Food Reflection Essay

     This food project has made me more aware of what I put into my body every day.  It’s puzzling to find out that half of the food we buy is shipped hundreds of miles to reach our local supermarkets.  Journaling about how much and what I eat has opened my eyes to continue my healthy diet.  I found it really interesting when we watched the movie, Food Inc., and learned about our food system.  It has made me more aware of what I am putting into my body when I eat food.  Being an athlete, I try my best to make healthy choices but sometimes the choices I made weren’t as healthy as I thought.  I had no idea what the word organic meant.  Our food system has been altered so we will buy things, like fast food, that is inexpensive and “unhealthy.” Then those companies will make a lot of money.  We have to make wiser food choices so our society doesn’t fall into a deep pit of obesity and consuming “fake food.”

    I am a runner, so I want to make the best food choices for my body so I have enough energy to perform well.  I drink a lot of Gatorade, and I eat many fruits and vegetables to sustain my diet.  Once and a while, I will have a little treat.  I know that it is not healthy to eat foods with a lot of preservatives or hormones in them.  I want to keep my diet up because I am in great shape and my body feels really healthy as well.  One thing that really opened my eyes was the fact that buying healthy food is expensive.  Many people will choose fast food over shopping for good, organic fruits and vegetables.  It is hard to choose feeding your family for one low price than spending the same amount of money for a few fruits and vegetables.  I want my family to be aware what they are eating so they can sustain a healthy diet as well.  If we start a chain reaction, we can help all Americans reduce serious levels of obesity.  One way we can get Maryland into a healthy diet is by informing John Carroll about the effects of obesity so the community can start making better food choices.

     I would like to go organic, but it is hard to fit it in a family budget.  When I went to Safeway, I bought organic vegetables.  In the summer, my family and I grow a variety of vegetables in the garden we have in our backyard.  When I eat organic food, I feel confident that what I am eating is safe.  Even going to the farmer’s market is a great way to find local, fresh fruits and vegetables.  My mom went to the store today and she told me that eggs were one dollar.  Organic eggs were four dollars, and that is one example why buying organic food can be difficult to buy.  If the prices of organic food went down, then many people would make better choices when buying food at the supermarket.  I think that America would be a healthier country if organic food was more affordable.  We break the bad habits of the food system by going back to the days were cows ate grass, and tomatoes were picked off the plant when they turned red, not when they are still green.  Many chemicals are used to boost vegetables taste and size.  That proves that hormones are used when growing fruits and vegetables.  Not many people know that the vegetables put on the store shelves are fully “farm fresh.”

     The thing that surprised me the most about this unit was learning about how meat is put in the supermarket.  Cows are forced to eat corn instead of grass because it makes the cows larger faster.  I was disgusted to find out that cows are forced to stand in their own manure.  I was truly appalled to find out how E. coli can contaminate our meats and poultry.  An E. coli scare can really scare shoppers when a meat product is recalled.  I think that Kevin’s Law should be passed and put into effect because it helps consumers understand that daily tests are not being performed to check for E. coli food poisoning.  It really concerns me that the meat that I’m buying could be infected with E. coli.  I want to know what I’m eating has been inspected and certified “safe” to eat.

     Learning all this information about our food system, it has inspired me to consider becoming a nutritionist when I grow up.   After finding out where my food comes from or how it is made, has made a more conscientious consumer.  I want the whole world to see what is really hiding behind the curtains and who is controlling our food system.  If all the consumers in the U.S. found out the truth beyond the supermarket, I believe it would change the way people eat and live their daily lives.  If adults are telling me that it is up to my generation to stop global warming and end obesity, then why can’t we change the food system as well?  I want to spread awareness of the fact that we live in world where when we look at ingredients on a box of food, we have no idea what half of the words mean.  We can reverse what has been done and start a healthier living, starting with a good diet and exercise.  We live a society where there is a big fast food restaurant around almost every corner.  Why not go back to basics and grow a garden and use the fresh food grown and incorporate it everyday meals?  I want to challenge my family and help them make a healthy step into a better diet.  I want to help all of Bel Air make a better step into eating, starting with helping grow an organic garden at John Carroll.  Together, we can make a difference in the way we eat.