Projects
On this page you can find all the various projects that I have completed throughout the semester. We had a variety of projects that challenged my initial perspective as it related to food. Now, I have a more well-rounded attitude when it comes to food and its relationship with public health, the environment, the economy and more.
Jenna's Food Autobiography
The American food system is one based on limitless consumption, the idea that there are no consequences for one’s decisions regarding food, and sheer ignorance about where our food comes from. Many Americans today consume many products beyond what is actually necessary without even taking a second to think about how this may affect their long-term health or what went into making that food item. This ideology about food did not always exist; in fact, at many points throughout history- let’s take the Great Depression as an example- people such as my grandparents had to learn how to make do with as little as possible. My grandmother, especially, carried this with her throughout her life. I remember going to her house for dinner as a young child and she would never let a leftover go to waste. Everything in the fridge had to be eaten and if something was about to expire than that is what you had for dinner that night. She also never bought name brand items of food because in her mind they were too expensive and unnecessary. My mom used to always tell me stories of how my grandma would never buy items such as potato chips or Faygo soda unless it was someone’s birthday or some other momentous occasion. When I think about my food habits as a young child, I was allowed to eat almost anything I wanted even if it was unhealthy because my parents always told me that they wanted me to have more than they did growing up. My dad grew up in a large family as well that would be considered quite poor in today’s standards. His parents had emigrated from Eastern Europe and had little money to spare. He had to learn how to be as minimalistic as possible regarding food. To this day, we refer to him as the human garbage disposal because he will eat everything in sight. I feel as though those values have disappeared from modern society. Our food system now relies on mass production from a few major corporations to produce the “diverse” food system we have today. While the food system itself may have become more efficient than what it was in the past, there are many problems associated with this efficiency, including dangerous effects on our health and culture.
Economic necessity and other cultural factors is what drove the eating habits of my parents as they were growing up. When it came to my eating habits, I could eat mostly whatever I wanted because my parents believed they grew up rather restricted and wanted my brother and I to have to the ability to make our own choices and have some independence when it came to the food we ate. Unlike how my parents grew up, we had the ability to buy a lot of healthy foods and vegetables; however, I was quite picky and ate very few vegetables. My picky eating can be attributed to my older brother. He would not touch anything other than chicken tenders and fries. I looked up to him so much and mimicked much of what he did which led me to believe that healthy foods were gross and junk food was delicious. To this day, I only like very sweet vegetables such as bell peppers and cucumbers. I never really saw positive cultural messages regarding making healthy food choices. Before I went to elementary school my typical meal consisted of some type of meat along with rice or potatoes and either corn or green beans. My diet was rather balanced because I did not really have many friends or social media that may have influenced me otherwise. Once I started going to school and making friends, I was quite influenced by the people around me along with the advertisements that were constantly shown on Nickelodeon for sugary cereals and soft drinks. Many of friends brought unhealthy snacks to school such as Fruit Roll Ups, potato chips and sugary juice drinks. I begged my mom every time I went to the grocery store to buy me the snacks that my friends had. My brother and I were both involved in sports and other extra-curricular activities so my parents were always on the go. My family never really sat down for dinner together when I was growing up. If we did, our meals typically consisted of something that could be prepared quickly such as spaghetti, soups, frozen pizza or hamburgers. While our family was economically secure, time constraints really had a negative impact on my food choices. Because both of my parents worked, and we were always on the go, it was hard to sit down and share a healthy meal. My parents tried to get me to eat food items such as broccoli or asparagus but, in the end, I would usually run off gagging or crying. I was rather stubborn in the choices I made about what to eat. I never had health classes that taught me the importance of a well-balanced diet. My school’s lunch had classic kid friendly items such as pizza and hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, chicken tenders and more. The vegetables they served never looked appetizing. I was constantly surrounded by cultural images that did not portray any positive messages about healthy eating; rather, the spotlight was shed on junk foods that offered little to no nutritional benefit.
It was not until high school that I really started to pay attention to issues related to health our food system in general. One particular experience at a food bank in Detroit really changed my perspective on nutrition and made me realize how lucky I was to have grown up the way I did. I have had a passion for helping others ever since I was young. We went to Gleaners with my church’s youth group for a Thanksgiving event where we helped prepare and serve a meal to those in need. After getting to know everyone that came through I realized I was taking my health and the foods I ate every day for granted. These people did not waste a single item on their plate because when you are hungry, you eat whatever is in front of you. The foods we prepared were nutritious because one fundamental belief of Catholicism is that wholesome and healthy foods are a fundamental human right. While I am not particularly religious nowadays, my religious background has had a profound impact on how I look at our food system and issues of social justice. My parents sacrificed so much for me, yet I continued to make poor choices regarding my health. Nowadays, I am very cautious about how I spend my money and what companies I choose to support. This summer I took a course that looked at the American food system more closely and I came to realize that consumers are being fed a false image about where our food comes from. While being in college has made it more difficult to buy from organic and socially conscious companies, I have tried to make a valid effort to do my best. In terms of my food preferences, I have grown to really love salads and nuts, something I never liked as a child. However, I tend to be a creature of habit and stick to more simplistic meals like chicken and potatoes. Through close analysis of my relationship to food, I have gained a better understanding about why I eat the way I do.
The American food system is one based on limitless consumption, the idea that there are no consequences for one’s decisions regarding food, and sheer ignorance about where our food comes from. Many Americans today consume many products beyond what is actually necessary without even taking a second to think about how this may affect their long-term health or what went into making that food item. This ideology about food did not always exist; in fact, at many points throughout history- let’s take the Great Depression as an example- people such as my grandparents had to learn how to make do with as little as possible. My grandmother, especially, carried this with her throughout her life. I remember going to her house for dinner as a young child and she would never let a leftover go to waste. Everything in the fridge had to be eaten and if something was about to expire than that is what you had for dinner that night. She also never bought name brand items of food because in her mind they were too expensive and unnecessary. My mom used to always tell me stories of how my grandma would never buy items such as potato chips or Faygo soda unless it was someone’s birthday or some other momentous occasion. When I think about my food habits as a young child, I was allowed to eat almost anything I wanted even if it was unhealthy because my parents always told me that they wanted me to have more than they did growing up. My dad grew up in a large family as well that would be considered quite poor in today’s standards. His parents had emigrated from Eastern Europe and had little money to spare. He had to learn how to be as minimalistic as possible regarding food. To this day, we refer to him as the human garbage disposal because he will eat everything in sight. I feel as though those values have disappeared from modern society. Our food system now relies on mass production from a few major corporations to produce the “diverse” food system we have today. While the food system itself may have become more efficient than what it was in the past, there are many problems associated with this efficiency, including dangerous effects on our health and culture.
Economic necessity and other cultural factors is what drove the eating habits of my parents as they were growing up. When it came to my eating habits, I could eat mostly whatever I wanted because my parents believed they grew up rather restricted and wanted my brother and I to have to the ability to make our own choices and have some independence when it came to the food we ate. Unlike how my parents grew up, we had the ability to buy a lot of healthy foods and vegetables; however, I was quite picky and ate very few vegetables. My picky eating can be attributed to my older brother. He would not touch anything other than chicken tenders and fries. I looked up to him so much and mimicked much of what he did which led me to believe that healthy foods were gross and junk food was delicious. To this day, I only like very sweet vegetables such as bell peppers and cucumbers. I never really saw positive cultural messages regarding making healthy food choices. Before I went to elementary school my typical meal consisted of some type of meat along with rice or potatoes and either corn or green beans. My diet was rather balanced because I did not really have many friends or social media that may have influenced me otherwise. Once I started going to school and making friends, I was quite influenced by the people around me along with the advertisements that were constantly shown on Nickelodeon for sugary cereals and soft drinks. Many of friends brought unhealthy snacks to school such as Fruit Roll Ups, potato chips and sugary juice drinks. I begged my mom every time I went to the grocery store to buy me the snacks that my friends had. My brother and I were both involved in sports and other extra-curricular activities so my parents were always on the go. My family never really sat down for dinner together when I was growing up. If we did, our meals typically consisted of something that could be prepared quickly such as spaghetti, soups, frozen pizza or hamburgers. While our family was economically secure, time constraints really had a negative impact on my food choices. Because both of my parents worked, and we were always on the go, it was hard to sit down and share a healthy meal. My parents tried to get me to eat food items such as broccoli or asparagus but, in the end, I would usually run off gagging or crying. I was rather stubborn in the choices I made about what to eat. I never had health classes that taught me the importance of a well-balanced diet. My school’s lunch had classic kid friendly items such as pizza and hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, chicken tenders and more. The vegetables they served never looked appetizing. I was constantly surrounded by cultural images that did not portray any positive messages about healthy eating; rather, the spotlight was shed on junk foods that offered little to no nutritional benefit.
It was not until high school that I really started to pay attention to issues related to health our food system in general. One particular experience at a food bank in Detroit really changed my perspective on nutrition and made me realize how lucky I was to have grown up the way I did. I have had a passion for helping others ever since I was young. We went to Gleaners with my church’s youth group for a Thanksgiving event where we helped prepare and serve a meal to those in need. After getting to know everyone that came through I realized I was taking my health and the foods I ate every day for granted. These people did not waste a single item on their plate because when you are hungry, you eat whatever is in front of you. The foods we prepared were nutritious because one fundamental belief of Catholicism is that wholesome and healthy foods are a fundamental human right. While I am not particularly religious nowadays, my religious background has had a profound impact on how I look at our food system and issues of social justice. My parents sacrificed so much for me, yet I continued to make poor choices regarding my health. Nowadays, I am very cautious about how I spend my money and what companies I choose to support. This summer I took a course that looked at the American food system more closely and I came to realize that consumers are being fed a false image about where our food comes from. While being in college has made it more difficult to buy from organic and socially conscious companies, I have tried to make a valid effort to do my best. In terms of my food preferences, I have grown to really love salads and nuts, something I never liked as a child. However, I tend to be a creature of habit and stick to more simplistic meals like chicken and potatoes. Through close analysis of my relationship to food, I have gained a better understanding about why I eat the way I do.
Jenna’s Rewritten Food Autobiography
The American food system is one based on limitless consumption; the idea that there are no consequences for one’s decisions regarding food, and sheer ignorance about where our food comes from. Many Americans today do not take a second look at what they are putting into their bodies, which is a result of many factors not simply just related to consumer apathy. The food industry and governmental leaders also play an extremely vital role in shaping the food activism that takes place within the country.
This ideology about food did not always exist. Let’s take the Great Depression as an example. People such as my grandparents had to learn how to make do with as little as possible. My grandmother, especially, carried this with her throughout her life. I remember going to her house for dinner as a young child, and she would never let a leftover go to waste. Everything in the fridge had to be eaten and if something was about to expire than that is what you had for dinner that night. I found this logic to be somewhat strange. Growing up, I never really ate leftovers because once the box or plastic container sat in the refrigerator overnight, all freshness and value was lost. For many middle-class Americans such as myself, the constant threat of not knowing where the next meal will come from was never a thought that needed much attention, if any attention at all. For my grandmother, food on the table was a sign that her family was doing well and that all the various jobs my grandfather had to take up were well worth it. Throwing away food was a luxury she simply could not afford, both economically and morally. For me however, throwing away food I thought lost all value was a sign of my middle-class privilege. It reaffirmed the classic American belief system in which food is a cheap commodity and “food waste” is a thing of past because of our ability to produce so much.
When I think about my food habits as a young child, I was allowed to eat almost anything I wanted even if it was unhealthy, because my parents always told me that they wanted me to have more than they did growing up. My dad and my mom grew up in large families that would be considered quite poor in today’s standards. Both of their parents were first generation immigrants from Eastern Europe and had very little money to spare. Both families had to learn how to be as minimalistic as possible in regards to food. Picky eating was seen as disrespectful and if one did choose to leave their vegetables on the plate, their parents would not accommodate to match their preferences; instead, you either ate what was given to you or went hungry. Interestingly enough, to this day, we refer to my father as the human garbage disposal because he will eat everything in sight, including the week-old leftovers that look a little less than desirable. This class has caused me to question why there is such a negative connotation behind calling my dad a human garage disposal. Food waste is a tremendous problem around the world, particularly in more developed countries. According to Richard Waite and Brian Lipinski, Americans waste nearly 300 lbs. of food per person per year which can cost up to $1,500 in losses. Not to mention, the greenhouse gases that are emitted from food products rotting away in landfills continues to intensify the fight against global climate change. It is astonishing to think that if global food waste were a country, it would be the third largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world (Waite & Lipinski, 2017). With this in mind, it seems as though being a human garage disposal is something one should feel proud of. Reducing food waste is one of the most sustainable options people have in terms of ensuring the long-term health of the environment. However, the foundation of the American dream is the idea that every person has a choice and that if you do not like where you are in life, or in this case what food is in your refrigerator, you can easily change that. My grandparents, whether they knew it or not, were ahead of their time in terms of the sustainability movement that is slowly starting to take place. For the most part however, our food system now relies on mass production from a few major corporations to produce the “diverse” food system we have today. While the food system itself may have become more efficient than it was in the past, there are many problems associated with this efficiency, including potential deadly effects on our health and culture.
Economic necessity and other cultural factors is what drove the eating habits of my parents as they were growing up. However, when it came to my eating habits, I could eat essentially whatever I wanted because my parents believed they grew up rather restricted and wanted my brother and I to have to the ability to make our own choices and have some independence when it came to the food we ate. On top of this, we were not constricted to a single income or broader social and economic hardships that made getting food on the table a rather difficult task. Unlike how my parents grew up, we had the ability to buy an abundance of healthy foods like fresh fruits and vegetables; however, I was quite picky and attempted to avoid large quantities of vegetables in particular. My picky eating can be attributed to my older brother. He would not touch anything other than chicken tenders and fries. I looked up to him so much and mimicked much of what he did which in turn led me to believe that healthy foods were gross and junk food was delicious. To this day, I only like very sweet vegetables such as bell peppers and cucumbers. I never really saw positive cultural messages about making healthy food choices. Before I went to elementary school my typical meal consisted of some type of meat along with rice or potatoes and either corn or green beans. Meat was a staple in my household because it was a symbol of my family’s economic prosperity, at least in the eyes of my parents.
My diet, in general, was rather balanced because I did not have many friends or social media outlets to influence my decisions about what foods were good and which foods were gross. All I really had was my brother, who despite his pickiness, still showed me that eating healthy did not always have to be a burden. Once I started going to school and making friends, I was quite influenced by the people around me along with the advertisements that were constantly shown on Nickelodeon for sugary cereals and soft drinks. Many of friends brought unhealthy snacks to school such as Fruit Roll Ups, potato chips and sugary juice drinks. I begged my mom every time I went to the grocery store to buy me the snacks that my friends had which she would as long as she could stick some apple slices in my lunch. Having the ability to make my own choices regarding food empowered me and made me feel as though my voice was always heard in the family. Even though my choices may have been misguided as a child, this empowerment would later on help me realize just how important it is that people have autonomy over what they put in their body. It is why I believe it is a fundamental right that every person deserves to know the exact methods of how the food sitting on their plates in front of them got to them. My experience as a child is another reason why I believe the Trump administration’s “Harvest Box” proposal, mentioned by Maria Goody in an article titled “How Might Trump’s Food Box Plan Affect Health? Native American’s Know All Too Well” is a gross violation of this right because this box would exclude the many culturally relevant and healthful foods that are important to Native Americans and other marginalized communities. Having a one size fits all box where the freedom of choice is eliminated has the potential to deeply harm the physical, social and cultural well-being of those that would receive these food aid boxes.
My brother and I were both involved in sports and other extra-curricular activities, so my parents were always on the go taking us to various practices and other events. My family never really sat down for dinner together when I was growing up. My brother and I had our activities at different times in the day, so my parents would take turns taking each of us to soccer practice, softball, etc. If we did eat together, our meals typically consisted of something that could be prepared quickly such as spaghetti, soups, frozen pizza or hamburgers. While our family was economically secure, it appears time constraints really had a negative impact on my food choices. Because both of my parents worked, and we were always busy driving us around, it was hard to sit down and share a healthy meal. My parents tried to get me to eat food items such as broccoli or asparagus but, in the end, I would usually run off gagging or crying because they were not “sweet” like the bell peppers and cucumbers I loved so much. I was rather stubborn in the choices I made about what to eat. I never had health classes that taught me the importance of a well-balanced diet. On top of that, convenience foods seemed to fit seamlessly with our busy schedules, something the food industry plays upon in advertisements all across the country. The powerful force of convenience is a result of the industrial food system where efficiency is put above other concerns such as environmental degradation and humane animal treatment. Once the food industry learned just how easily people could be manipulated by products that took little to no effort to make, they capitalized on this and made sure that Americans now believed that convenience products were necessary products rather than just luxuries.
It was not until high school that I really started to pay attention to issues related to health and problems with our food system in general. One particular experience at a food bank in Detroit called Gleaners really changed my perspective on nutrition and how lucky I was to have grown up the way I did. I loved volunteering and helping others ever since middle school. We went to Gleaners with my church’s youth group for a Thanksgiving event where we helped prepare and serve a meal to those in need. After really talking to everyone who came through I realized I was taking my health and the foods I ate every day for granted. These people did not waste a single item on their plate because when you are hungry, you eat whatever is in front of you. The foods we prepared were nutritious because one fundamental belief of Catholicism is that wholesome and healthy foods are a fundamental human right. While I am not particularly religious nowadays, my religious background has had a profound impact on how I look at our food system. My parents sacrificed so much for me, yet I continued to make poor choices regarding my health. Nowadays, I am very cautious about how I spend my money and what companies I choose to support. Earlier this summer I took a course that looked at the American food system more closely and I came to realize that consumers have the responsibility to make informed decisions about their health and what types of organizations they support. While being in college has made it more difficult to buy from organic and socially conscious companies, I have tried to make a valid effort to do my best. In terms of my food preferences, I have grown to really love salads and nuts, something I never liked as a child. However, I tend to be a creature of habit and stick to more simplistic meals like chicken and potatoes. Through close analysis of my relationship to food, I have gained a better understanding about why I eat the way I do.
Overall, this class has forced me to think more deeply about why I believe the things that I do. Our choices go beyond our taste buds; most of the time they are deeply rooted social and cultural factors that have shaped us into the person we are today. Through further investigation of the modern food system, my core values about choosing environmentally friendly and socially conscious food products have been reaffirmed. I now have even more evidence for choosing to eat the way I do. There needs to be a fundamental shift in the way people think about food in order to sustain our planet. Change is possible, but it has to start with the individual. Once individuals change, there is no telling where this momentum will take the world!
The American food system is one based on limitless consumption; the idea that there are no consequences for one’s decisions regarding food, and sheer ignorance about where our food comes from. Many Americans today do not take a second look at what they are putting into their bodies, which is a result of many factors not simply just related to consumer apathy. The food industry and governmental leaders also play an extremely vital role in shaping the food activism that takes place within the country.
This ideology about food did not always exist. Let’s take the Great Depression as an example. People such as my grandparents had to learn how to make do with as little as possible. My grandmother, especially, carried this with her throughout her life. I remember going to her house for dinner as a young child, and she would never let a leftover go to waste. Everything in the fridge had to be eaten and if something was about to expire than that is what you had for dinner that night. I found this logic to be somewhat strange. Growing up, I never really ate leftovers because once the box or plastic container sat in the refrigerator overnight, all freshness and value was lost. For many middle-class Americans such as myself, the constant threat of not knowing where the next meal will come from was never a thought that needed much attention, if any attention at all. For my grandmother, food on the table was a sign that her family was doing well and that all the various jobs my grandfather had to take up were well worth it. Throwing away food was a luxury she simply could not afford, both economically and morally. For me however, throwing away food I thought lost all value was a sign of my middle-class privilege. It reaffirmed the classic American belief system in which food is a cheap commodity and “food waste” is a thing of past because of our ability to produce so much.
When I think about my food habits as a young child, I was allowed to eat almost anything I wanted even if it was unhealthy, because my parents always told me that they wanted me to have more than they did growing up. My dad and my mom grew up in large families that would be considered quite poor in today’s standards. Both of their parents were first generation immigrants from Eastern Europe and had very little money to spare. Both families had to learn how to be as minimalistic as possible in regards to food. Picky eating was seen as disrespectful and if one did choose to leave their vegetables on the plate, their parents would not accommodate to match their preferences; instead, you either ate what was given to you or went hungry. Interestingly enough, to this day, we refer to my father as the human garbage disposal because he will eat everything in sight, including the week-old leftovers that look a little less than desirable. This class has caused me to question why there is such a negative connotation behind calling my dad a human garage disposal. Food waste is a tremendous problem around the world, particularly in more developed countries. According to Richard Waite and Brian Lipinski, Americans waste nearly 300 lbs. of food per person per year which can cost up to $1,500 in losses. Not to mention, the greenhouse gases that are emitted from food products rotting away in landfills continues to intensify the fight against global climate change. It is astonishing to think that if global food waste were a country, it would be the third largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world (Waite & Lipinski, 2017). With this in mind, it seems as though being a human garage disposal is something one should feel proud of. Reducing food waste is one of the most sustainable options people have in terms of ensuring the long-term health of the environment. However, the foundation of the American dream is the idea that every person has a choice and that if you do not like where you are in life, or in this case what food is in your refrigerator, you can easily change that. My grandparents, whether they knew it or not, were ahead of their time in terms of the sustainability movement that is slowly starting to take place. For the most part however, our food system now relies on mass production from a few major corporations to produce the “diverse” food system we have today. While the food system itself may have become more efficient than it was in the past, there are many problems associated with this efficiency, including potential deadly effects on our health and culture.
Economic necessity and other cultural factors is what drove the eating habits of my parents as they were growing up. However, when it came to my eating habits, I could eat essentially whatever I wanted because my parents believed they grew up rather restricted and wanted my brother and I to have to the ability to make our own choices and have some independence when it came to the food we ate. On top of this, we were not constricted to a single income or broader social and economic hardships that made getting food on the table a rather difficult task. Unlike how my parents grew up, we had the ability to buy an abundance of healthy foods like fresh fruits and vegetables; however, I was quite picky and attempted to avoid large quantities of vegetables in particular. My picky eating can be attributed to my older brother. He would not touch anything other than chicken tenders and fries. I looked up to him so much and mimicked much of what he did which in turn led me to believe that healthy foods were gross and junk food was delicious. To this day, I only like very sweet vegetables such as bell peppers and cucumbers. I never really saw positive cultural messages about making healthy food choices. Before I went to elementary school my typical meal consisted of some type of meat along with rice or potatoes and either corn or green beans. Meat was a staple in my household because it was a symbol of my family’s economic prosperity, at least in the eyes of my parents.
My diet, in general, was rather balanced because I did not have many friends or social media outlets to influence my decisions about what foods were good and which foods were gross. All I really had was my brother, who despite his pickiness, still showed me that eating healthy did not always have to be a burden. Once I started going to school and making friends, I was quite influenced by the people around me along with the advertisements that were constantly shown on Nickelodeon for sugary cereals and soft drinks. Many of friends brought unhealthy snacks to school such as Fruit Roll Ups, potato chips and sugary juice drinks. I begged my mom every time I went to the grocery store to buy me the snacks that my friends had which she would as long as she could stick some apple slices in my lunch. Having the ability to make my own choices regarding food empowered me and made me feel as though my voice was always heard in the family. Even though my choices may have been misguided as a child, this empowerment would later on help me realize just how important it is that people have autonomy over what they put in their body. It is why I believe it is a fundamental right that every person deserves to know the exact methods of how the food sitting on their plates in front of them got to them. My experience as a child is another reason why I believe the Trump administration’s “Harvest Box” proposal, mentioned by Maria Goody in an article titled “How Might Trump’s Food Box Plan Affect Health? Native American’s Know All Too Well” is a gross violation of this right because this box would exclude the many culturally relevant and healthful foods that are important to Native Americans and other marginalized communities. Having a one size fits all box where the freedom of choice is eliminated has the potential to deeply harm the physical, social and cultural well-being of those that would receive these food aid boxes.
My brother and I were both involved in sports and other extra-curricular activities, so my parents were always on the go taking us to various practices and other events. My family never really sat down for dinner together when I was growing up. My brother and I had our activities at different times in the day, so my parents would take turns taking each of us to soccer practice, softball, etc. If we did eat together, our meals typically consisted of something that could be prepared quickly such as spaghetti, soups, frozen pizza or hamburgers. While our family was economically secure, it appears time constraints really had a negative impact on my food choices. Because both of my parents worked, and we were always busy driving us around, it was hard to sit down and share a healthy meal. My parents tried to get me to eat food items such as broccoli or asparagus but, in the end, I would usually run off gagging or crying because they were not “sweet” like the bell peppers and cucumbers I loved so much. I was rather stubborn in the choices I made about what to eat. I never had health classes that taught me the importance of a well-balanced diet. On top of that, convenience foods seemed to fit seamlessly with our busy schedules, something the food industry plays upon in advertisements all across the country. The powerful force of convenience is a result of the industrial food system where efficiency is put above other concerns such as environmental degradation and humane animal treatment. Once the food industry learned just how easily people could be manipulated by products that took little to no effort to make, they capitalized on this and made sure that Americans now believed that convenience products were necessary products rather than just luxuries.
It was not until high school that I really started to pay attention to issues related to health and problems with our food system in general. One particular experience at a food bank in Detroit called Gleaners really changed my perspective on nutrition and how lucky I was to have grown up the way I did. I loved volunteering and helping others ever since middle school. We went to Gleaners with my church’s youth group for a Thanksgiving event where we helped prepare and serve a meal to those in need. After really talking to everyone who came through I realized I was taking my health and the foods I ate every day for granted. These people did not waste a single item on their plate because when you are hungry, you eat whatever is in front of you. The foods we prepared were nutritious because one fundamental belief of Catholicism is that wholesome and healthy foods are a fundamental human right. While I am not particularly religious nowadays, my religious background has had a profound impact on how I look at our food system. My parents sacrificed so much for me, yet I continued to make poor choices regarding my health. Nowadays, I am very cautious about how I spend my money and what companies I choose to support. Earlier this summer I took a course that looked at the American food system more closely and I came to realize that consumers have the responsibility to make informed decisions about their health and what types of organizations they support. While being in college has made it more difficult to buy from organic and socially conscious companies, I have tried to make a valid effort to do my best. In terms of my food preferences, I have grown to really love salads and nuts, something I never liked as a child. However, I tend to be a creature of habit and stick to more simplistic meals like chicken and potatoes. Through close analysis of my relationship to food, I have gained a better understanding about why I eat the way I do.
Overall, this class has forced me to think more deeply about why I believe the things that I do. Our choices go beyond our taste buds; most of the time they are deeply rooted social and cultural factors that have shaped us into the person we are today. Through further investigation of the modern food system, my core values about choosing environmentally friendly and socially conscious food products have been reaffirmed. I now have even more evidence for choosing to eat the way I do. There needs to be a fundamental shift in the way people think about food in order to sustain our planet. Change is possible, but it has to start with the individual. Once individuals change, there is no telling where this momentum will take the world!
Pandora's Lunchbox Email
Dear Mom,
I am writing you this email to explain all the new and valuable information I have now learned after reading a book for my ISS 310 class. The book is called Pandora’s Lunchbox by Stephanie Warner. Throughout this book, she gives many examples of how the processed food industry functions and how modern consumers tend to think about the industrial food system itself. We are constantly fed images in supermarkets that make us believe that the pathway our food takes is a very simple one: from the farm to our shopping cart. The food industry tends to leave out the many in-between steps that come along with serving us our food needs. It is important to first state that Warner’s definition of processed food is something that cannot be made in your own kitchen using the same ingredients (Warner, 2014, p. xviii). One of the more interesting concepts she brings up time and time again is the idea that nutrition and convenience are often times at odds with one another (p. 59). For example, when Kellogg’s cereals were first created, they were composed of whole grain wheat, had little sugar added, and had naturally occurring fiber, something our body needs, even though today most people are not getting enough (p. 58). However, when the company started to expand and began selling their products nationwide, they needed to come up with a system that would allow their cereals to last on the shelves - whether it was grocery stores or warehouses - for long periods of time without spoiling (p. 59). The Corn Flakes recipe was altered in a critical way- the corn germ and bran were eliminated yet these are the essential components of wheat that essentially house all the nutritious aspects of the wheat (p. 59). I also found it interesting that most cereals contain starches that are already broken down which contributes to the rapid absorption of the starches into the bloodstream which can cause type 2 diabetes (p. 65). Also, because most of our starches are broken down for us, we expend less calories digesting food overall which may play a role in gaining weight when consuming processed foods. Another interesting concept she brings up is the way in which we get our vitamins and minerals today vs. how our ancestors got their doses of vitamins and minerals. Most cereals today have to be sprayed with vitamins and minerals composed in food laboratories in order to at least give some nutritional benefit to the consumers. There is much controversy over the topic of synthetic vitamins vs. vitamins coming from whole foods. While most studies have looked at supplements rather than fortified foods, it can be generally said that these synthetic vitamins do not offer the full health benefits that may come from say, eating an orange and this can be due to the other components that make up the orange which work in cohesion with the vitamin C (p. 85). Realistically, I think it would be better to get your daily needs of vitamins and minerals from whole foods; however, if this is not possible or if you are extremely deficient than I think that supplements do have their place at the table.
Warner places a big emphasis on the idea that modern day consumers have no concept of where their food is coming from. Sure, everyone is busy and taking the time to actually look at ingredient labels or look up the company and get a better idea about how they process their food is quite inconvenient. Frozen grilled chicken may appear to have been cooked on a grill before it was packaged and sent to supermarkets around the country; however, most “grilled” frozen chicken is actually made with artificial flavors that give it a savory and charred flavor so that you barely can detect that your food was actually made on large industrial processing lines which most likely imprinted the striped “grilled” pattern on the chicken to begin with (p. 170). I think this really just goes to show that what we think we are eating is actually quite far from the truth. Mass produced chickens that are fed a corn-based diet taste quite different from chickens that are allowed to roam freely and eat as much grass as they please, which is what their evolution has taught them to do. However, the interesting component of this is that food scientists can mimic the taste of grass fed chickens and give that trait to mass produced chickens so that much of the flavor that has been lost due to the industrial food system can be added back into the chicken. The tastes might be similar but this calls into question the ethics of the entire process. Also, while it can be said that it is inefficient to allow chickens to grow at a slower pace and eat what their biology wants them to eat, it more comes down to the question of whether we want to eat something that has had the opportunity to grow naturally in this world or to eat items that were produced in a laboratory somewhere (p. 172). I do not want to attack food scientists or say that they are ruining our lives- in fact, we need scientists to study food genetics and sustainability overall due to increasing pressures from climate change and population growth. However, producing food in a lab setting takes away from the relationship that we have with the natural world and the plants and animals that serve our nutrition needs. It seems as though we now look at our food with expectation rather than appreciation which is a result of the industrial world and our constantly moving lives.
Overall, I think Warner really stresses the point that food companies are not the ones we need to rely on to improve our diets and fix our health problems. Our diets should mainly be composed of foods that are grown, not made (p. 221). The choice about what to eat is our own but with certain policy changes and marketing limitations of big businesses, we can help to make that choice an easier one. Our food system is dynamic, not static so if consumer demands change, the industrial food system can change for the better. I hope you enjoyed my take on Warner’s book. Perhaps one day you can read it for yourself and see what you think!
Sincerely,
Jenna
Dear Mom,
I am writing you this email to explain all the new and valuable information I have now learned after reading a book for my ISS 310 class. The book is called Pandora’s Lunchbox by Stephanie Warner. Throughout this book, she gives many examples of how the processed food industry functions and how modern consumers tend to think about the industrial food system itself. We are constantly fed images in supermarkets that make us believe that the pathway our food takes is a very simple one: from the farm to our shopping cart. The food industry tends to leave out the many in-between steps that come along with serving us our food needs. It is important to first state that Warner’s definition of processed food is something that cannot be made in your own kitchen using the same ingredients (Warner, 2014, p. xviii). One of the more interesting concepts she brings up time and time again is the idea that nutrition and convenience are often times at odds with one another (p. 59). For example, when Kellogg’s cereals were first created, they were composed of whole grain wheat, had little sugar added, and had naturally occurring fiber, something our body needs, even though today most people are not getting enough (p. 58). However, when the company started to expand and began selling their products nationwide, they needed to come up with a system that would allow their cereals to last on the shelves - whether it was grocery stores or warehouses - for long periods of time without spoiling (p. 59). The Corn Flakes recipe was altered in a critical way- the corn germ and bran were eliminated yet these are the essential components of wheat that essentially house all the nutritious aspects of the wheat (p. 59). I also found it interesting that most cereals contain starches that are already broken down which contributes to the rapid absorption of the starches into the bloodstream which can cause type 2 diabetes (p. 65). Also, because most of our starches are broken down for us, we expend less calories digesting food overall which may play a role in gaining weight when consuming processed foods. Another interesting concept she brings up is the way in which we get our vitamins and minerals today vs. how our ancestors got their doses of vitamins and minerals. Most cereals today have to be sprayed with vitamins and minerals composed in food laboratories in order to at least give some nutritional benefit to the consumers. There is much controversy over the topic of synthetic vitamins vs. vitamins coming from whole foods. While most studies have looked at supplements rather than fortified foods, it can be generally said that these synthetic vitamins do not offer the full health benefits that may come from say, eating an orange and this can be due to the other components that make up the orange which work in cohesion with the vitamin C (p. 85). Realistically, I think it would be better to get your daily needs of vitamins and minerals from whole foods; however, if this is not possible or if you are extremely deficient than I think that supplements do have their place at the table.
Warner places a big emphasis on the idea that modern day consumers have no concept of where their food is coming from. Sure, everyone is busy and taking the time to actually look at ingredient labels or look up the company and get a better idea about how they process their food is quite inconvenient. Frozen grilled chicken may appear to have been cooked on a grill before it was packaged and sent to supermarkets around the country; however, most “grilled” frozen chicken is actually made with artificial flavors that give it a savory and charred flavor so that you barely can detect that your food was actually made on large industrial processing lines which most likely imprinted the striped “grilled” pattern on the chicken to begin with (p. 170). I think this really just goes to show that what we think we are eating is actually quite far from the truth. Mass produced chickens that are fed a corn-based diet taste quite different from chickens that are allowed to roam freely and eat as much grass as they please, which is what their evolution has taught them to do. However, the interesting component of this is that food scientists can mimic the taste of grass fed chickens and give that trait to mass produced chickens so that much of the flavor that has been lost due to the industrial food system can be added back into the chicken. The tastes might be similar but this calls into question the ethics of the entire process. Also, while it can be said that it is inefficient to allow chickens to grow at a slower pace and eat what their biology wants them to eat, it more comes down to the question of whether we want to eat something that has had the opportunity to grow naturally in this world or to eat items that were produced in a laboratory somewhere (p. 172). I do not want to attack food scientists or say that they are ruining our lives- in fact, we need scientists to study food genetics and sustainability overall due to increasing pressures from climate change and population growth. However, producing food in a lab setting takes away from the relationship that we have with the natural world and the plants and animals that serve our nutrition needs. It seems as though we now look at our food with expectation rather than appreciation which is a result of the industrial world and our constantly moving lives.
Overall, I think Warner really stresses the point that food companies are not the ones we need to rely on to improve our diets and fix our health problems. Our diets should mainly be composed of foods that are grown, not made (p. 221). The choice about what to eat is our own but with certain policy changes and marketing limitations of big businesses, we can help to make that choice an easier one. Our food system is dynamic, not static so if consumer demands change, the industrial food system can change for the better. I hope you enjoyed my take on Warner’s book. Perhaps one day you can read it for yourself and see what you think!
Sincerely,
Jenna
Topic Explorer Paper
Podcast:
Conan, N., Clark, K. & Nerrios, D. (2013, April 25). Signing up for food stamps: The choice and the stigma. National Public Radio, Inc. Podcast retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2013/04/25/179038260/signing-up-for-food-stampsf
While this podcast is somewhat older, it offers valuable information regarding the personal effects that foods stamps have on all different types of individuals from different backgrounds. There is insight from a senior reporter, a partner relationships and benefits coordinator from a food bank and the host himself. At this time, the rates of food stamp usage was steadily increasing despite the growth of the economy at the time. It offers a historical perspective of the stigma of receiving food stamps to the present time and it turns out that while the stigma has gone down due to people receiving a debit card rather than actual stamps, many people still feel ashamed and unsuccessful because they have to turn to food stamps. One of the biggest messages that this podcast relays is that it is not just people living in absolute poverty who look to food stamps for help. Rather, there are many individuals that have multiple jobs and incomes yet still cannot afford to feed themselves healthy and nutritious foods. The money they receive from the SNAP program allows them the freedom to choose fruits and vegetables and other nutritious items without sacrificing a large portion of their already small income. It was interesting how one man who lived in a conservative and affluent neighborhood and had a good job still had to turn to food stamps. He believed if he were to tell people he was on governmental assistance he would be shunned from the community. This podcast interweaves personal testimony with facts from both the reporter and the food bank worker to portray an accurate image of the everyday usage of food stamps and how that affects various individuals. Through personal testimony, one can get a better sense of what it is like to have to rely on this form of assistance and how that may affect one’s mental status and even relationships with other individuals. Because it is typically people from a lower social class who rely on food stamps, this podcast offers primary insight into what someone from a particular social class thinks about food stamps.
Book:
Bartfield, J., Gundersen, C., Smeeding, T., & Ziliak, J. (2016). SNAP matters: How food stamps affect health and well-being. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
This book is an in-depth look at the SNAP social program functioning within the United States as it relates to many factors such as poverty, health and nutrition, obesity and more. It is based on academic research related to these topics and many more. This book would provide a strong foundation for understanding the SNAP program in its entirety. This social program is one of the biggest welfare programs in the country and has many ramifications for people of all different social classes. It is highly controversial and often leads to much debate, especially within the political sphere. The first chapter asks why so many Americans are on food stamps to begin with and then looks at how the economy, politics and demographics may play a role in answering this question. Despite the particular eligibility requirements of the program, millions of Americans are benefitting from food stamps on an everyday basis. Enrollment started off slow but has quickly increased in numbers due to the various economic and political factors. Unemployment and income inequality have played a major role in the gradual increase in participation within the program. One might expect that when the economy is steadily doing better then overall participation should decrease. However, the trends have showed otherwise. What economic growth fails to mention is how social class and items relating to it such as income inequality are not measured in the final numbers. Just because the economy is growing does not mean that the American people as a whole are better off than they were before. This book will show the dynamic nature of the SNAP program and what types of effects it is having on people of lower social class by giving concrete facts and statistics about various research done throughout the years and should provide a comprehensive overview of the program itself which would allow my group to further analyze it and offer our own thoughts and opinions.
Articles:
Miller, L. (2010, November 22). What food says about class in America. Newsweek. Retrieved from https://www.newsweek.com/what-food-says-about-class-america-69951
Ferdman, R. (2014, September 2). America’s growing food inequality problem. The Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/09/02/americas-growing-food-inequality-problem/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.6a7b15fd98fd
Parasecoli, F. (2017, August 28). What’s right to eat? Class, distinction and the food movement. The Huffington Post. Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/whats-right-to-eat-class-distinction-and-the-food_us_59a3f296e4b0a62d0987b0a1
Social class and food choices seem to go hand in hand. Social class is often determined by one’s income, although other factors may play a role in deciding how people are placed into different categories. The problem with this is that income inequality is growing so while the rich are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer. Adam Drewnowski argues that economic elitism in the world of nutrition tends to ignore the issues of affordability for healthy and nutritious foods in lower income households. While most people desire to eat whole, less processed foods overall, many are simply faced with too many barriers that prevent them from making healthier choices. The financial crisis that hit the United States back in the late 2000s had a particularly devastating effect for poorer Americans. Often times, social class is a product of how you grew up and can be hard to change unless you have a strong support system and access to certain resources. Despite the stigma with food stamps, they can have a positive impact in getting people away from poverty and therefore increasing their social status. However, food stamps do not cover the “luxury” food items that are sought after by middle and high class folks. Because what you eat can say a lot about the type of person you are, many people try to indulge in foods that separate them from the mass consumer, often thought of as being of a lower status. The problem with this statement is that there is so much diversity within mass consumption that we cannot simply attribute one type of food to a particular class. Parasecoli puts it best: “The possibility of distinguishing yourself by eating the right things probably predisposes people to believe in particular ways of framing problems that lend themselves to individualistic and consumeristic solutions.” This essentially means that our narrow mindedness when it comes to food could have serous implications in our ability to come up with creative and all-encompassing solutions to food insecurity within the United States. While these three articles target the topic of social class and food in a variety of different ways, they shed light on a complex and dynamic topic. When looking at social class in general, you cannot simply view it from a single perspective. It requires looking at how it functions in our society in many different ways and what social class means to different people. These articles contribute greatly to my overall understanding on the topic of social class and food and how one may attempt to break down the barriers and ensure that healthy nutritious food is available to all people no matter where they come from.
Summary of the Topic’s Potential:
Social class, despite its inherently unnatural construction, plays a vital role in our everyday lives. People are often defined by it and without the proper resources, struggle with trying to change one’s status. The problem with categorizing people into certain classes is that it produces this lack of understanding between people and how they have the same needs no matter what status they are relegated to. People in lower social classes tend to have less choices, especially in terms of having their political voice heard. Social class and the way people are viewed has impacted American politics for centuries and it continues to be an issue to this day. I find this topic of social class and how it relates to food to be fascinating because food is something every living creature needs to survive. Not only does it offer us calories so that our cells can function as they normally would, it also has many social, cultural, and economic components embedded in it as well. I am especially curious to learn more about the food stamp program here in the United States because it is one of the biggest social welfare programs that has some of the biggest impacts on people of lower social class. Based on our readings in class so far, I think this topic has the potential to create a lot of debate within the class, which is healthy when done respectfully. No matter what people in my group or the class in general believe, I think it is important to take complex issues and attempt to understand them and apply one’s own perspective to the issue. At the end of the day, hunger is a problem that no person should have to face. There is more than enough food in America for everyone to know where their next meal should come from. There just needs to be important policy changes and social changes made from top to bottom to ensure no person goes hungry.
Podcast:
Conan, N., Clark, K. & Nerrios, D. (2013, April 25). Signing up for food stamps: The choice and the stigma. National Public Radio, Inc. Podcast retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2013/04/25/179038260/signing-up-for-food-stampsf
While this podcast is somewhat older, it offers valuable information regarding the personal effects that foods stamps have on all different types of individuals from different backgrounds. There is insight from a senior reporter, a partner relationships and benefits coordinator from a food bank and the host himself. At this time, the rates of food stamp usage was steadily increasing despite the growth of the economy at the time. It offers a historical perspective of the stigma of receiving food stamps to the present time and it turns out that while the stigma has gone down due to people receiving a debit card rather than actual stamps, many people still feel ashamed and unsuccessful because they have to turn to food stamps. One of the biggest messages that this podcast relays is that it is not just people living in absolute poverty who look to food stamps for help. Rather, there are many individuals that have multiple jobs and incomes yet still cannot afford to feed themselves healthy and nutritious foods. The money they receive from the SNAP program allows them the freedom to choose fruits and vegetables and other nutritious items without sacrificing a large portion of their already small income. It was interesting how one man who lived in a conservative and affluent neighborhood and had a good job still had to turn to food stamps. He believed if he were to tell people he was on governmental assistance he would be shunned from the community. This podcast interweaves personal testimony with facts from both the reporter and the food bank worker to portray an accurate image of the everyday usage of food stamps and how that affects various individuals. Through personal testimony, one can get a better sense of what it is like to have to rely on this form of assistance and how that may affect one’s mental status and even relationships with other individuals. Because it is typically people from a lower social class who rely on food stamps, this podcast offers primary insight into what someone from a particular social class thinks about food stamps.
Book:
Bartfield, J., Gundersen, C., Smeeding, T., & Ziliak, J. (2016). SNAP matters: How food stamps affect health and well-being. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
This book is an in-depth look at the SNAP social program functioning within the United States as it relates to many factors such as poverty, health and nutrition, obesity and more. It is based on academic research related to these topics and many more. This book would provide a strong foundation for understanding the SNAP program in its entirety. This social program is one of the biggest welfare programs in the country and has many ramifications for people of all different social classes. It is highly controversial and often leads to much debate, especially within the political sphere. The first chapter asks why so many Americans are on food stamps to begin with and then looks at how the economy, politics and demographics may play a role in answering this question. Despite the particular eligibility requirements of the program, millions of Americans are benefitting from food stamps on an everyday basis. Enrollment started off slow but has quickly increased in numbers due to the various economic and political factors. Unemployment and income inequality have played a major role in the gradual increase in participation within the program. One might expect that when the economy is steadily doing better then overall participation should decrease. However, the trends have showed otherwise. What economic growth fails to mention is how social class and items relating to it such as income inequality are not measured in the final numbers. Just because the economy is growing does not mean that the American people as a whole are better off than they were before. This book will show the dynamic nature of the SNAP program and what types of effects it is having on people of lower social class by giving concrete facts and statistics about various research done throughout the years and should provide a comprehensive overview of the program itself which would allow my group to further analyze it and offer our own thoughts and opinions.
Articles:
Miller, L. (2010, November 22). What food says about class in America. Newsweek. Retrieved from https://www.newsweek.com/what-food-says-about-class-america-69951
Ferdman, R. (2014, September 2). America’s growing food inequality problem. The Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/09/02/americas-growing-food-inequality-problem/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.6a7b15fd98fd
Parasecoli, F. (2017, August 28). What’s right to eat? Class, distinction and the food movement. The Huffington Post. Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/whats-right-to-eat-class-distinction-and-the-food_us_59a3f296e4b0a62d0987b0a1
Social class and food choices seem to go hand in hand. Social class is often determined by one’s income, although other factors may play a role in deciding how people are placed into different categories. The problem with this is that income inequality is growing so while the rich are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer. Adam Drewnowski argues that economic elitism in the world of nutrition tends to ignore the issues of affordability for healthy and nutritious foods in lower income households. While most people desire to eat whole, less processed foods overall, many are simply faced with too many barriers that prevent them from making healthier choices. The financial crisis that hit the United States back in the late 2000s had a particularly devastating effect for poorer Americans. Often times, social class is a product of how you grew up and can be hard to change unless you have a strong support system and access to certain resources. Despite the stigma with food stamps, they can have a positive impact in getting people away from poverty and therefore increasing their social status. However, food stamps do not cover the “luxury” food items that are sought after by middle and high class folks. Because what you eat can say a lot about the type of person you are, many people try to indulge in foods that separate them from the mass consumer, often thought of as being of a lower status. The problem with this statement is that there is so much diversity within mass consumption that we cannot simply attribute one type of food to a particular class. Parasecoli puts it best: “The possibility of distinguishing yourself by eating the right things probably predisposes people to believe in particular ways of framing problems that lend themselves to individualistic and consumeristic solutions.” This essentially means that our narrow mindedness when it comes to food could have serous implications in our ability to come up with creative and all-encompassing solutions to food insecurity within the United States. While these three articles target the topic of social class and food in a variety of different ways, they shed light on a complex and dynamic topic. When looking at social class in general, you cannot simply view it from a single perspective. It requires looking at how it functions in our society in many different ways and what social class means to different people. These articles contribute greatly to my overall understanding on the topic of social class and food and how one may attempt to break down the barriers and ensure that healthy nutritious food is available to all people no matter where they come from.
Summary of the Topic’s Potential:
Social class, despite its inherently unnatural construction, plays a vital role in our everyday lives. People are often defined by it and without the proper resources, struggle with trying to change one’s status. The problem with categorizing people into certain classes is that it produces this lack of understanding between people and how they have the same needs no matter what status they are relegated to. People in lower social classes tend to have less choices, especially in terms of having their political voice heard. Social class and the way people are viewed has impacted American politics for centuries and it continues to be an issue to this day. I find this topic of social class and how it relates to food to be fascinating because food is something every living creature needs to survive. Not only does it offer us calories so that our cells can function as they normally would, it also has many social, cultural, and economic components embedded in it as well. I am especially curious to learn more about the food stamp program here in the United States because it is one of the biggest social welfare programs that has some of the biggest impacts on people of lower social class. Based on our readings in class so far, I think this topic has the potential to create a lot of debate within the class, which is healthy when done respectfully. No matter what people in my group or the class in general believe, I think it is important to take complex issues and attempt to understand them and apply one’s own perspective to the issue. At the end of the day, hunger is a problem that no person should have to face. There is more than enough food in America for everyone to know where their next meal should come from. There just needs to be important policy changes and social changes made from top to bottom to ensure no person goes hungry.
Exploring Grocery Diversity
Food is a fundamental part of people’s lives. Not only is it necessary to sustain one’s life, it also offers many other social and cultural benefits. For this project, I went to three different grocery stores and examined what types of foods were available and at what prices, who was shopping, the social interactions at play and finally looked to see how the decisions one makes about food are influenced by cultural factors.
The first establishment I went to was Meijer. Meijer is a well-known large grocery store around the Okemos and East Lansing area. It is relatively easy to access whether a person owns a vehicle or not because the local bus system has a stop within the parking lot. Not only is it easy to access but prices there are rather cheap due to a large selection of processed and subsidized foods. Meijer offers WIC eligible food items and accepts food stamps. It also has a large selection of fruits and vegetables that can be purchased as organic or conventional food items. Customers there generally like to keep to themselves. Grocery shopping is seen as more of a chore that one just wants to get done as quickly as possible. People do not openly communicate with one another if there is not an established relationship already built such as family members or friends. Most people shopping seemed to be alone as they were browsing the items. This suggests that most people who shop at Meijer probably grew up in an individualistic society where there are only certain occasions where public outings are seen as definite social gatherings. There is very little conversation that happens between the store workers and the consumers further indicating the anti-social nature of the act. The store itself is set up as though one could walk through and check on items on their list in a logical way meaning there is the fruit and vegetable section, frozen items, processed food items and then refrigerated food items.
The next grocery store I went to was Foods for Living. This is an employee-owned organic and natural food store. Many of the products are sourced locally, something the store proudly boasts about. All the produce items are organic and therefore have a higher price tag than its conventional counterparts. In an article by Paul Greenberg titled “How to Get America on the Mediterranean Diet” he notes that if people followed a calorie-limited diet in fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and olive oil while limiting animal protein intake one could reduce their risk of heart conditions and chronic diseases. Most people shopping at this store seem to generally follow this diet pattern based on the products found in their shopping carts which may indicate higher levels of health for people who shop solely at this store. Foods for Living portrays itself as a family-run business where the employees are more than happy to help with any consumer concerns. The shoppers and the employees engage regularly. I noticed a pastor and a business owner sharing business cards and suggesting they should keep in touch which suggests a more communal shopping experience than the one at Meijer. As people pass by each other they smile and will even ask how one another is doing. It is not outlandish to see strangers interacting with one another and asking each other questions. The prices are rather high due to the store containing organic and natural products. Many of the food items found here cannot be found at Meijer. Because prices are higher this limits who can buy the items at their store. Their customer base is probably more economically secure individuals. Because their customer base is small, people are able to get know each other on a more personal level. One worker even called one customer by their name. There are shopping carts made specifically for children, indicating the family-centered nature of the store. There are some discounts offered for students, military members, and senior citizens helping to make their products slightly more accessible. The local bus does have a stop relatively closet to this grocery store, but it requires one to walk a little before they arrive. The store itself is set up similar to Meijer in that it follows a logical pattern of someone checking items off a list. This is a common theme among grocery stores because most people have specific priorities when they are looking for food items.
The last location I visited was the East Lansing Farmers Market. It is located in a nice park area with plenty of parking spaces around. It is within a neighborhood so people living near by have the opportunity to walk to this market. It is not easily accessible by bus making getting here somewhat difficult for people living farther away or without a vehicle. It is rather small but offers many seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables along with some handmade products and various other food items. Most vegetables were organic, and some vendors were proud that they do not rely on traditional pesticides. In an article by Susan Freinkel titled “Warning Signs: How Pesticides Harm the Young Brain” she talks about the dangers of long-term exposure to pesticide use on health. Many vendors strongly believed in the correlation between health and pesticide use and defended their products because of this. Farmers markets offer the opportunity to learn more about different farming practices and what their benefits or downfalls may be. There is an informational booth at the back of the market with people more than willing to assist in answering whatever questions one may have. There is a strong sense of community spirit here. As people browse the various tents set up the vendors engage in light-hearted conversation. They ensure they talk to everyone who approaches their tent and the shoppers seem to really enjoy this. Produce shopping is seen as more of a social experience in this setting. There are opportunities to buy food like pizza and tacos along with music entertainment indicating that this event is about more than just purchasing food. Socialization can make seemingly tedious tasks something to look forward to. The people who work and attend this farmers market seem to be quite community oriented. The prices at this market did not seem substantially low in comparison to the other two supermarkets. Some items seemed to actually cost more although a closer analysis may be necessary to determine the exact reasons why. Despite this, one benefit to purchasing local foods from farmers market is the knowledge that the consumer is fully aware and can even ask questions about where their food is coming from and how it is grown. Most vendors have business cards and tell the shoppers they are welcome to come visit their farms and purchase their products online.
Overall, this experience offered many insights on the cultural factors that may be at play when people deicide to purchase certain foods over another. I focused particularly on the social component of food shopping and how that played a role in the experience as a whole. It appears that the more socially engaged people tend to make connections with those around them and can even be swayed into purchasing certain products, something that happened a lot at the farmers market. It is important to deeply analyze how culture plays in role in the decision-making habits of consumers if one wishes to achieve a better understanding of the food system as whole.
Food is a fundamental part of people’s lives. Not only is it necessary to sustain one’s life, it also offers many other social and cultural benefits. For this project, I went to three different grocery stores and examined what types of foods were available and at what prices, who was shopping, the social interactions at play and finally looked to see how the decisions one makes about food are influenced by cultural factors.
The first establishment I went to was Meijer. Meijer is a well-known large grocery store around the Okemos and East Lansing area. It is relatively easy to access whether a person owns a vehicle or not because the local bus system has a stop within the parking lot. Not only is it easy to access but prices there are rather cheap due to a large selection of processed and subsidized foods. Meijer offers WIC eligible food items and accepts food stamps. It also has a large selection of fruits and vegetables that can be purchased as organic or conventional food items. Customers there generally like to keep to themselves. Grocery shopping is seen as more of a chore that one just wants to get done as quickly as possible. People do not openly communicate with one another if there is not an established relationship already built such as family members or friends. Most people shopping seemed to be alone as they were browsing the items. This suggests that most people who shop at Meijer probably grew up in an individualistic society where there are only certain occasions where public outings are seen as definite social gatherings. There is very little conversation that happens between the store workers and the consumers further indicating the anti-social nature of the act. The store itself is set up as though one could walk through and check on items on their list in a logical way meaning there is the fruit and vegetable section, frozen items, processed food items and then refrigerated food items.
The next grocery store I went to was Foods for Living. This is an employee-owned organic and natural food store. Many of the products are sourced locally, something the store proudly boasts about. All the produce items are organic and therefore have a higher price tag than its conventional counterparts. In an article by Paul Greenberg titled “How to Get America on the Mediterranean Diet” he notes that if people followed a calorie-limited diet in fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and olive oil while limiting animal protein intake one could reduce their risk of heart conditions and chronic diseases. Most people shopping at this store seem to generally follow this diet pattern based on the products found in their shopping carts which may indicate higher levels of health for people who shop solely at this store. Foods for Living portrays itself as a family-run business where the employees are more than happy to help with any consumer concerns. The shoppers and the employees engage regularly. I noticed a pastor and a business owner sharing business cards and suggesting they should keep in touch which suggests a more communal shopping experience than the one at Meijer. As people pass by each other they smile and will even ask how one another is doing. It is not outlandish to see strangers interacting with one another and asking each other questions. The prices are rather high due to the store containing organic and natural products. Many of the food items found here cannot be found at Meijer. Because prices are higher this limits who can buy the items at their store. Their customer base is probably more economically secure individuals. Because their customer base is small, people are able to get know each other on a more personal level. One worker even called one customer by their name. There are shopping carts made specifically for children, indicating the family-centered nature of the store. There are some discounts offered for students, military members, and senior citizens helping to make their products slightly more accessible. The local bus does have a stop relatively closet to this grocery store, but it requires one to walk a little before they arrive. The store itself is set up similar to Meijer in that it follows a logical pattern of someone checking items off a list. This is a common theme among grocery stores because most people have specific priorities when they are looking for food items.
The last location I visited was the East Lansing Farmers Market. It is located in a nice park area with plenty of parking spaces around. It is within a neighborhood so people living near by have the opportunity to walk to this market. It is not easily accessible by bus making getting here somewhat difficult for people living farther away or without a vehicle. It is rather small but offers many seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables along with some handmade products and various other food items. Most vegetables were organic, and some vendors were proud that they do not rely on traditional pesticides. In an article by Susan Freinkel titled “Warning Signs: How Pesticides Harm the Young Brain” she talks about the dangers of long-term exposure to pesticide use on health. Many vendors strongly believed in the correlation between health and pesticide use and defended their products because of this. Farmers markets offer the opportunity to learn more about different farming practices and what their benefits or downfalls may be. There is an informational booth at the back of the market with people more than willing to assist in answering whatever questions one may have. There is a strong sense of community spirit here. As people browse the various tents set up the vendors engage in light-hearted conversation. They ensure they talk to everyone who approaches their tent and the shoppers seem to really enjoy this. Produce shopping is seen as more of a social experience in this setting. There are opportunities to buy food like pizza and tacos along with music entertainment indicating that this event is about more than just purchasing food. Socialization can make seemingly tedious tasks something to look forward to. The people who work and attend this farmers market seem to be quite community oriented. The prices at this market did not seem substantially low in comparison to the other two supermarkets. Some items seemed to actually cost more although a closer analysis may be necessary to determine the exact reasons why. Despite this, one benefit to purchasing local foods from farmers market is the knowledge that the consumer is fully aware and can even ask questions about where their food is coming from and how it is grown. Most vendors have business cards and tell the shoppers they are welcome to come visit their farms and purchase their products online.
Overall, this experience offered many insights on the cultural factors that may be at play when people deicide to purchase certain foods over another. I focused particularly on the social component of food shopping and how that played a role in the experience as a whole. It appears that the more socially engaged people tend to make connections with those around them and can even be swayed into purchasing certain products, something that happened a lot at the farmers market. It is important to deeply analyze how culture plays in role in the decision-making habits of consumers if one wishes to achieve a better understanding of the food system as whole.