No More Time

            Our society is no longer the same.  We no longer look the same and we no longer eat the same.  The American family has completely transformed over time, and our eating habits have drastically changed.  In “McDonaldization of Society” by Patricia and Peter Adler they discuss the idea of rationalization of a society.  More specifically, they discuss these two concepts in relation to our eating habits.  Rather than eating in more frequently, families find eating out an easier way to dine.  Many families rarely have time to cook family meals.  When I say eating out, I don’t mean at expensive restaurants, but rather I mean at fast – food chains where they can eat in less than 20 minutes.  Efficiency has become one of the main goals of our food system, and the efficiency does not start with the delivery of the food to consumers, but it starts with the production of any food on the farm.  Generally anything that can be done faster is better.  Another aspect of the rationalization of society is the “predictability.”  Consumers like to know what they are getting before they even get there.  Our society has become more concerned with the quantity of the food rather than the quality of the food.  I can guarantee you that few individuals know where a McDonalds burger comes from.  Although these aspects of rationalization have overcome society, there are still individuals that have yet to conform.  Although this is true, the goal of our food system is to force everyone to conform.  Lastly, relating to the idea of conformity, control is a necessary constituent of a rationalized society.  Control over customers and employees are key in the success of the society.  The authors conclude with the possible negative effects, but these issues may not be solely because of the rationalization of society, but rather the type of rationalization. 

            I think the transformation our society is undergoing is horrible.  The fact that fast-food restaurants have become so easy and ubiquitous is absolutely atrocious.  Some individuals do not have the option to eat elsewhere.  They cannot afford to buy healthy food at the market or order a salad at a high-class restaurant.  I think these fast – food chained restaurants with cheap options, should be transformed into restaurants where even slightly healthier food is served and still efficiently.  The authors bring up interesting constituents of a rational society, and it is evident that these aspects are overwhelming our society today.  Aside from the McDonalds example, I could probably pick any fast-food chain and describe how the different aspects affect that specific food chain.  Our society is discouraging individualism, and attempting consumers to conform to the norm, and what has become popular and easy in society.  The fact that fast-food chains like McDonalds have so much control over society proves that consumers are continuing to have less and less control.  Although it is true we always have a choice, our choices are getting harder, and our options are getting more limited.    

WHY?

Is it possible to alter the rationalization of our society through the farmers?

Why do you think consumers are so prone to eating at fast-food restaurants even when they know the nutritional value is close to none?

Is There Such a Thing as Segregation with Food?

            Throughout the past few years, our food system has experienced drastic changes, and obesity and other food related issues have become increasingly larger problems.  Specifically in the article “Fried Chicken and Fresh Apples” by Kwate, he discusses food issues between different races.  It is evident that specific foods are not affordable to all individuals.  Especially the extremely healthy, organic foods are targeted towards middle upper classmen.  Specifically in this article, Kwate deals with the differentiation between African American societies and wealthy Caucasian societies.  In African American societies, foods such a fried chicken are more ubiquitous, and therefore easier to obtain.  Although fast food is obviously present in White Societies, for African American societies it is more convenient and practical, whereas white societies generally have many more options.  Segregation is still present in America, and currently fast food companies are targeting African American communities because the majority of them are living near each other, and an industry has to know their consumers.  The targeting of poor people generally turns into targeting specific races, and in this case specifically African Americans.  African Americans are even targeted to work at Fast Food chains, enforcing their location in African American communities.  These neighborhoods are often categorized as “ghettos,” also thought of as deteriorating neighborhoods.  Fast Food chains are more likely to overpopulate themselves in neighborhoods that are not as wealthy to ensure a large consumer population.  African American’s in general have very little political power, and have difficulty making their voice heard.  Obviously a major issue within our food system is the targeting of specific racial groups because the processed food industry, specifically fast food chains, is growing in neighborhoods where they know they can make a profit.   

            I think this is a very prevalent issue today.  If America’s food system wants to go through a transformation, wealthy white Americans cannot be the only class involved.  In my opinion a transformation has to include all of the people of America, especially those in the lower class and African American communities because they still to this day make up a large percentage of our population.  The fact that fast food companies target lower classmen and mainly African American communities, is a great advertising strategy, but terrible for the health of the African American community.  The issue lies with the idea of availability.  The fact that it is so easy for African American’s to find a piece of fried chicken over fresh grown vegetables increases the chances that they will choose the unhealthy food.  Although it is true that many African Americans cannot afford the healthy option, there are many African Americans that have to be given the option.  The overpopulation of fast food chains in specific communities needs to end, and healthier more affordable foods have to be substituted in African American and lower classmen’s diets.      

WHY?

Is it possible for the government to step in and make laws about the number of fast food restaurants in a given area?

Why are African Americans specifically targeted when there are so many other poor races?

Corn: The Hidden Cause of Obesity

            90 billion dollars.  10 percent increase in calorie increase.  Three out of every five Americans.  (Pollan 2008, p. 102).  All three of these items are characteristic of obesity.  Obesity is no longer an issue that can be fought sitting down, but rather it has become an epidemic that needs to be dealt with full force.  In Chapter 6 of the Omnivores Dilemma, Pollan discusses the causes behind obesity.  Pollan explains that the underlying problem of obesity goes back to the production of the food: the farms and more specifically the production of corn.  As individuals, including myself, we do not consider ourselves big corn eaters.  What we do not realize is that corn in some form is processed in almost all of the processed foods we get from our supermarkets today.  Farmers have discovered how to produce massive amounts of corn for extremely cheap prices.  It is easy to simply convert corn into alcohol or even fructose corn syrup.  Consumers have no idea how much processed corn they are consuming, and because portion sizes have increased thanks to David Wallerstein, consumers are eating larger amounts of the wrong types of foods and nutrients.  Humans enjoy foods with more sugar and more fats because they taste better.  With increased portion sizes and increased production of processed corns, it is inevitable that Americans have health issues.       

            The first step in understanding obesity, is acknowledging the greatness of the problem within the United States.  Obesity is no longer an issue that a very small percentage of the population, but rather obesity is an issue that nearly the majority of the population is forced to deal with.  I think the first step to helping this epidemic has to come from the government and the industries.  Without a significant change in our food system, Americans are not going to want to change.  Currently Americans are eating what they think is good food for completely reasonable prices.  Americans need to be educated because the foods they are eating with surpluses of corn, high fructose corn syrup and other products are increasing their chances of becoming obese.  Obesity cannot be taken lightly, and in this case I think increasing awareness is the first realistic goal.  Until the food system makes dramatic changes, the only things Americans can do themselves is become aware of what they are actually eating.  Although it has become so easy for farmers to take corn and make so many different processed products, there has to be a means to an end.  A way to prevent obesity, starting with the bottom of the food chain. 

WHY?

What would be the most effective way to start conquering the problems of obesity?

Is it possible to wean America off of mass production of corn to another product that might be healthier and slightly more expensive?

Is There Such a Thing as American Cuisine?

            It is evident that food plays a very important part in our lives in America as well as other individual’s lives in countries such as Japan, Italy, and China.  In the article “Eating America” by Sidney Mintz she discusses the importance of food in the United States in relation to our cuisine.  In the introduction of this article Mintz expresses the misconception that culture and cuisine are the same thing.  When Mintz introduced America as having no cuisine, many individuals were offended because they assumed culture and cuisine went hand in hand.  Mintz by no means meant to say that American’s had no culture, but solely that we have no specific cuisine.  Throughout the article he deals with the possibility of the creation of a new cuisine as well as the changes America has experienced over time.  A large part of the reason American cuisine is so diverse is because of the variety of descendents coming from outside of the United States such as Europe.  European cuisine varies significantly from American cuisine, but throughout the years, Europe’s cuisine continues to make itself more visible in the United States.  Rather than adopting their own cuisine, it is so common for individuals in the United States to eat a variety of cuisines.  Mintz discusses the important different between being socially and culturally alike in terms of food.  This is important because it proves that although we have very similar opinions on what American food is, culturally we are extremely diverse. Americans eat more Italian, Chinese, and even Greek food than Italians, Chinese, and Greek people eat of American food.  It is so easy to get any type of food in America because foods are no longer region-specific because of the decrease in price of transportation.  American’s have truly stopped caring about the types of food we eat, which is why Mintz believes that we do not and will not have a cuisine specific to America.     

            I found this article really interesting because I never thought of an American Cuisine.  Whenever I order take out or go out to dinner with my family we always go out with the purpose of having Italian, Japanese, Chinese or even Greek food.  Although I consider foods such as hot dogs, hamburgers, and even macaroni and cheese American, I agree with the statement that Americans truly don’t have a cuisine.  Americans tend to be more diverse regarding to food because food is such an important part of our lifestyle.  I don’t mean that American’s necessarily eat the most expensive foods or the most exquisite cuisines, but we definitely eat the most food.  American’s have developed their own type of cuisine that includes every other cuisine possible.  Although this obviously means that America does not have an original cuisine, in my opinion diversity in this sense is almost better.  I enjoy being able to have good Chinese and Italian food without having to travel all the way to China and Italy.  Lately our food system has become dependent on fast food and cheap unhealthy food, adding to the reason why it is almost impossible for America to have a unique cuisine.

WHY?

Does a cuisine have to be different or it is possible for a cuisine to be a mixture of other cuisines?

Do you think American cuisine is taking a turn for the worst?