share this new perspective with others.
- Two sessions a week on Tuesday and alternating on Thursday and Friday. One to introduce you to a new concept and one group experience session.
- Access to all recordings. So if you can’t make it to the live sessions, it’s easy to catch up. Or watch again and again!
- Weekly challenges so you can instantly start practicing and using the tools in your daily life.
- Join an international community of like-minded creative people who like to challenge their creative mind on food.
- Q&A’s with Marije and always the possibility to ask questions in-between sessions in our private group
- Bonus to win a private coaching session with Marije.
Starting at just €997, get access to great tools and strategies that will help you think like Marije.
We’re starting March 14th 2025
Join us today to save your seat in this one-of-a-kind experience
Be one of the first in the world to benefit from Marije Vogelzang’s expertise and creativity. Few people have a chance to combine their passion with their work to create a lasting legacy that can change the world. This is yours.
Do not join this course if…
Marije’s courses are not for everyone. She only works with small groups so don’t join if you’re looking for:
recipes
Food inspiration is often shared through recipes, and the internet is full of these for free. But this is different—you’ll discover a type of inspiration you didn’t even know existed.
food styling
Yes, beautifully styled food can be stunning and food styling is definitely useful. But this course isn’t about how to shape your food—it’s about shaping your mind. The best part? While you eat your food, you’ll always carry this new mindset with you.
classic philosophy
This isn’t a traditional philosophy course where we debate whether Nietzsche’s cravings for his mother’s sausage and cake shaped his thinking. Instead, this course is about applying philosophy in action—using your mind to influence food in modern and creative ways.
designing contemporary dinners
If you want to learn how to design your own conceptual dinner, you might want to choose to join the Summerschool or the winterschool. You can find these on this website under ‘courses’.
Deep diving into food design
If you want to get to know everything about food design and learn the basic skills of food and design, have a look at the annual Food and Design Dive. Or complement the food and Design Dive with the Edible Philosophy program
Where could you be in 5 weeks?
Find yourself becoming a master of creative thinking with food… or you could continue to search for ways to create something meaningful.
THE CHOICE IS YOURS.