Final

Callie Reynolds
English 151
Final Essay

Food Relationship

If there is anything I have learned from growing up in a huge Italian family, it is that Italians do two things: they eat and they talk. These two acts normally occur simultaneously and continue for a seemingly endless period of time. This is how it all works: first, we talk while we prepare the food. Then, we eat while we converse, sometimes this discussion is about the food that we are eating. Once we have finished the meal, we sit and talk until the next meal is prepared. If you are not careful, you can easily get caught up in this ceaseless cycle. A couple of years ago, my family and I had taken a weekend trip to visit my Great Aunt Marian. It was Sunday morning and we were planning on getting up for a quick breakfast and then hitting the road for our long car ride home. We awoke to find that Aunt Marian had prepared massive amounts of food which we were expected to devour entirely. My family and I tried our best to steer clear of the food and discussion cycle, but it was no hope. We were trapped. We spent the next three hours talking with Aunt Marian and eating the colossal breakfast she had prepared for us. By the time we had cleared our plates, she had already started to make lunch. It is not just my Great Aunt Marian who does these things, but rather my entire family. And honestly, I have never met an Italian who has not been stuck in the dreaded food and discussion cycle at some point in their life. Needless to say, I have a pretty important relationship with food.
When I am with “The Italians”, I tend to eat whatever I please and consume vast quantities of calories. However, I only visit my relatives a few times a year and manage to maintain a relatively healthy diet for the remainder of the year. My mother and sister are both vegetarians, so I hardly ever eat meat. I take pride in the fact that we rarely eat at fast food restaurants, especially after watching Food Inc. in class. Not only was I thoroughly entertained by this video, but I also learned a lot. I knew animals received bad treatment on industrial farms, but I had no idea it was so horrible. I had the same reaction after reading The Omnivore’s Dilemma. I was disgusted to learn that cows are fed cow parts and that this is what causes Mad Cow Disease. I was so interested in this subject that I chose to write my English Argument on the benefits of organic foods versus conventional foods.
My eating habits have changed in several ways throughout my life. When I was little, my diet consisted of Good & Plenty candy, peanut butter sandwiches, and various other candies and snack foods. I was a typical kid with a major sweet tooth. In fact, my first word was “Cheeto”. As I grew older, I began to make smarter choices about what foods I consumed. I ate healthier foods and watched my daily caloric intake. I wanted to be in shape and eat nutritious foods. Around the time I started high school, a Whole Foods Market opened up down the street from my house. I thought it was the coolest thing and would be a great way to help me stay in shape. I could purchase all the organic foods I pleased. I suppose this is the way I fit into the greater food discussion. Nowadays, everyone talks about “Going Green” and “Sustainability.” By shopping at Whole Foods and declining any form of fast food, I am helping to sustain the planet. I am also keeping my body healthy. I may be buying into a fad, but I really do believe in the benefits of organic foods. I try to keep myself in shape and encourage my friends and family to do the same.
My relationship with food has changed many times throughout my life, but it always seems to be changing for the better. I am proud of the fact that I choose to eat foods that are good for me and sustainable for the planet. I know the media has an influence on all aspects of my life, including the foods I eat. I like being healthy and go along with The Organic Movement. That does not mean that I will cut out all forms of junk food in my life, because I certainly cannot give up my tradition of having a celebratory doughnut from Krispy Kreme on my birthday each year. However, I will continue to better my health and the health of the planet.

Works Cited

Food Inc. Dir. Robert Kenner. Magnolia Pictures, 2008. DVD.

Pollan, Michael. “The Omnivore’s Dilemma.” American Earth: Environmental Writing Since Thoreau. Ed. Bill McKibben. 2008. 948-960. Print.