Our National Eating Disorder

In Pollan’s piece “Our National Eating Disorder”, he discusses our country’s constant fear of unhealthy foods, and our strange eating fads throughout the years.  America is known for being the most obese country in the world, thanks to all of our heavily carb-loaded, fat-filled foods.  Likewise, there are constantly new diet plans being created that become “popular” amongst so many Americans.  My family and friends are just as much a part of this phenomenon as most other Americans, including myself.  My parents are doing a diet right now actually, which only consists of drinking homemade juices made of various fruits and vegetables, and avoiding all forms of sweets and carbs.  I too have participated in diets like these from a constant fear of eating “unhealthy” and gaining weight. 

Pollan’s article makes an interesting point though, in regards to other countries compared to Americans in regards to eating unhealthy foods.  In his article he touches on a survey that was taken to associate how pleasure and food are correlated depending on the country.  While Americans used negative words toward foods like cake and creams, France and Italy associated those foods with celebrations and pleasure.  Surprisingly enough, French people are actually healthier than Americans in general, and they are rarely worried about their food intake! I found this extremely interesting in that Americans are more worried about being healthier and thus eat less pleasure foods, whereas the French do the opposite and are overall thinner and healthier.  In the article, this phrase is a strong sum-up for Pollan’s point: “But how we eat, and even how we feel about eating may in the end be just as important as what we eat” (Pollan, 4).  So, while Americans are constantly indulging in sweets and carbs, then panicking and dieting to make up for it, other countries that associate food more strongly with pleasure are eating together, in a less rushed manner, and eating smaller portions of what they want to eat, and thus being healthier.  

In Class Blog #6

Ever since I have been in college I have monitored my eating much more than I used to.  In high school, I was a three sport athlete and was constantly running and active.  Thus, I ate just about whatever I wanted.  My mother is an avid cooker, and almost always had dinner waiting for us after practices.  I would eat huge plates of spaghetti, burgers, chicken, steak, potatoes, and so much more, without ever worrying about it.  Now, I am much less active, and so I am unable to eat whatever I want like I used to. I try to eat a salad every day, along with fruit and meat.  I know that protein is important, so every chance I have to eat breakfast I will have eggs with either sausage or bacon, or sometimes an omelet with all three. I am a big bread eater, and I love noodles as well, which wasn't a problem in high school.  Now, however, because I am not as active, I try to avoid them more than I used to.  I am working on not just snacking so much on junk food, which my roommate and I have plenty of.  Both of our mothers will send us care packages filled with chips, candy, crackers, and other not-so-healthy snacks.  My goal is to keep away from snacking on casual junk foods and sticking to the more natural foods, with good sugars, proteins and carbs.

EE1 Experiences Memories Love and Food (Rough Draft)

Experiences, Memories, Love, and Food

            When you hear the word “food”, what comes to mind? Is it a type of food, like steak or pizza? Do you possibly think of a restaurant, such as the Olive Garden or PF Chang’s, or the casual trip McDonalds? Maybe your favorite food comes to mind, or perhaps your least favorite (for me that would definitely have to be sour kraut.).  Our meanings and interpretations of food differ from person to person.  However, you just might be the type to go a little deeper into the word, not just imaging the plethora of tastes.  Instead, maybe a memory comes to mind.  A place you visited, a certain outstanding experience, a reminder of something about your life.  Just think of all the places and experiences you have had while eating food.  Some stand out more than others, but in all, every food we have eaten in our lives has made some small impact, and has with it, a memory or story.  That is where we find that food is not just a smorgasbord of various tastes, colors, and types.  It is, in fact, a larger part of our lives than we might imagine.  Hopefully, after reading this piece on the relationship between our lives and differing foods, you will not look at the word “food” ever the same.  In fact, you will have a whole new meaning of the effects food can have on our everyday lives. 

            Think about where is it you come from.  The places we grew up can have enormously significant impacts on the types of foods we enjoy eating.  My family is very much Italian on my mother’s side.  My grandfather’s mother came to America from Naples, Italy, and brought with her many Italian cultural practices that my grandfather strives to keep alive with us today.  One of the largest aspects of Italian culture is serving grand meals.  These meals are massive in quantity, consisting of hearty, fattening traits, including varieties of noodles, breads, and sauces.  My family knows my grandfather’s homemade spaghetti sauce as Papa’s Sauce.  To make Papa’s Sauce, so much time and energy is needed to prepare it, starting up the ingredients in the morning and letting them cook all day long in order to be ready for dinner that night.  The smells that absorb the house are completely outstanding, and it is a time for my family to help each other in the kitchen and spend time together, while anxiously awaiting yet another one of my grandfather’s mouth-watering Italian feasts.  The same experiences can apply to anyone.  Maybe a person with Hispanic culture enjoys their mother’s homemade tamales and enchiladas, or people of Japanese culture love devouring a plethora of traditional sushi types.  People relate well to foods that make them feel at home and that give them a recognition of something from their past.  For me, that is homemade spaghetti sauce and noodles.  This, in turn, brings people who care about each other together.  So now, ask yourself: What foods make you feel at home? 

            Last week I was given the assignment of going to a restaurant and observing the setting, clientele, and food of that restaurant.  My roommate and I decided to go to the Black Eyed Pea.  While there, I made in interesting discovery in regards to the present clientele.  As I stated earlier, people are drawn to familiarity and comfort foods that make them feel at home.  The Black Eyed Pea serves home-style southern foods, such as chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, roasts, corn bread, and so on.  Immediately when we walked in, I noticed that over half the customers already eating were probably between the ages of 55-80.  At first I was moderately surprised because that was not what I had expected to see.  However, after doing more research, I was able to understand why so many elderly people were eating there.  It turns out that just like my love for Italian foods, many elderly people get that comfort feeling from home-style cooking such as that of the Black Eyed Pea.

            I found a certain article that discussed a study on elderly people’s views on foods from the Journal of Aging Research of the Hindawi Publishing Corporation.  In the study, 12 elderly people over the age of 60 were interviewed on their take in regards to food and meals.  Several of the participants were eager to express their love for home cooked foods, which helps to explain my observations at the Black Eyed Pea.  For example, one 84-year-old woman discussed her opinions of what food she perfers: “I am used to home-cooked dishes since I was a child, not macaroni and spaghetti.” For that particular woman, “home-cooked dishes” are to her what homemade spaghetti sauce and Italian meals are to me.  We all have different tastes in food, but there are always those that have a special place in our hearts. 

Yet, our favorite foods are not always those that come from our cultural background.  Foods can have other meanings that make us feel a strong connection to them, perhaps from an experience or just the way that food makes us feel.  Have you ever eaten something that you created that was unique and special in its own strange way? Or have you tried something new and its deliciousness made you feel alive and free?  Believe it or not, food can do that to people as well.  One unique case of how food can give people a sense of self, and freedom occurs in an article by Sandra Cate called “Breaking Bread with a Spread” in a San Francisco County Jail.  In the article, Cate interviews inmates of a prison in San Francisco who are experts in making prison “spread”.  Most spreads consist of ingredients such as Ramen Noodles, Cheetos, beans, and cheeses.  The inmates have figured out special, unique ways of mixing these types of various ingredients to create a distinctive meal that strongly differs from the meals they are served on a regular basis from the prison.  The prisoners discussed how the food provided by the facility is generally overcooked, soggy, and not something they enjoyed eating.  Spread is a way for them to break away from the control of prison rules and to feel a sense of freedom and individuality from what they are able to create.  On a regular basis, prisoners will create their variations of spread, and share them with fellow inmates, bringing them closer together. It is in this way that foods of all kinds have the potential to create greater feelings in the people that eat them, and that bring people of all kinds together. 

As I stated earlier, eating an Italian dinner around the table with my family makes me feel a home, and like I am a part of something special.  Family meals are meant to bring people together, to enjoy each other’s company, and to spend quality time as a unit while enjoying a feast.  This phenomenon also is a way in which food has a greater impact than just its tastes.  The idea of a conventional family dinner is something that was very important for our older generations today.  Look back at my experience at the Black Eyed Pea for example.  The clientele as a whole was mostly comprised of older generations of people, who grew up eating traditional meals in the company of their families.  This was something extremely pure about their younger years in life in that they have memories of spending quality time with their family while surrounding a table full of home-cooked foods.

However, this idea of quality mealtime with family and friends is something that is slowly being lost with our growing, fast paced society.  A family meal is meant to bring precedence to the food being eating while enjoying the company of those you love and care for.  It is clear that foods can have immense impacts on our lives.  Nonetheless, as our society continues to pride itself on work, entertainment, and technology, the meaning of family time and dinners around the table together will steadily keep declining.  When food is an additive to a situation, rather than a definitive, author Jamie Horwitz refers to this as “eating at the edge”.  With the increase of products aiding in this idea of “eating at the edge”, it is becoming much easier for people to just eat “on-the-go” to keep their busy lives on track.  In the Horwitz’s article Eating at the Edge, she provides examples of these sorts of easy, quick foods, including the Swanson TV Dinner and Campbell Soup’s Soup at Hand, and how it is products like these that are a crucial aspect to the downfall of traditional family dinners.   

Now, I cannot say that I am not guilty of this spectacle as well.  There have been many days when I am rushed to get to class on time, so I grab a pre-made breakfast burrito from our refrigerator, toss it in the microwave, and devour it as quickly as I can before I reach class just so I don’t have an empty stomach.  However, on the days that I am able to get up early enough to sit down and enjoy a breakfast with my roommate, my day automatically has a better start because not only am taking the time to enjoy my food, but I am also spending time with someone I care about.  Many people wouldn’t think that just a simple sit down breakfast with a friend can make your day that much better, but it certainly does.  This, in turn, is the same idea with family dinners.  The more of a priority they become, the more relationships grow and memories can be made, just from the simplicity of enjoying a meal collectively.  

            So now tell me: What does food mean to you?  There are so many ways in which it can impact our lives, from the individualistic feelings it provides, the memories it brings to surface, the experiences it aids in, and the way it can bring families even closer together.  However, with our quickening world brings quicker meals, which overall could ruin the traditional pureness of family dining, and thus becoming a detriment to experiences and memories that could potentially arise from spending time together to eat.  There are several families that do still keep their love for family and culture alive through foods, just as my Italian family does.  It is my hope that after expressing to you the importance that food has in our world that you take appreciation for all that food has done for you, and to look at it as more than different tastes and types; but rather, a crucial part of making connections and experiences that much more memorable in our daily lives. 

Sources

Edfors, Ellinor. Westergren, Albert. “Hindawi Publishing Corporation.” Home-Living Elderly People’s View on Food and Meals. Journal of Aging Research, 2012. 23 April 2013. http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jar/2012/761291/

Cate, Sandra. Breaking Bread with a Spread in a San Francisco County Jail. Gastronomica: The Journal of Food and Culture, 2008. 23 April 2013.

Horwitz, Jamie. Eating at the Edge. Gastronomica: The Journal of Food and Culture, 2009. 23 April 2013. 

Eating on the Edge- Horwitz

            In Horwitz’s article Eating at the Edge, he discusses characteristics of that term itself, and what it means.  In the article, Horwit’z describes “eating at the edge” as occasions when food is an additive to a situation, such as a cigarette would be, rather than being definite” (Horowitz, 42).  Overall, this is stating that the actual act of eating, and enjoying food within itself is becoming less and less common.  In our own lives today this is very apparent.  I know in my case alone there are several instances where I have to grab food on the go, without really enjoying it at all.  Many mornings on my way to class I have to rush, so I will run into the cafeteria, make a quick bagel or breakfast sandwich, and munch it down as quickly as I can before I reach my class.  There are so many instances like this that are common in our world today.  We are on the go all the time, whether we need to rush to work or school, run quick errands, or hurry to pick children up from school or practices.  America is very fast paced, and we all need to eat.  Therefore, eating “on-the-go” has become much more prevalent in our society, and in turn, society aids in this phenomenon.

            Horwitz discusses early in his article the creations of Soup at Hand and TV dinners.  He explains how back in the 1950s, TV dinners were created.  They were fast, portable, and allowed a different setting for people eating dinner. As the TV was a relatively new invention, and not everyone had one, the creation of the “TV Dinner” was a way to emphasize the new, hip activities one can do with a TV, including actually being able to eat a portable dinner while watching it.  From the start of this, our society has created several other portable foods for our fast-paced society.  The Soup at Hand is a container created for a quick meal of soup, without requiring the usual necessities to actually eat soup, such as a bowl and spoon.  It is “a finely engineered, vacuum-molded, ergonomically grippable mug with a surface area enhanced for microwave radiation and sized to fit a car’s cup holder before being discarded” (Horwitz, 43-44).  Other examples of “on-the-go” foods like these include Lunchables, Starkist’s Lunch to Go’s, and pre-made salads.  The intentions of these products are to provide people with a quick form of lunch without having to slow down their day.  However, what has this done to our society?

            Family meals are something that has declined drastically due to meals like these.  It starts as far back as the TV dinners from the 50’s.  Traditional meals consist of friends and family sitting around a table, completely focused on each other and their food, and enjoying each other’s company while doing so.  However, if a person can just run to the nearest gas station and pick up a Lunch to Go without having to slow down their day, why eat a family meal? Horwitz also states this fact: “Taking time to share food, as part of a daily routine (not a special occasion), is becoming less common in the U.S. as unstructured eating patterns become more familiar and varied” (Horwitz, 45).  If society keeps supporting this idea of quick meals with a steady decline of traditional meal times with family, then eventually the pureness of eating a family meal will potentially disappear forever.  

Short Essay 3- Black Eyed Pea

Restaurants come in every type, with so many variations of foods, scenery, and overall atmosphere.  With each varying restaurant, whether it is a spicy Mexican restaurant or a deliciously greasy burger place, there are different types of clientele that are apt to enjoy these types of restaurants more than others might.  For this essay, we were asked to visit a certain restaurant and observe the types of people there, including what they looked like, what they were eating, what they were doing while they were eating, and so on.  Instead of choosing the conventional “burger joint” or fast food franchise, my roommate and I decided to go to the Black Eyed Pea.  Since I had not been to a Black Eyed Pea in ages, I could not remember what the usual atmosphere and clientele was like for this particular place, making it an excellent choice for my field notes.  After a deliciously cooked meal, I was able to successfully assess the overall experience of eating at a Black Eyed Pea.

            When considering my notes, I wanted to determine the different types of people that were eating there.  Although there were a few families consisting of parents and small children, the main clientele of people present in the restaurant were elderly.  If you are familiar with the restaurant Black Eyed Pea, then you know it is a comfort food place, serving meals like roast beef, chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, salads, coffee, and other home cooked specials.  I know when I think of a home cooked meal and comfort foods, I think of the sorts of foods that I would eat if I made a trip home.  When looking at elderly people and the foods of their choice in general, comfort food is often times towards the top of the list.  It is not meant to be processed, or to be considered “junk food” like much of the food younger generations eat today, for instance pizza, boxed macaroni and cheese, or nachos.  A home cooked meal is meant to be made with fresh ingredients that take time and care to put together as a hearty, filling meal.  When looking at the menu for Black Eyed Pea, it is clear that they want that exact experience while eating their food, and to elderly people, that is very inviting.   

            To back up this statement, I did some research to find evidence in regards to elderly people and their draw to comfort foods, such as those served at the Black Eyed Pea.  The Hindawi Publishing Corporation did a survey on twelve elderly individuals, over the age of 65.  They surveyed the subjects on what foods they most favored and why.  It was very clear through quotes from the interview to determine that comfort foods were the top choice throughout the study.  For example, a 94-year-old woman included in the study discussed how she liked being served fresh coffee while eating out. “I feel that when you are out, or come someplace, you should be offered a cup of coffee, that’s what I’m used to. Back home in the country, the coffee would be on as soon as someone walked in the door.”¹  At the Black Eyed pea, the sight of elderly people drinking cups of coffee was extremely prevalent.  In fact, almost every person I saw that looked to be over the age of 60 had a cup of hot coffee.  By offering this specific item, it drew in more of its most dominant clientele. 

            Secondly, the survey determined favorite food groups among the individuals in the experiment.  As expected, comfort food was discussed prevalently.  In this case, an 84-year-old woman stated that “I am used to home-cooked dishes since I was a child, not macaroni and spaghetti.”²   Additionally, an 82-year-old male explains that “food for us elderly people is probably supposed to be cooked with care, but it happens that some food is not properly cooked” and “… It should be properly boiled or fried, depending on the dish. Very important.”³   It is clear from these statements that a properly created, well-made dish is important to those over the age of approximately 65.  They tie in the fact that culturally, they were used to good, home cooked meals as children, and they like that relayed in their food today.  Thus, the Black Eyed Pea, serving its version of a home cooked meal, is the perfect place for elderly people to go when they want to get out of the house, yet still enjoy a hearty meal. 

            Overall, I think it is clear as to why the clientele of the Black Eyed Pea at which my roommate and I had dinner is mainly elderly individuals.  From the homey atmosphere to the well-made, comfort food, it is a place for them to feel at home while out enjoying dinner elsewhere.  If one were to eat at a Black Eyed Pea without the intent of observing its customers, it probably would not be obvious that the majority of the people there are older.  However, it was interesting for me to see the prevalence of elderly persons, and to make the connection between their lives and wholehearted comfort foods.  

Research Topic

I am going to be researching the relationship between elderly people and home-style cooked meals.  This was very apparent when I observed the clientele at the Black Eyed Pea.

www.hindawl.com/journals/jar/2012/761291
I found this site, which discusses an experimental interview session with 12 elderly people in regards to their takes on foods and meals.  It discusses the types of food they generally like to eat and the connections they have to that food.

O'Donnell and Cate Articles

In the articles written by Mary O'Donnell and Sandra Cate, both authors tie in strong cultural pulls between people and the food they eat.  Although one is focused on jail food and the other on cultural food politics in China, the articles are similar in the way they relate the meanings food has on people, other than its taste.  One might ask, "How can cultural politics in Shenzhen and jail food in San Francisco have similarities?" The answer is that people are people, food is food, and a person can find meaning in food, whether they be an inmate or  a resident of China.  In these two papers, the authors clearly show this affect that food can have on people.
The article by O'Donnell, The Cultural Politics of Eating in Shenzhen, explains her account of an interview she had with a real estate developer named Wang Jin.  Wang Jin explained to her the strong sense of socialism and capitalism represented in types of food in Shenzhen.  He explains that people that are lazy, sneaky, individuals eat seafood, because it's easy and no hard work is required, whereas strong, honest people eat beef because they work to raise their food.  For example, O'Donnell quotes Wang Jin, who explained that "beef eaters inhabit a world in which it is possible to obtain food honestly, while seafood eaters eat only as a result of deception and guile." (O'Donnell, 32)  He goes on to explain that the beef eaters represented socialism, whereas the fish and seafood eater represented capitalism in China.  This goes to show the strong tie that people had in regards to politics; even going as far as representing the ideas with food.  Most people probably do not see a difference in eating seafood or beef, but to many people like Wang Jin, they are strong political indicators.  She also goes onto explain the strong decline of sense of community in Shenzhen.  For the "Old Shenzheners", "meals deepened friendships, greased business deals, and reaffirmed hometown identities." (O'Donnell, 34) They were a sense of community and brought people together.  However, with the rise in capitalism, Shenzhen has become a place of poverty and inequality.  Thus, O'Donnell examines the affects food has on this declining place, and its relation to their political standing.
Cate's article takes a totally different turn, and discusses a "delicacy" in prisons known as "spreads".  The article, "Breaking Bread with a Spread" in a San Francisco County Jail, goes into detail about spreads, which are different mixtures of food created by the inmates of a jail.  When defined, spread "consists of institutional canteen commissary food items", including Ramen Noodles, tuna, beef jerky, chips, and so on.  Basically, different inmates created different combinations of spread, from "Blond Spreads" to asian themed spreads, and even types of dessert spreads, like inmate Max Hackett's "Pie Guy Pie".  These different combinations of spread are important to the inmates for several reasons.  For one, they are a variation and alternative to the food provided by the facility.  Many of the interviewed inmates explained that the food they were given in jail was "frequently dull in color from being overcooked" (Cate,20), and "the portions are too small". (Cate,23)  Spread is an alternative, with more flavor and color.  Secondly, spread is a way to show respect and individuality.  One inmate explained that by sharing his spread with leaders of "crews" in prison, it was a way to show respect and that spreads were "indicators of jail status." (Cate, 19) In addition, spreads are a way to feel like they are breaking away from authority, being original, and creating something on their own.  Cate's article does a strong job of connecting the emotional attachment and powerful feeling the inmates get from creating their own variations of spread, and how much it affects their moods while in prison.
Overall the O'Donnell and Cate articles both examine the effects that food has on people.  From the symbolism in Shenzhen, to the spread variations in San Francisco jail houses, people are affected by food no matter who they are, or where they came from.