Final Food Paper Draft

In the first few pages of his book The Omnivore's Dilemma, Michael Pollan makes the point that America, while being overly concerned with health and the kinds of food we eat, is ultimately less healthy than countries like italy or france because of that. Pollan describes how the blend of cultures in America is a leading reason for the crisis we face when it comes to deciding on a "food culture". I would make the argument that this is in itself a culture of variety, that we as Americans have such a plethora of foods from which to choose that we make our own personal food cultures. Not to mention that food in America also has its own industrial culture - ie burgers, fries, and sodas. As for our seeming gullibility for fad diets and expert advice, I would say that this is just another example of sampling what American food cultures have to offer to consumer. Of course, there is also the fact that humans are little more than two-legged sheep, flocking as a herd to wherever the figurative 'man' leads them. Experts prey on the sense of insecurity that plagues the little sheepies by telling them that they are living an unholy abomination of a lifestyle, that if they only decide to exactly as their told, they can improve from their hopeless situation.
Reading through with a more in-depth approach I found that this book focused largely on an examination at the industrial farm. Specifically focused on the farmer George Naylor, we see that this is your stereotypical American farm, having been handed down through generations of Naylor men. However, we see the impacts of the industrialization of food on this farm, for though the farm yields acres of corn, and will feed approximately 129 Americans alone, Naylor himself will not be initially part of that figure. The corn is "basically inedible" describes Pollan, citing that the corn that is grown on the farm must first be processed and tried to be able to feed humans. That might have been the most interesting part of the chapter- the fact that a farmer's crops simply cannot feed him without the stains of industry first. Another piece of this chapter I found interesting was the sheer amount of corn gathered from a single acre of corn per harvest. Pollan tells us that a single acre of this farm will yield to slightly more than ten thousand pounds of corn. 1.8 million pounds for the whole field. To me that sounds like enough to feed a few towns, not the 129 Pollan had approximated earlier. This leaves me with the question of how many pounds of kernels equates to a single person, so that they get a figure like that.
Now, after reading some of Omnivore’s dilemma as well as seeing videos like the Meatrix and Cows With Guns, I have developed a few ideas about industrial foods. I saw some atrocities committed to animals in the documentary “Our Daily Bread” by workers who seemed emotionless and indifferent and I also saw in the Meatrix some colorful examples of how industrial farms mistreat their animals. This gets coupled with my growing distaste for beef and meat to bring about a desire for change in my diet. I have decided to gradually approach vegetarianism, by initially eliminating beef foods, then moving on to chicken, fish, etc. I assume that by eating simpler foods like salads and fruits, I can be healthier because I’m not absorbing the infected bits of meat that comes from mistreated farm animals. By eating and living a vegetarian lifestyle, you will not only be making yourself healthier, but you will be helping to heal the world. Some facts I found on vegetarian and vegan living show that plants produce 10 times more protein per acre than animals do, and that the use of unused plant protein would help decrease the human protein deficit by upwards of 90%.
I also understand that many

As far as scary food videos, this about covers it. I actually like the ideas though, these fatty American fast foods really will kill you.

Response to Industrial Food Sources

The Meatrix-
This video was very entertaining, somewhat spoofing on the ideas present in the Matrix. However, the content of the video was very eye-opening. The idea that we are being blinded by agricultural corporation to believe things are fine and dandy is a scary one. The fact that cows and chickens are herded by the hundreds into cramped, dark factory cages makes me shiver on their behalf. I've been to a legitimate milk farm in Ireland, my grandfather's, and I can safely say that things there are much more natural and pleasant. Cows get to feed on grass and spend their whole lives in the fields. When it comes to milking, yes, they are connected to a machine, but it is not like the cramped conditions displayed in the Meatrix videos. I believe that cows and other animals should be allowed to live their lives out in the fields doing as they please, and not in a dark cramped space where they get sick, have their tails cut off, and are feed horrible cannibalistic concoctions. Mad cow disease isn't a pleasant thing I'm sure, and if we were to feed OUR children some of OUR blood, we would be absolutely disgusted in ourselves.

Colbert vs. Pollan
I like how relatable this made Pollan seem. After reading some of his Omnivore's Dilemma, I had the impression that he was riding atop his high horse, condemning us normal eaters for our destructive ignorance. This talk made Pollan just a normal guy with the right ideas and concerns for food. By admitting that he permits his son to have the colorful and factory made cereals once in a while is a crucial move for his relatability (evidently this isn't a word but I'm making it one) to the common working parent who might not have time to look for the healthy alternative. Pollan understands that it isn't specifically the food that is bad for us, but the method by which it is made, processed, etc.

Extra Credit Examination of Omnivore's Dilemma

Since we read a few chapters in class already, for my Pollan responses I jumped to chapter two: The Farm.

In my pre-read I skimmed over the first couple sentences of each paragraph as well as the headings for each subsection in the chapter. From this I gleaned that this chapter was about the physical maintenance of the farm, from the planting to the harvesting, and everything in between.

Reading through with a more in-depth approach I found that this was an examination at the industrial farm. Specifically focused on the farmer George Naylor, we see that this is your stereotypical American farm, having been handed down through generations of Naylor men. However, we see the impacts of the industrialization of food on this farm, for though the farm yields acres of corn, and will feed approximately 129 Americans alone, Naylor himself will not be initially part of that figure. The corn is "basically inedible" describes Pollan, citing that the corn that is grown on the farm must first be processed and tried to be able to feed humans. That might have been the most interesting part of the chapter- the fact that a farmer's crops simply cannot feed him without the stains of industry first. Another piece of this chapter I found interesting was the sheer amount of corn gathered fro ma single acre of corn per harvest. Pollan tells us that a single acre of this farm will yield to slightly more than ten thousand pounds of corn. 1.8 million pounds for the whole field. To me that sounds like enough to feed a few towns, not the 129 Pollan had approximated earlier. This leaves me with the question of how many pounds of kernels equates to a single person, so that they get a figure like that.

This has affected my understanding of food in that I realize the taint of industry destroying our crops. I believe that there was a quote that sums up my feelings exactly. Something along the lines of "We haven't aquired the technology that allows us to synthesize food from oil.....yet.

Posted to Kate
Kate-
I like that you acknowledge the soil issue. I overlooked that in my own post, and I will add it to a second draft. Now, when you wonder if technology is a problem, I would say that Kiana's point is essential. Technology, for all of its flaws, greatly reduces the amount of manpower needed, and also allows for more crop to be grown. However, the counter-argument to that is that less technology would encourage more independent farming, so i guess there's that. As for the corn issue, the fact that consumers demand a higher amount of it is a result of a capitalistic idea, the concept of supply and demand. When the demand is greater than the supply, the economy can boost, so perhaps asking for more than there is is good up to a certain point.

Commenting on other people's work

This post is interesting, kate, but it seems to me as though you are only regurgitating what was said in the book, not so much responding to the material. I think maybe you should consider a 2nd draft and post additional personal thoughts on the ideas.
-Posted to kate

I like this post and especially how you referred to AMericans as "they" and not "we", meaning that while they might not be able to see through the fad diet system, you can. I also think it was good for you to reference material discussed in class as evidence to bolster the post.
-Posted to Yu Xi

I think that it's very interesting that your mother cooks what she wants to cook. I just wonder, and this is only nitpicking, where did her own preferences come from? Did her mother do the same things she does now? Also, i think that is nice to have a vegan relative. maybe you should try some of her food if you haven't already.
-Posted to Rachel Jermansky

Easy and Delicious Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients
1 (6 ounce) package refrigerated pie crusts
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin
1 (14 ounce) can eagle brand sweetened condensed milk (do not use evaporated milk)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt (I actually use less than this)

Directions
1.) Buy ingredients
2.) Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
3.) With mixer, beat pumpkin, Eagle® Brand, eggs, spices, and salt.
4.) Pour into Ready Crust®.
5.) Bake 15 minutes.
6.) Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F; bake 35 to 40 minutes longer or until knife inserted 1 inch from crust comes out clean.
7.) Cool.
8.) Serve with whipped cream.
9.) Refrigerate leftovers.

For this assignment please respond briefly to Michael Pollan's argument, in the first few pages of Omnivore's Dilemma, that we as a culture lack a stable food culture like the Italians or French, are obsessed with health, are confused and anxious about food, and therefore easily succumb to various expert-directed food fads.

What food experts do you and your family pay attention to - scientists, journalists, chefs, commercials on tv, doctors, nutritionists, health officials, book authors?

In the first few pages of his book The Omnivore's Dilemma, Michael Pollan makes the point that America, while being overly concerned with health and the kinds of food we eat, is ultimately less healthy than countries like italy or france because of that. Pollan describes how the blend of cultures in America is a leading reason for the crisis we face when it comes to deciding on a "food culture". I would make the argument that this is in itself a culture of variety, that we as Americans have such a plethora of foods from which to choose that we make our own personal food cultures.
not to mention that food in America also has its own industrial culture - ie burgers, fries, and sodas. As for our seeming gullibility for fad diets and expert advice, I would say that this is just another example of sampling what American food cultures have to offer to consumer. Of course, there is also the fact that humans are little more than two-legged sheep, flocking as a herd to wherever the figurative 'man' leads them. Experts prey on the sense of insecurity that plagues the little sheepies by telling them that they are living an unholy abomination of a lifestyle, that if they only decide to exactly as their told, they can improve from their hopeless situation.