Recently in class, we have been watching movies like "Unser Taglich Brot" (Our Daily Bread) and "Vroom! Farming For Kids", and discussing where the food we eat comes from. Also the process the food we eat goes through. By looking at these videos and the series of Meatrix videos, I learned that Americans are usually cruel to the animal and plants that we eat, and also treat thtem unnaturally.
In America, the media is used to convince the people that just because food is fast, cheap, and easy to get to, then it's good for us. In both "Vroom..." and "Unser Taglich Brot", we have seen how almost all food has been industrialized. The movie "Vroom" focused on how farming has been industrialized. Huge mchines were used for everything like watering the crops, fertilizing the crops, picking the crops, and even transporting them from the farm to the factory. These machines are used to minimize the amount of work for a large amount of food. However, replacing the work usually done by people, with fossil fuel machine operated machines is polluting the air and potentially harming the crops. The articale "Industrial Food Is Cheap" is states that about 12 pounds of manure is leaking into rivers and causing water pollution just because the farms aren't being looked after properly. This article mainly talks about how industrial food is not cheaper like everyone thinks it is. Industrial food is actually more expensive because in the long run it can effect Americans with diseases, and to treat these diseases is more expensive thann buying natural food. If we eat organic food(even though it is a little more expensive), it eliminates the use of chemicals, and may decrease the risk of disease among Americans.
The "Meatriz" series also shows how industrialization and animal cruelty have taken over many farms. Animals are not being treated with care, like they think they are. The animals in industrial farms are treated horribly by being kept in confined places, not enough sunlight, and injected with chemicals. Thousands of cows are slaughtered per day which seems kind of extreme. Is it really necessary to slaughter so many cows in one day? Is there an alternative so so many animals aren't being harmed, and that is better fo Americans? I think America can do a lot better when it comes to amking their food better and healthier for their people.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Food Assignment #7- Chicken Alfredo
The dish I decided to make was chicken alfredo, because it's really quick and my friends and family seem to like it alot.
-Season chicken
-Put a little oil in the pan and cook chicken throughly on both sides.
-Boil water
-Put pasta into water. Cook until tender. Drain water off
-Cut up chicken into pot with pasta
-Pour jar of alfredo sauce into pot with chicken and pasta. Mix
I wasn't able to post a picture of the dish but it was served with broccoli and garlic bread. I'm guessing that the dish turned out pretty good because my two friends had 3 plates of it. I also noticed that after they ate it they were in good moods. Even though it's a very filling meal, they were ready to run around and play basketball which I thought was interesting.
-Season chicken
-Put a little oil in the pan and cook chicken throughly on both sides.
-Boil water
-Put pasta into water. Cook until tender. Drain water off
-Cut up chicken into pot with pasta
-Pour jar of alfredo sauce into pot with chicken and pasta. Mix
I wasn't able to post a picture of the dish but it was served with broccoli and garlic bread. I'm guessing that the dish turned out pretty good because my two friends had 3 plates of it. I also noticed that after they ate it they were in good moods. Even though it's a very filling meal, they were ready to run around and play basketball which I thought was interesting.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Response To Pollan- Food #6
In Pollan's book the "Omnivores Dilemma" addresses the issue America has with eating habits and obsessive dieting. I think that Americans overall have this feeling that if someone says that they are an expert on something, then that's the person they are going to listen to. When it comes to food, birth/medicine, or even money people tend to listen to the person that they think knows more than them or knows whats better for them. People listen to these 'experts', not thinking that the advice they are being given could potentially be wrong. Many 'experts' try and change the way Americans eat, and the staple of the American diet (bread/carbs), not caring how and if it effects everyone. I believe that many of these diets are supposed to be geared to a certain group of people, but are projected/ forced upon everyone else instead.
I know a diet that my mother was trying to follow for a while was the Atkins diet. she would try it for weeks at a time but not realizing the effects it had on her body. The Atkins diet was mainly focused on low Carbs, and high Protein. My mom would suffer from headaches and various mood swings (crazy i know) because she couldn't eat what she wanted. she sacrificed a lot of what she at regularly to follow this diet, without much success. No matter how much she stuck to the diet plan, she didn't lose much weight. Based off of this I think that many of these main stream diets that people follow are gimmicks, and that we should stick to how we've been eating for years (basic nutrition values).
I know a diet that my mother was trying to follow for a while was the Atkins diet. she would try it for weeks at a time but not realizing the effects it had on her body. The Atkins diet was mainly focused on low Carbs, and high Protein. My mom would suffer from headaches and various mood swings (crazy i know) because she couldn't eat what she wanted. she sacrificed a lot of what she at regularly to follow this diet, without much success. No matter how much she stuck to the diet plan, she didn't lose much weight. Based off of this I think that many of these main stream diets that people follow are gimmicks, and that we should stick to how we've been eating for years (basic nutrition values).
Food Assignment #5
Since we've been doing this food unit, i noticed that I have been looking at my food habits a lot more often than usual. I think that my eating habits have changed mostly since I've started high school. I don't eat breakfast or sometimes lunch everyday like I should. As a kid, my mom made sure that i ate at least 3 times a day. However nowadays she's not with me as often as she used to be. Now i eat when and what I want to eat.
As I'm walking through the grocery store, I noticed that they tend to push unhealthy products, or products that they think society would enjoy more. These foods are usually high in fat, salt, sugar, and cholesterol and low in the nutrients that we actually need. For example when we went on the class trip to the grocery store i noticed that the beer was placed right in the middle of the fruits/vegetables aisle. I think that maybe they were trying to think that you should buy beer because it's good for you just like fruits and vegetables. Even though i think it's a good marketing ploy, it's not very beneficial to the consumer.
I also noticed what i eat has changed a little. My mom and i don't really go to grocery stores that much. We may go to the neighborhood Pathmark every once in a while to get a couple of things but we don't really go major food shopping. 1-2 times a week we might go to the supermarket to get little things like vegetables, fruits, milk etc., but that's about it. In the typical week we eat alot of lettuce, broccoli, spinach, rice, and various meats. Also in a typical week I eat a lot of apples, tangerines, and pineapples.
As I'm walking through the grocery store, I noticed that they tend to push unhealthy products, or products that they think society would enjoy more. These foods are usually high in fat, salt, sugar, and cholesterol and low in the nutrients that we actually need. For example when we went on the class trip to the grocery store i noticed that the beer was placed right in the middle of the fruits/vegetables aisle. I think that maybe they were trying to think that you should buy beer because it's good for you just like fruits and vegetables. Even though i think it's a good marketing ploy, it's not very beneficial to the consumer.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
May Day
Until I had to do this assignment, i had never heard of the holiday May Day. May Day is the celebration of the achievements of the international labor movement, through different street demonstrations and marches. This holiday is celebrated all over the world, but rarely in the United States. The holiday May Day is also associated with socialism and communism, which I think is a main reason why America has chose to have nothing to do with it. The fact that we don't celebrate this day with the rest of the world made me wonder. Why does America have to celebrates it's workers on their own day (Labor Day)? Compared to May Day where their demonstrations represent what they worked for and how hard they work, Labor Day in the U.S. is celebrated by having a day off to party, have barbecues, and hangout with family and friends.
I think that this shows what America really thinks about it's working class. It seems like they don't care how hard there citizens work, and how much they contribute to the country. Whether they're communists, socialists, or anarchists, countries all over the world are showing their appreciation for the various labor unions and the different hard work that is being done. While America barely acknowledges their holiday, when the working class makes up most of the American population.
I think that this shows what America really thinks about it's working class. It seems like they don't care how hard there citizens work, and how much they contribute to the country. Whether they're communists, socialists, or anarchists, countries all over the world are showing their appreciation for the various labor unions and the different hard work that is being done. While America barely acknowledges their holiday, when the working class makes up most of the American population.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Food Journal
Baked Chicken w/ Spinach, Rice, and a cup of lemon water
I ate this yesterday evening for dinner (around 7 p.m.). I was eating this in front of the computer while I was working on my exhibition. I was starving so i decided to cook it myself so i was in a fairly good mood when i made it. i ate it with a fork and knife (knife in left hand to cut, then switching fork to right hand to eat).As I was eating I got into an argument with my mother, which ruined my mood and appetite, so i ended up throwing half of it out.
Tangerine (after dinner)
i had this about 11 o'clock last night in my bed. Was still kind of hungry so i thought this would help. ate it with my hands, kind of slowly because i was falling asleep.
Chocolate croissant and Cranberry Juice (breakfast)
Bought this on my way to school. Wasn't very hungry but had to eat something to take medicine. Ate it in Mr. Avigan's room, until i got kicked out for eating then went and sat in the steps and ate. In a fairly bad mood (was for most of the day ), but i don't think his affected how i ate it. I ate the croissant with my fingers, and drank he cranberry juice through a straw. After i ate it i wasn't full, but i wasn't hungry either.
Chicken Roll (lunch)
ate this while sitting in the hallway on the 6th floor. ate it with my right hand. Still in a bad mood, didn't really feel like eating. Ate half and gave the rest away. drank a whole bottle of water afterwards.
Ice Cream
Eaten after SAT class. Was in a good mood because it was the final SAT class. Used a spoon to eat it, and the spoon was in my right hand. The environment was kind of chilly, so i didn't enjoy it as much as i would have liked to. Was happy as i was eating this because it was only 31 cents lol.
Pasta w/ Alfredo sauce
Eaten around 8 o'clock in front of the computer again. Ate with the fork in my right hand. Wasn't paying much attention to the food because i was texting while i was eating. Also had 2 cups of kool aid with it.
Grapes (after dinner)
Eaten with my hands...mostly the right one. it was just a snack as i worked on my exhibition (around 12 o clock). very tired when i started eating them.
I ate this yesterday evening for dinner (around 7 p.m.). I was eating this in front of the computer while I was working on my exhibition. I was starving so i decided to cook it myself so i was in a fairly good mood when i made it. i ate it with a fork and knife (knife in left hand to cut, then switching fork to right hand to eat).As I was eating I got into an argument with my mother, which ruined my mood and appetite, so i ended up throwing half of it out.
Tangerine (after dinner)
i had this about 11 o'clock last night in my bed. Was still kind of hungry so i thought this would help. ate it with my hands, kind of slowly because i was falling asleep.
Chocolate croissant and Cranberry Juice (breakfast)
Bought this on my way to school. Wasn't very hungry but had to eat something to take medicine. Ate it in Mr. Avigan's room, until i got kicked out for eating then went and sat in the steps and ate. In a fairly bad mood (was for most of the day ), but i don't think his affected how i ate it. I ate the croissant with my fingers, and drank he cranberry juice through a straw. After i ate it i wasn't full, but i wasn't hungry either.
Chicken Roll (lunch)
ate this while sitting in the hallway on the 6th floor. ate it with my right hand. Still in a bad mood, didn't really feel like eating. Ate half and gave the rest away. drank a whole bottle of water afterwards.
Ice Cream
Eaten after SAT class. Was in a good mood because it was the final SAT class. Used a spoon to eat it, and the spoon was in my right hand. The environment was kind of chilly, so i didn't enjoy it as much as i would have liked to. Was happy as i was eating this because it was only 31 cents lol.
Pasta w/ Alfredo sauce
Eaten around 8 o'clock in front of the computer again. Ate with the fork in my right hand. Wasn't paying much attention to the food because i was texting while i was eating. Also had 2 cups of kool aid with it.
Grapes (after dinner)
Eaten with my hands...mostly the right one. it was just a snack as i worked on my exhibition (around 12 o clock). very tired when i started eating them.
Home and Corporate Food
Based off of what I see in the media, America is all about getting their food conveniently and fast. On commercials they show families eating together, however the food wasn't provided by the family but by some fast food chain. However, I've also seen the idea of people eating form that same fast food chain, but spread throughout the house like it's every man for themselves. The media is promoting different things when it comes to family and togetherness, but promoting the same idea of families eating this fast food. Food that was prepared quickly and looks healthy, when it is not.
In my house I noticed that a whole meal is rarely cooked. My mom or I may cook a meal maybe 1-2 times a week, other than that it's kind of like every ones is on there own. I do rely on things that can be cooked/made very quickly and easily like macaroni and cheese. However, when we do take the time to make a entire meal i feel that a lot of the time it is based on convenience. A lot of the food we make is frozen because it is more convenient, and because we don't have that much access to the fresh ingredients that we may want. I think this goes for a lot of Americans, especially New Yorkers. Many people don't have access to the fresh ingredients they may want to use in their meals, so they settle for the frozen products that are easier to deal with and are more likely to last longer.
When it comes to eating meals together, that doesn't really happen anymore. when i was younger my mom and i used to go to my grandmother's house or my fathers house at least twice a week for dinner. So it felt like it was more than just the two of us. As i got older i noticed I didn't really care about sitting down and having dinner together with family. I also think that this is the case for many American teens. As we get older our lives become busier, and we choose to evaluate something like sitting down and having dinner with family out of our everyday schedule. It's just not a priority in many households because people feel that there is a better and faster way than sitting down and eating dinner with the family. If Americans are eating at home they are either in front of the TV, computer,or trying to eat and text at the same time (like me). I'm not saying that this is a good thing, i just believe that this is what food and family in America has come to.
In my house I noticed that a whole meal is rarely cooked. My mom or I may cook a meal maybe 1-2 times a week, other than that it's kind of like every ones is on there own. I do rely on things that can be cooked/made very quickly and easily like macaroni and cheese. However, when we do take the time to make a entire meal i feel that a lot of the time it is based on convenience. A lot of the food we make is frozen because it is more convenient, and because we don't have that much access to the fresh ingredients that we may want. I think this goes for a lot of Americans, especially New Yorkers. Many people don't have access to the fresh ingredients they may want to use in their meals, so they settle for the frozen products that are easier to deal with and are more likely to last longer.
When it comes to eating meals together, that doesn't really happen anymore. when i was younger my mom and i used to go to my grandmother's house or my fathers house at least twice a week for dinner. So it felt like it was more than just the two of us. As i got older i noticed I didn't really care about sitting down and having dinner together with family. I also think that this is the case for many American teens. As we get older our lives become busier, and we choose to evaluate something like sitting down and having dinner with family out of our everyday schedule. It's just not a priority in many households because people feel that there is a better and faster way than sitting down and eating dinner with the family. If Americans are eating at home they are either in front of the TV, computer,or trying to eat and text at the same time (like me). I'm not saying that this is a good thing, i just believe that this is what food and family in America has come to.
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