Friday, June 9, 2017
Thursday, June 8, 2017
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
"How to" and a naming protocol
Seniors, below are some YouTube videos that provide instruction on how to upload videos. The first video explains how to upload it to YouTube; the second from YouTube to Blogger (the class blog).
When you do upload your video, please make sure to title your post as follows:
Student first and last name (video title)
Example:
Justin Turner (Swing for the Fence)
Here are the instructional videos:
When you do upload your video, please make sure to title your post as follows:
Student first and last name (video title)
Example:
Justin Turner (Swing for the Fence)
Here are the instructional videos:
Have fun!
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Last year's blogs
Here's how to get to period 5, and from there, you can navigate your way through all five ERWC classes last year: Colln, Phinizy, VanderBaan and Fletcher.
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
Shared Inquiry Circles -- Groups
Aguirre - Magitbay - Tercero
Chacon - Montalvo - Paez
Chiv - Moore - Vasquez
Cuevas N - Nguyen - Torres
Cuevas R - Sandoval - Turrentine
Godoy - Pineda - Urag
Golston - Perez - Trimble
Gordillo - Valles - Williams
Guardado - McCall - West
Howard - Watson - Dizon
Lewis - Paredes - Wilkerson
Floaters: Rytting, Taylor
Chacon - Montalvo - Paez
Chiv - Moore - Vasquez
Cuevas N - Nguyen - Torres
Cuevas R - Sandoval - Turrentine
Godoy - Pineda - Urag
Golston - Perez - Trimble
Gordillo - Valles - Williams
Guardado - McCall - West
Howard - Watson - Dizon
Lewis - Paredes - Wilkerson
Floaters: Rytting, Taylor
Friday, March 31, 2017
After Math
After doing this research paper, I would still eat everything I did before. I'll still eat my McDonald's, Jack in the Box, Wendy's and everything i just wouldn't eat as much of it. My paper was based around obesity so i understand what the food does to your body, but it's all about how much of it your consuming and I rarely fast food. Well does subway count as fast food? Either way even if I could go back 4 years I wouldn't change anything about the food I choose to eat. I would go back to how I acted in school and tried to do better other than that I'm fine with the choices I made.
Thursday, March 30, 2017
Reflection
3rd quater ERW was the hardest time for me ever in my highschool years. I started off with a low F and ended with a 66 percent. No matter how hard i tried this semester ny grade never went up. I admit it that i suck in english and i die tend to sleep everyday in the class, only because im up all night doing work from other classes that i forget to do things in this class. Like today i forgot to blog before 6pm and look at me, 11pm and barely blogging. I'm not going to lie but i got really lazy this quater with ERW that i forgot how important it is for colleges. Thats why next semsester i will put all my efforts into at least passing the class with a C.
Afterthoughts on Food Politics
This chapter of Food Politics has informed me more on the issues under this branch but, has not directly affected me in terms of what I eat. I admit that I'm not the most healthiest eater in the class. The topic of getting food, and how it was handled/packaged I have already learned from my mom. She's a very educated about how to get certain types of food organic like meats, ingratiates, and other foods. I can say this chapter has re-informed me on this issue and I'm grateful for that.
The question about has my mindset changed about what I eat and about the country is still the same, I'm still upset. My pallet will grow but, I will be more careful on my food decisions in terms of my own health. Personally I am upset on how these type of sick and inhuman practices are happening today in big companies. I'm already a politically informed person so when it comes to voting, I will be researching on policies that are under the topic of food and vote on my conscience.
If I could go back 4 years with my knowledge of the food industry, would I change any eating habits during that time most likely no. Why? Well considering I'm still a healthy kid during that time and currently still am, I see no reason to change the past. Except maybe telling my past self not to stuff my mouth so I don't get any stomach aches XD !
The last question is what would I propose to change or influence the food industry in any way? Well although I hold onto to some political libertarian ideology when it comes to government intervention this is one of those topics that's controversial. If I were commander in chief right now and if I were to put regulations/to wield a big stick in front of companies one of two things will happen. Either A.) little by little food small & big companies/business will leave the country putting a hurt on the market allowing to limit competition giving big companies that stay the advantage or B.) big companies start to leave certain states or even the country and take their business elsewhere putting that market to a all time low and trade will leave our country for that market. Instead if I were to follow my ideology and let the companies do what they do then the issues will stay being prominent and the industry will continue doing what they do and beating the system now. I can't really give an accurate answer on the issue because, I'm biased on this issue but I will say that something needs to happen.
Reflection
Before starting this unit I must admit that I was an
ignorant consumer. I admit that I never took the time to consider the things I
eat because I never thought it was a big deal. I never put in the effort to
know where my food came from or how the meat I was eating was treated. It
wasn’t until this unit that I started wondering about the origin of my food. If
I look back to when we first started this unit I knew nothing of the struggles
of growing food. After finishing this unit I have decided to grow something of my own and see the whole process and experience the beauty of food.
why my mindset changed
My mindset has changed a lil bit after writing this research paper because I realize some of the stuff, I was eating wasn't good for me. Spending my money on things I know wasn't good but I still ate it. After watching the videos on the animals it made me sad because the animals are suffering and us humans are enjoying the meat we eat and not really knowing what the animals go through. After watching the videos and writing my paper, I decided to change my diet by not eating so much junk food and also by the meats I eat. After watching them kill the animals and clean it all out it grossed me out but I had to realize that's what I'm eating and I never knew what they really did what the animals. I would probably change my eating habits 4 years ago.
How this paper changed me
This research paper has definitely changed my perspective on the food industry. Learning about how food labels deceive us in so many ways has been so eye opening and definitely make me think twice before I buy food again. If I knew what I know now four years ago most likely I wouldn't change anything. Maybe try to read more labels to make sure of the ingredients that are in my food and try to eat better. But pretty much I don't think anything would change. Mostly because it's so hard to buy healthy foods and everything. So overall I feel like this information helps me in some ways but can't affect my life because it's so hard to eat healthy and buy healthy foods.
How has this research make me think differently?
My mindset about our country hasn't changed much. I always knew that there was weird and messed up stuff going on behind the scenes. I've also heard of conspiracy theories explaining that our country is trying to make us ill to get more money out of us. The more we are ill, the more we will go to hospitals. I don't think I would change my eating habits by that much, mind you my eating habits were better back then than they are now. I know this research will probably not stray me away from the foods I enjoy eating, but it already does make me think twice about eating them. If I could do something about it, I would say tax the unhealthy food more, and make healthy food more available and affordable. It seems like the easier solution. I feel that most people want to eat healthier, but simply don't want to pay the extra bucks for a salad. Another possibility would be to treat our animals with respect, and let them eat grass instead of corn. I'm sure the meat would be much better quality. Basically, don't feed them anything that they wouldn't eat in the wild.
The Reality of the Food We Eat
Throughout my research on the food companies I have found out that there is much more than meets the eye. Today's food are heavily tainted with chemicals and hormones that should not be in the human body, but am I really going to stop eating the food that I once ate? To be completely honest knowing how the food is made will make it harder for me, and make me think twice about consuming my next meal that is not cooked at home. However once I am at the mall with all my friends and I am hungry and don't have much money it is highly likely that I will go for the much cheaper and less healthy option. That is because the large corporations will still have the people consuming what they want because they know how to pull the strings and much like many others they know that those who eat low quality food is because there is no money to eat something else. This is the case with millions of others who even though they know that their health is at risk they still have to eat something regardless.
after research
Before coming to the US I have always thought Americans lived a healthy lifestyle, yet in just a couple of years, I've come to realized that Americans eat far worse than the people in my home country. Malnutrition was a common problem for many kids in the Philippines, while here in the US, obesity is one of the foremost concern of the public. I didn't particularly care about what I ate before hand, but learning more about personal health made me consider what I choose to eat. If I could go back some years to my childhood, I'd tell myself to eat better. But even today, avoiding fast food is a difficult task. Its so cheap and convenient, I even live near Jack In the Box so buying their dollar tacos isn't much of a hard decision. Fast food is a definite habit that I have and something I should possibly limit in my life.
The food industry seems like its already changing. In just a few years more and more people have become aware that most of everything served in the fast food chain is unhealthy. The bad press received from the media brought about some changes in the menus of fast food restaurants especially the popular ones, McDonald's being one of them. I don't know I the supposed changes actually helps out in the long run, but the fact that health concerns have taken the attention of the food industry means they are trying to find a solution to the problem.
Could I Still Stomach Eating What I Eat????
After what I've seen in the past 6 weeks, I must admit I didn't think all that was happening. Now, I think a little deeper as I enjoy a bite of a great dish. Of course, I eat it anyways as it would be pointless if they went through all that just for nothing. I seriously wished I knew where all the things that I eat were coming from now. Sadly, my parents handle the food in the house. Our country isn't to blame, but rather the people that run it without thinking about what's at stake for their profits. Seriously, what's the point of having a bunch of money in the world if there's no world to spend in? If I knew what I did now, I'd probably eat more vegetables, but then again, they probably did something to that to. If I could go back in time to change it all, I'd definitely change the way animals are treated, and the harsh ways that corn is being used. Still, we have many flaws that we need to fix. I wished I could do more, but I am but one individual in a world full of individuals like myself, but different. So far, things are okay, but we still have a long way to go.
Naïvety About the Food Industry
After having completed this unit, I feel like I was really naive about the situation at hand. Before this, I had absolutely no idea what was going on in the food industry. Of course I realized that maybe animals weren't being treated as well as they should be but that was about it. I feel more educated about the world around me now and I think this knowledge will influence my decisions about food in the future.
Since beginning this unit, I've done a lot of thinking about the way I eat and my personal impact on food culture. I think that for myself, and most of America ignorance really is bliss and the less we know about the food system the better, at least until we realize that it's extremely subpar. Even though the reality of our food system is shocking and utterly terrible, we as a society should care more. If every individual became aware of the realities, I think that a real change would be forced upon the food conglomerates running the whole game.
If I were given the opportunity to tell myself one thing four years ago about our food system, I would simply tell myself to stay educated. Now, I feel so silly for not knowing a thing about the backstory of any of the food I eat on a daily basis. It seems wrong that I've gone so long ignoring such a prevalent issue in our society and I think that unless people become educated about the issues our food culture faces, the problem will remain the same. In my opinion, this unit should be extended to all high school classes because the content is so extremely vital to our health as well as our futures.
Since beginning this unit, I've done a lot of thinking about the way I eat and my personal impact on food culture. I think that for myself, and most of America ignorance really is bliss and the less we know about the food system the better, at least until we realize that it's extremely subpar. Even though the reality of our food system is shocking and utterly terrible, we as a society should care more. If every individual became aware of the realities, I think that a real change would be forced upon the food conglomerates running the whole game.
If I were given the opportunity to tell myself one thing four years ago about our food system, I would simply tell myself to stay educated. Now, I feel so silly for not knowing a thing about the backstory of any of the food I eat on a daily basis. It seems wrong that I've gone so long ignoring such a prevalent issue in our society and I think that unless people become educated about the issues our food culture faces, the problem will remain the same. In my opinion, this unit should be extended to all high school classes because the content is so extremely vital to our health as well as our futures.
My thoughts
Eating is definitely a privilege and what I decided to eat 4 years ago is also a privilege.I would not change anything that I didn't use the Obamacare is very important. If anything I would try to eat more greens and friuts that are healthy for the body. That will help my body in a good way being strong due to the condition of my body with the strong enoug bones. Four years ago I was definitely not interested in being every all about him tho. Knowing all the food politics that food encounters makes it hard for everyone to go to college anyways. My thoughts on food has changed a little but not that much. I know the food origin and how to tell if their fruit is chemically raised or natural raised. No matter food is food and it is a sourdce for my survival
Final Thoughts on Food Industry
My mindset has not changed too much from what I initially thought of the food industry. I knew that the food industries are always hiding things and sweeping things under the rug. I think that this project has given me more insight on how corporations are able to get away with what they want. I don't think it changed too much on what I eat because I already know the effects of eating fast foods. I think the important thing is eating foods in moderation and having a balanced diet. Being physically active also helps. From the documentaries I've watched and articles I have researched I think that there is a cruelty in how animals are being treated at these factories. I think I will take more consideration in knowing where certain foods come from and how it got there. If I went back 4 years with this knowledge of the food industry, I don't think it would affect where or what I eat. Maybe I would cook more and eat healthier foods, but the only thing it would change is knowing what it took for the food to get on the table and my appreciation for the farmers that work hard to get it there. A way to change or influence the food industry is continuing to educate kids at an early age. If you start them young by teaching kids about eating a balanced diet, the basics of cooking, I think it could really change the culture of food. Its hard to take down these giant food industries because of their influence over the government and their wealth. I believe it will take time and slowly over generations the culture of food will change.
Just a start
This paper has changed nothing about the way I see my country. I always knew that something funny was going on in the food industry and I knew that the government had a part in it. I don't really see a change in the way I eat either because I believe that animals were out on the eart to be eaten, so eat them. If everyone because vegetarians then all the animals would overpopulate the earth and we would be taken over by animals. However, this paper did show me different angles of the food issue and why people may have problems eating the processed foods. I also believe that there is a more human way of killing animals but frankly no matter how they are killed I will still eat it. I am more aware of the diseases associated with the butchering process and handling process now also. This easy was a freat way to get students involved in the conversation of food. We got a chance to study all the different issues and conversations going in about food.
Pass It Down
Ever since we started this food unit, I will say it did change the way I think or eat food. As for my conscious I always new what happened to animals and how food is all GMO. There is a part of me that wants to be all vegan after watching those slaughter house videos, but I know it doesn't work that way and it went change the way the slaughter any sooner, but it did teach me to appreciate food even more. I think if anyone can go back 4 years and change their knowledge they know right now they would. In some ways I feel nothing would change to me because I was younger and didn't cook nor pay for my food. I would tell others though, what they can do to help the world and themselves. The way I would try to change people's food habits and the way they eat, I'd probably tell them some facts and have food to back me up. I mean a little can make a big difference so if I pass down facts, hopefully that person would show an interest and pass it on, and so on. I have high hopes the world will improve in the future how our food cycle works.
How has your mindset changed about our country? About what you eat? About your consciousness?
After researching my topic for the Politics of Food essay, I have changed my perspective on animals tremendously. I is simply because the way they are treated from the time they are born all they way to when they are slaughtered. Farm Animals are produced until their living quarters are packed tight. Tight enough that it is difficult for people to go in and clean up the place. So there are animals produced for food that millions of people will not know if what they are eating is clean or not. As a person that likes to eat, this is very concerning to me. I have concerns of how that will come back and affect me. After learning a bunch of things from my research topic, I have a deeper respect for animals, especially the ones we eat. I hate they are abused just to feed a large population. I wish they were respected and not over fed, not washed and neglected. We should treat farm animals with the same respect we do with our pets. Because after all, we share the earth, the and, and the air we breath with them. It wouldn't make me turn into a vegetarian because I still like eating meat, but when I eat, I know that this part of the animal I am eating came a long way, from abuse or no abuse. And that I should be thankful that I was given something to eat at the price of the animal. If the farmers were taught to respect fam animals, then we wouldn't worry about if our food is not going to be bad for us.
A New Perspecitve on Food Politics? Kind Of
After finishing the Politics of Food I can actually see for myself how shady the food industry is and how they like to tell us as little as possible. I pay attention to labels more now and if I see something labeled "fresh" or natural" I know it really is not. Do I buy different foods now though? Not necessarily. I have the same food in my house, because my Gramma buys the food and actual good food is more expensive and she's not down to buy any of that.
If I had know any of this earlier I doubt I would be mature enough to care. Four years ago I was 13 and my eating habits would probably not change at all even if I was mature and cared enough. I even saw Food Inc. around that time and it didn't change me. I felt bad for the animals, but I still ate meat. It is kinda funny, because now I am trying not eat any meat, but it is not for any specific reason. I just want to do it. Maybe this unit like guided me to it subconsciously or something. I don't know, but I'm trying being vegetarian out. That makes me sound noncommittal, but I am I promise. I think the thing that upset me most about the food industry was how they treated the animals. It's the one thing that I would change. If they are going to be killed for food, at least give them a decent life.
If I had know any of this earlier I doubt I would be mature enough to care. Four years ago I was 13 and my eating habits would probably not change at all even if I was mature and cared enough. I even saw Food Inc. around that time and it didn't change me. I felt bad for the animals, but I still ate meat. It is kinda funny, because now I am trying not eat any meat, but it is not for any specific reason. I just want to do it. Maybe this unit like guided me to it subconsciously or something. I don't know, but I'm trying being vegetarian out. That makes me sound noncommittal, but I am I promise. I think the thing that upset me most about the food industry was how they treated the animals. It's the one thing that I would change. If they are going to be killed for food, at least give them a decent life.
Final thoughts of Food Politics
I think this unit has definitely made me more aware of how bad and unhealthy so much of the food we eat is. A large part of this is due to false advertising and misleading labels. A lot of the time, companies pay big money to be able to label their products as "organic" or "caged-free." They rely on the fact that consumers want to buy products that are healthier for a slightly more expensive price. When I first saw the label "caged-free" eggs, I thought it meant that the chickens had a ton of freedom and weren't just stuck in a dark room filled to the brim with other chickens. In reality, caged-free just literally meant that the chickens were not entrapped in a cage. They are still trapped inside dark, dirty rooms with a bunch of other chickens; however companies are able to make more money on the eggs they sell. The food isn't technically getting healthier. We just think it is because companies want to make more money
Although this unit was really eye-opening, because I have never been forced to look at food in such cynical way, I don't think a lot of my daily life will change from this project. I will probably still buy the same junk food sold in stores. I also have mixed feelings about the involvement of the government in the way our foods get processed. On the one hand, I feel like they should do more to prevent companies from doing stuff like false advertising, but on the other hand, I know some people will be upset when the government tries to tell them what to do and what not to do.
Although this unit was really eye-opening, because I have never been forced to look at food in such cynical way, I don't think a lot of my daily life will change from this project. I will probably still buy the same junk food sold in stores. I also have mixed feelings about the involvement of the government in the way our foods get processed. On the one hand, I feel like they should do more to prevent companies from doing stuff like false advertising, but on the other hand, I know some people will be upset when the government tries to tell them what to do and what not to do.
My Perspective After Food Politics
The new research I found based upon Food Politics angered me more than anything. I say this because there are so many hidden ingredients in our foods and overall many secrets, yet the Food and Drug Administration has not made any drastic changes to help the nation. After, several sources I decided that I would venture out to the grocery store and see for myself if any of the products I bought false advertised. Well, this experiment was not as easy as I thought it would be, however I focused mainly on the small labels and I was shocked to see some of the ingredients that were inside these products. For example, there were some really odd ingredients in these products that I never knew existed. This is when I came to realization that I food companies honestly do not have any shame in some things they are doing. After this paper, I started to gain animosity towards the morals and ethics some of these food companies have. I became really angered after thinking about all their false statements, maybe not all of them do this but the ones that do not prioritize the health of people, instead they care more for the the fast efficient money, rather than the our needs. Overall, my perspective on food politics has changed, but at the end of the day consumers are not going to inspect each label, because they also want fast and cheap products.
Still the Same...
My research paper made me view our country not much different. Since we first started school we are provided with an option to eat at school or bring food from home. In 2010, Michelle Obama created the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act and the way school lunches were served to students had changed. In one of the articles I had read there was a statement claiming the government does not make an effort to provide children with the nutrients that is needed. I have always felt that the government has not made an effort to provide children in school with food needed through out the day. The bill created by Michelle Obama was meant to provide kids with the grains, vegetables, and fruit that they need everyday but instead many kids start only eating the food they wanted and had thrown away the food they had disliked. The country could work harder to provide children with the education to understand they need to have a healthy life style.
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Applying POF To My Life
Applying Politics of Food To My Life
After focusing on our Politics of Food unit for a while I have been more in tune with what I put in my body. I've been on a vegetarian diet for over a month and I'm enjoying it. I have noticed that a lot of meat products are fried or full of fatty ingredients. I feel that I was very disassociated with my food, to begin with; it was never really something that I really gave deep thought to. The scene from Food Inc where they cut the chickens throat was very shocking to me to the point where I feel I wasn't even really thinking of this food as even coming from actual animals. At first it was really hard for me not to eat meat because most people do, it's everywhere. Most fast food establishments lack an appetizing vegetarian option. I say "appetizing" because though many places offer a "veggie burger", it's usually not that good in taste. Did you know Burger King has a veggie burger? It's horrible, worst burger I've ever had in my life. I actually enjoy veggie burgers, there are these masala burgers from Trader Joes that are even better than burgers (in my opinion), they use sweet corn as a filler so it's sweet from the corn and savory from the masala. This unit has definitely shown me that as a consumer I should be more aware of how my food is being made and where it is coming from.
After focusing on our Politics of Food unit for a while I have been more in tune with what I put in my body. I've been on a vegetarian diet for over a month and I'm enjoying it. I have noticed that a lot of meat products are fried or full of fatty ingredients. I feel that I was very disassociated with my food, to begin with; it was never really something that I really gave deep thought to. The scene from Food Inc where they cut the chickens throat was very shocking to me to the point where I feel I wasn't even really thinking of this food as even coming from actual animals. At first it was really hard for me not to eat meat because most people do, it's everywhere. Most fast food establishments lack an appetizing vegetarian option. I say "appetizing" because though many places offer a "veggie burger", it's usually not that good in taste. Did you know Burger King has a veggie burger? It's horrible, worst burger I've ever had in my life. I actually enjoy veggie burgers, there are these masala burgers from Trader Joes that are even better than burgers (in my opinion), they use sweet corn as a filler so it's sweet from the corn and savory from the masala. This unit has definitely shown me that as a consumer I should be more aware of how my food is being made and where it is coming from.
School Lunches To Eat or Not to Eat
I did my research paper on school lunches. Should school lunches be required to serve a healthy school lunch. I didn't go into how the lunches were made but I did gain knowledge on what type of food they are serving us. There is a program where half of public schools participate in called the National School Lunch Program and this program provides free food to students. The food they are providing is processed and they slap the label healthy onto it. I had no knowledge of the chemicals and hormones they are adding to the foods to make it more appealing and make the students full at a faster rate. After researching this did change my knowledge on foods in the cafeteria and what should I eat and not eat. I am more aware and alert on what foods are healthy for me. If I could go back 4 years with this knowledge then, I would have started packing my own lunches and avoiding anything to do with the cafeteria. If I would've started packing my own lunches then, I believe my body would be much more healthier and I would see fast food as garbage. To reform the school lunches, I would suggest spending more money on the foods and giving students WHOLE foods. If student's had whole foods then their academic and behavior performance would increase which would be beneficial to their grades. Just spending a little more money on the process to create the school lunches would be a major change on school lunches.
Thoughts on Food Politics in Our Country
My mindset on the food politics of our country has changed after writing on the topic of animal abuse. The research that I have conducted has led me to believe that the food politics of our country is corrupt. The abuse of farm animals, and the way food is processed has changed mine, and possibly other people's eating habits. Knowing that food possibly comes from animals that have been abused before being killed has led me to lose my appetite at times. Companies that work with the farms that raise the animals can prevent the animals from being abused, by enforcing or implementing animal safety rules to ensure the animals protection, not from being slaughtered, but at least from being abused. Companies can do so, but choose can too because they believe that implementing such a thing would lead them to having to having to change the practices done at farms completely, and can lose them a lot of money. The fact of the matter is animal abuse is inhumane, and that there are better alternatives as to how the animals are taken care of.
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Understanding the Food Industry
As this unit is coming to an end, I think back as to how I used to see the food industry in a completely different manner. I learned that the people in the food industry do not really care about their consumers or whether their methods of food production are actually humane. They also do not really care about their workers, more than anything they just care about making money and that's it. I am pretty positive that they only reason the regulate their food is so that they do not receive bad publicity and because they legally have to. Since we live in a capitalist county, whoever makes the most money in the easiest way possible is the most successful one, however in no way am I against a capitalistic society because I think that it is the better than any other systems such as communism. If i could go back 4 years with this information, realistically speaking, I probably would not change much because even though it is completely wrong, 1 person changing their life in dietary sense would not any difference. However, i would maybe try and grow a garden just to see what is like. If I could influence the food industry I would watch for corruption such as people who are cheating the system to make some extra money and I would help in the promotion for healthier eating. Finally, the food industry is something that often does not get much attention and that needs to change.
My thoughts on the politics of food
After learning many new things about the food industry in this unit my mindset has changed about our country. I learned that our country will do anything possible for a profit. I did not know about the process of how our food is made and developed and how there are a lot of secrets that are kept in producing the foods we eat. I also learned that food companies do not care about our health or what harms they can create. My consciousness is a little different then before on the choices I make for certain foods to eat I now think before I eat. After finding out the things I know now it has made me become more aware of how food politics is such a problem in the world. If I could go back 4 years with the knowledge I know now of the food industry I would change how I ate and I would be more couscous with many foods I ate. The things I would do to change or influence the food industry is inform people what they are really putting in their bodies because everyone has a right to know. I'd make fruits and vegetables cheaper than junk foods, and encourage people to develop their own foods and inform people to cut down on junk food eating which can cause serious problems if it is eating a lot. Am I the only one who now thinks carefully before eating certain foods now from this unit?
Monday, March 27, 2017
Understanding the Politics of Food
How has your mindset changed about our country? About what you eat? About your consciousness?
Before starting this unit about food politics, my knowledge of food was extremely limited. At the beginning of this lesson when we were asked to think of the last meal that we ate and then track that food back from our plate to the farm where it was grown, I had a difficult time. Doing that now would be exponentially easier for me after learning about how food gets from the farm to our tables. Knowing this process has made me think about where my food comes from and if it was sprayed with chemicals or if the animal I am eating was forced to live a miserable life in a crowded cage packed with other animals.
It surprised me that I did not know much about the food I eat. When I started to question why, I realized that it is because of our country and, although this may sound harsh, the selfish people who live in it. Big companies want to pile in money, they do not care about the damage that it can cause to the planet or how it harms livestock. I learned that theses companies do not care about my, or any other customers, well being all they care about is getting rich.
Since this unit began I have been more aware of the food that I have been eating. I no longer eat fast food and have no urge to. Knowing how processed all of that food is and how horribly animals are treated for it to be so cheap, made me stop eating it and I will never continue to do so again. I no longer mindlessly eat food when I am hungry or bored but actually consider what I am putting into my body.
Do you think that this unit has changed you? How do you incorporate the information you learned from this unit into your daily lives?
Sunday, March 26, 2017
AF: Blogging, Third Course
One more blog post and one more comment by Thursday, March 30 at 6:00 p.m.
Options:
- How has your mindset changed about our country? About what you eat? About your consciousness?
- If you could go back 4 years with this knowledge of the food industry, would you change anything about your life?
- Innovator: what would you do to change or influence the food industry in any way? Write a proposal.
Monday, March 20, 2017
School Obesity and the Chore of Research
The topic of my choosing for my research paper is a tough one because, it's such a specific topic and there's very few articles and resources I have to work with. School obesity and it relating to the flow of money from state/local government. As you can see and already recognize, it's a very narrow and straight to the point topic. Even though this is one of my struggles with my topic, I believe it is a topic of great importance that needs to be brought to light. One of my articles I have as worked cited is a new york times post that I found on the internet. Link in description if you have the desire to read on more about this topic.
It talks about how researchers have conducted a study to identify that school lunches contribute to obesity. They observed around 1,000 students in a specific region of southeastern Michigan, and the schools to which they go to. Data shows that among those students 29% will likely to get obese more at school then at the child's household. Although this doesn't seem like a lot to some readers it still raises the question to what exactly is the school feeding the children, what districts are allowing this to continue, and how far does this extend throughout the country. Of the 29%, the percentage represents 142 out of 1000 kids that are marked/studied as the obese children at the fault of the schools. A quote from Dr. Kim A. Eagle, director of the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center says this “Most school lunches rely heavily on high-energy, low-nutrient-value food, because it’s cheaper, in some schools where the study was done, lunch programs offered specials like “Tater Tot Day,” he said. They say this only because stuff like "Tater Tot Day" and some of the other non-nutritious food they serve contribute to this present problem we still have today.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/08/health/research/08childhood.html
It talks about how researchers have conducted a study to identify that school lunches contribute to obesity. They observed around 1,000 students in a specific region of southeastern Michigan, and the schools to which they go to. Data shows that among those students 29% will likely to get obese more at school then at the child's household. Although this doesn't seem like a lot to some readers it still raises the question to what exactly is the school feeding the children, what districts are allowing this to continue, and how far does this extend throughout the country. Of the 29%, the percentage represents 142 out of 1000 kids that are marked/studied as the obese children at the fault of the schools. A quote from Dr. Kim A. Eagle, director of the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center says this “Most school lunches rely heavily on high-energy, low-nutrient-value food, because it’s cheaper, in some schools where the study was done, lunch programs offered specials like “Tater Tot Day,” he said. They say this only because stuff like "Tater Tot Day" and some of the other non-nutritious food they serve contribute to this present problem we still have today.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/08/health/research/08childhood.html
Next Steps
So far in my research paper I have found that putting food and politics together can be quite difficult. I believe this is because these two things are often not thought of as things that can be mixed between one another; however, now that I have taken the time to actually taken the time to dive deeper into food I have found that it is much more than simple food. I have found that while food may still be food large companies and organizations are taken advantage of the thing that humans need so direly. These corporate giants have taken it upon themselves to govern the food industry and have risen so far as to become untouchable by the government. This is the primary issue of my research paper. Why and how are large companies above the law?
My research addresses the main causes of large companies having so much power. At this point I feel that I need something else to discuss so that there is more information to backup my point of view. Later on I also want to stress the points of why people should be eating healthier, but I am not to sure of how I should tie that all in with my other topic.
The tricks of advertisement
My research paper is how advertising is contributing to the obesity epidemic. I discuss the clever ways companies are making money off one good television commercial in between our Love and Hip Hop shows knowing we’re not going to change the channel. I’m still having a hard time figuring out how exactly politics relates to advertising and obesity. Also, because my topic is so specific, finding credible information is hard because everyone has their own opinion on the topic, but is it a fact. Other than needing small details to polish the final draft, I find it interesting reading about obesity in America and how 69% of our population is either obese or overweight both men and women combined. Basically, more than half our population is affected and our children are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes as early as 6 years old. This is all a result of, these fast food companies drawing us in with the Taco Bells $5 box, KFC $5 box, and McDonald's dollar menu. All portraying we get more for our money that's quick and fast to get, but is it healthy? When will our fruits and vegetables get their own creative commercial that’ll get people to buy those over fast foods? If everyone would substitute at least 4 out of the 7 days of the week and eat a healthy meal and start to exercise on the regular we could start bringing those percentages down by the hundreds because it only takes one powerful person to make a difference that everyone will eventually follow.
Further Research into School Lunches
When I was figuring out my topic for my research paper I immediately noticed that school districts have tried making a difference and in order to do that they have banned certain foods from being available to students. Although the question I wanted to do further research in was “Is it the school’s responsibility to provide a nutritious lunch to school children?” because although school needs to provide their students with healthy lunches others argue the responsibility is in the hands of the parents. Through my research I have found out in 1946, President Truman created the National School Lunch Program to promote healthy ways to eat to children but can it be the parents fault for not giving their child an education on what healthy eating provides to live a good life. For my research project I want to look at what different schools provide to their students and look into a reason why some parents are not available to provide their child with a healthy meal plan. Schools provide healthy ways instead of being given junk food but there are other opportunities kids have to get the food they want to eat. Parents are suppose to provide healthy food to their children but in some circumstances they are not available to provide a healthy lifestyle. My main question is if it is the school’s responsibility or the parents but I want to research why healthy food costs more than the junk food that is promoted towards young children.
Next Step for Research Paper
My Research paper is about Farm Animal Welfare. This topic is about how the animals being raised for food are being mistreated. I noted that animals share the earth with us and we should treated them with respect even though they are not equal to us and I also added that animals raised for food are not treated as pets. I have also stated in the paper some of the abuse the animals receive and the conditions the animals live in are horrible. I briefly talked about what effects this abuse does to us humans eating them. I also talked about how the dirtiness of the places the animals are raised in affects the air we breathe. I found some answers to “Why animals raised for food are abused?” In my early research, I found that farmers raising animals for food are abused just for to make money. The more they produce and the more meat they have on their body, more money will be put in the farmer’s pocket. The very thought of this makes us eaters think, “What are we really eating?”
On my next draft of the research paper, I want to add some more examples of how people were affected from eating foods they didn’t know were abused when they were alive. I also want to add how different animals are affected when they are abused, because in my first draft I only talked about how chickens were treated. I should also find out why farmers do it for the money and not for they well being of eaters.
Where I Want My Research to Go
So my paper is basically on the new types of techniques, processes, and chemicals they are using on food. In question form it is: What is the food of the future? or What are the new types of food technology?. The questions both have the same concept, but I'm trying to see which one I like better. I am doing it as a step by step process kind of thing, so new growing technology first, and with that goes GMO's then like processing techniques and then additives they may add to food to improve it or keep it "fresh". I have a base journal article that I'm looking at that mentions all these things, and then I am searching for articles specifically on these subjects, so I get more detailed information. This makes research a bit slower, but it's hard finding articles with all that information in one place. I'm okay with breaking it down if it makes my paper better.
Right now, everything is really fragmented and I need to make it more flowy and together. I'm also having trouble with the additives part of my research, because food companies have always added chemicals and different things to the food. There's nothing new, and my paper is about the new technology. So I don't know if any of you are doing your research paper on that kind of subject but it would be helpful if you could drop some information about additives or really anything they do to food when it is getting processed. Maybe if I can't find it easily I should just cut that part instead of struggling to find something?
Right now, everything is really fragmented and I need to make it more flowy and together. I'm also having trouble with the additives part of my research, because food companies have always added chemicals and different things to the food. There's nothing new, and my paper is about the new technology. So I don't know if any of you are doing your research paper on that kind of subject but it would be helpful if you could drop some information about additives or really anything they do to food when it is getting processed. Maybe if I can't find it easily I should just cut that part instead of struggling to find something?
Trouble With Finding the Right Sources
My paper is proving to be a lot harder to find research for than I thought! I'm writing about "food literacy" which is a term commonly used to classify ones understanding of food and it's journey from farm to table. I'm using the term a little differently by focusing on ones understanding of food and how to cook it in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. My main focus is the public discourse which has caused us to leave the kitchen and start relying on fast foods as a source of nutrition. I'm trying to connect Americans spending less time in the kitchen to how our understanding of how to cook has decreased over the years and how this whole thing is impacting our health.
I'm having trouble finding research that isn't about women and how "they need to get back in the kitchen". I have a few good sources but I'm lacking research in the statistical/factual aspect of things, mostly. I need to find out more about how fast food consumption directly impacts our health, especially in younger people. If anyone has any sources you think would relate, I would love to check them out!
Next Step for Research
My research paper is about the impact of food advertisements on society. The continued rise of childhood obesity is a concerning problem today and food advertisements are just one of the contributing factors. My research is about how businesses target children specifically to get them "hooked" on their product at a young age. My paper will start off with how the businesses are contributing to this problem and then move on to the effects. My body paragraphs will talk about how this is a problem and what is effected by it. I have to find more research on how it really impacts society.
The next step is trying to conclude my research paper. I have to find research on how to fix this problem. People need to see how food advertisements really do have an impact on what we eat and how much we eat. I hope to find in my research a solution to help people. I think that there are many contributing factors to obesity and other health concerns but, finding more research on this topic can help solve this problem. Also, I need to find a way to tie this into politics. I feel like I might get stuck at this point. Should I argue for more government regulation on food advertisements? The government did step in on ending smoking ads on t.v and radio, so should they decrease food ads as well? I think I need to include the role of social media as well. We always see food advertisements, such as seeing a celebrity promoting a food product on social media. I need to find more research on how it could effect us and the problem behind it. The next step for me is finding more research and organizing my research paper in a way that it flows with the argument.
The next step is trying to conclude my research paper. I have to find research on how to fix this problem. People need to see how food advertisements really do have an impact on what we eat and how much we eat. I hope to find in my research a solution to help people. I think that there are many contributing factors to obesity and other health concerns but, finding more research on this topic can help solve this problem. Also, I need to find a way to tie this into politics. I feel like I might get stuck at this point. Should I argue for more government regulation on food advertisements? The government did step in on ending smoking ads on t.v and radio, so should they decrease food ads as well? I think I need to include the role of social media as well. We always see food advertisements, such as seeing a celebrity promoting a food product on social media. I need to find more research on how it could effect us and the problem behind it. The next step for me is finding more research and organizing my research paper in a way that it flows with the argument.
My progression in my research paper
My topic is about producers making junk food look very appealing and people falling into the trap of eating bad. What I hope to find in my research paper is something that is what is being used to make the food look good. Advertisements like commercials have been brainwashing people for years now with junk food and only continue to do so, I personally eat junk food and it is really apart of most people's diets. The people I am going towards in my paper is the people who don't realize the junk food they are constantly eating is very unhealthy. Where my research paper is falling short is the citations part of my paper which I need to do more work on. Also for my research paper I been doing my own writing and doing research as I go and made it to 3 pages so far. However, my question is should I do research first and then type my paper or should I continue to do what I am doing?
Next Step In My Research Paper
My topic is about the preservatives implemented in our foods
and the consequences on consuming them. So far I've read that some preservatives
can cause heart problem and even cancer! So far I feel like my research paper
is a mess because I’m not sure what to talk about next because I don’t want to
get off topic but everything makes a connection towards the end. For my second
draft, I’m trying to incorporate more resources and make it less confusing
because so far I feel like it doesn’t flow like it should. Also, I want to find
out what preservative is in the daily foods we eat. I’m considering on talking
about McDonald’s because I saw a video the other day in where this guy had a
burger from there that was a month old and it looked brand new. He was
explaining that McDonald’s uses many preservatives for that to even happen
because it was naturally made it wouldn’t have lasted more than a week. I
honestly found that very shocking because it’s a well-known fast food restaurant
and I feel like there are many people that don’t know what they’re consuming. I
feel like I would want to incorporate a real life story about the negative
effects of preservatives but I’m still undecided. I’m considering in quoting
doctors and people that are specialized in this topic but I’m not sure if it’s
a good idea, what do you guys think? Should I incorporate real life testimonies
from people who’ve suffered consequences from these preservatives or incorporate
many doctors and specialists? Or maybe even both?
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