The Student's Dilemma

[harriet_m_welsh]

It's pretty interesting taking three somewhat related classes in one quarter. (I am taking Biology, Psychology, and Intermediate Algebra.) For one thing, all three classes are discussing independent and dependent varables, and correlation versus causation in different contexts. In one, it's purely numerical. In another ... I don't know how I

Comments

[eqfe]

Yanno, I loved this post.

I have been a big fan of Michael Pollan, the author, since reading the Botany of Desire. Frankly I also enjoyed The Omnivore's Delemma, although it didn't change my life, and I agree with much of what he wrote In Defense of Food. But this current cult status he's obtained is over the top.

Nothing he says or writes though, pisses me off more than this concept that the poor can't "afford" to eat write, or cook whole food. As you know, my current economic circumstances suck, and as you also know, I cook from scatch. The truth is, if I didn't, my family would probably be growing hungry. Sure I shop more, buy what's on sale more (often in bulk if its staples) but we always have fresh fruit in the house, and vegetables on the plate etc.

[velveteen]

eqfe, you're right. But you also know how to cook a decent meal for cheap. It's not that the poor can't afford to buy decent food - they just don't see the point yet.

Are the poverty stricken unable to think for themselves? We privileged audiences at speaking engagements are just so enlightened that we must force the government to redistribute the shopping options of the poor?Here's where we're getting at the heart of the problem. Often, people don't give a fuck - but most often, I think they just don't know any better. Which means yes - we do have to redistribute the shopping options of the poor, by means of education. For as much time as we humans spend eating, we tend to not know very much about food

[harriet_m_welsh]

I certainly agree with you about education. Let's start with: BRING BACK HOME EC!

I swear, that's where I learned how to cook.

And balance my checkbook.

[eqfe]

Yanno, the difficulty in discussing something like this is always the paradox of "blaming the victim," but I find it quite frustrating I can't count the number of times I've personally dragged friends and relatives to the market, and then taught them how to cook, and how infrequently these first hand experiences have resulted in them being willing to change, despite in many cases poor health, brought on by poor diets and\or cigarettes.
Of course the frustration is magnified because amoung these folks are my two sisters and best friend. Its more than just education, its like a state of mind.

[ugly_boy]

I was at Pollan's talk last night, too, and I agree that there was a lot of self-congratulating going on among the audience members. "Oh, we are just so enlightened and healthy and hip!" I'm glad I went, but it certainly didn't have the impact on me that reading his book did.

Personal responsibility is a huge part of the obesity epidemic, but income definitely plays a role. Low income people and minorities are disproportionately overweight and suffer from related diseases like diabetes. This is at least partially because high calorie, low quality foods tend to be cheaper than high quality foods, and are often faster or easier to obtain. Even with their high fiber content, I doubt a single pear split between two or three kids would do much to ward of hunger. I don't think policy is the only answer, but I think it will have to factor into any solution to the food-related health problems we are facing.

What I would like to see is for more people to empower and educate themselves and for legislation to help tip the scales, so to

[akaspeedo]

"I guess all I'm saying is, your dollar isn't making you fat. The cookies aren't making you fat. Burger King isn't even making you fat. Your income isn't even making you fat. You are making you fat. Our minds, our perceptions, our emotions, and their influences on our behaviors are what's making Americans obese. Maybe that's what needs to change, too."

I think that's really well said. Also, in Sehome high school health class, they learn HOW TO BAKE COOKIES.

[harriet_m_welsh]

Cookies, are you shitting me? That is apalling. For one thing, it's the most base kind of baking there is. There are far more complexities in preparing an edible piece of meat or even a loaf of bread or shit, it's not even easy to make rice on the stove instead of in a steamer!

I feel like a crotchety old woman to say "back in my day," but back in my day home ec included how to BALANCE meals, and shop for them, budget for them, and plan the timing for preparation, etc. Cookies? Why bother.

[harriet_m_welsh]

Oh I definitely agree; changing those perceptions and behaviors is HARD!!!

After I wrote this I read in my psych text that we are predisposed to "stock up" on sugar/fat/salt so that our species can biologically survive famine. So not only do we have food corporations to resist, we have our own genes to resist, and most likely the learned behaviors that came from our families.

I may have lost some weight lately, but I don't expect my struggle to ever end. For me, it's just as important to accept this fact of life as it is to change my choices. Here, I'll show ya the history of my scale for the past six years...

[blainn]

Thanks for reminding me why I friended you, and I'm sorry I'm late to this but I'm hardly ever on LJ anymore. I think I'll try to do it more often, with this in mind

[harriet_m_welsh]

Aw. I really appreciate this comment. I struggle with food too, for different (and similar) reasons. Being that I'm trying to follow a Weight Watchers idea about eating, I prepare my own foods way more often than I used to - less eating out, and less from a box type meals. But I'm broke as well, so in that I can sympathize.

Not to shanghai the original topic, but I want to tell you something my biology instructor said yesterday. You know how trans-fats are bad, because they make oils that are naturally liquid at room temperature into solids at room temperature, and that messes up your body? Yeah, well fast food places now no longer purchase trans fat oils, right? My bio instructor said, "Who cares, they're creating trans fat every day, by repeatedly heating and cooling the fryer oil..." I guess you just can't win for losin'.

Everybody has their ethical boundaries for food, I guess. Or maybe they don't. Maybe the important thing is to have some idea of what to eat, rather than eat mindlessly (which is what I used to do