When deciding what to eat for dinner, one often chooses the easiest and
fastest food choice for themselves and their families. Neglecting to figure out
if it is a healthy food choice. Throughout reading the book written by Eric Schlosser “Fast Food Nation” it became very apparent to me how fast
our nation has transformed. Schlosser states, “…most fast food is delivered to
the restaurant already frozen, canned, dehydrated, or freeze-dried. A fast food
kitchen is merely the final stage in a vast and highly complex system of mass
production.” (digital page 24) When
eating foods that are not freshly prepared you aren’t receiving all the
nutrients that foods provide you. Not to mention fast food establishments fry
and grease nearly all their food items (with the exception of salad, and
apples).
The most shocking fact that I read was “The Golden Arches are now more widely recognized than the Christian cross.” (digital page 28) Connecting information to each other
throughout the book made me realize just how possible this situation is; “Family
farms are now being replaced by gigantic corporate farms with absentee owners.”
(digital page 28) Fresh foods, or
even fresh fruits and vegetables sadly aren’t a commonality anymore. One of my
favorite memories is going to the Farmers' Market with my mom in the summers.
Processed food items don't compare to the richness of fresh food.
“The United States now has more prison inmates than full-time farmers.” (digital page 29) How could the United
States end up this way? Why aren’t farmer incentive programs being created? Why
are there more prison inmates than full-time farmers? Are prisons taking over land
that farmers once used? Are corporate farms buying out the land? This statement disgusts me. These are questions America needs to address.
This actually brings up a good point about the U.S culture. Instead of doing what is good and right for us, the economy and our health, we go to what is easy and horrid. McDonalds over locally grown salad ingredients. For me, I can't stand the run-of-the-mill fast food burger joint. Too greasy. Too gross.
ReplyDeleteThe prisoner thing is interesting too. I bet you that they are probably treated better than the majority of small farms/farmers as well. It is, as you put, disgusting.
I like that a lot of people are upset about what's going on with our food industry. I think that's a necessary first step in building momentum for a movement. It's astonishing that the golden arches are more recognizable than the cross, considering the length of time McDonalds and Christianity have been in the world.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with Matt! The fact that the cross is not nearly as recognizable as the golden arches is astounding. And not only has the food become fast but we have become conditioned to expect it fast, and get upset when it is just a hair to slow.
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