W9: Open Topic

As you may already know, for my editorial, I will be talking about juice and how it is not the all healthy beverage that society makes it out to be. After a bit of research, I discovered that 100% fruit juice, and even other unhealthier fruit juices with additives and lower concentrations of real fruit juice, are extremely high in fructose and calories. The calorie and fructose levels are so high in fruit juice and other juice drinks that they are greater than that of the levels in the average can of soda pop, even though juice is generally consumed in smaller amounts than is soda pop. To me, this is baffling.

 I was personally raised in a household where juice was always in the fridge and readily available to me. I enjoy juice just as much as any other person, but I, personally, found myself drinking more milk and water. At a young age, although I did not know nearly as much as I thought I did, the one thing I did know was that juice was good for you. I was sure of it. So, now, in light of all my recent research, I am shocked to discover that, without the vitamin C, the occasional glass of orange juice that I enjoy is no healthier, and maybe even unhealthier, than a can of Coke. I am glad that I decided to research this topic and am eager to put my new-found knowledge to good use by strictly limiting juice from my diet and replacing it with fresh fruits that do not contain nearly as much fructose and as many calories.

This makes me wonder what foods I am overlooking. What are the other foods that I believe to be healthy, yet really carry no real nutritional value. Off the top of my head, the only thing that comes to mind is cheese. Cheese provides a good sources of calcium, however, it is a very oily and fattening food. Cheese is also one of the more common items in the American diet, and like anything else, too much of one thing is a bad thing. Although cheese is a good source of calcium, there are other, healthier foods that contain calcium and are much healthier for you. Certain yogurts and milk are two things that pop into my mind right off the bat. I feel that if people can become more aware of the health benefits and nutritional value of the foods that they are faced with in their everyday lives, they will be able to make more informed and effective decisions in terms of what they eat and how they obtain their required daily value of nutrients. 

W8: Obetty's Review

Obetty’s Red Hot is a very unique experience. The restaurant is a decorated in a rather strange fashion. The tables feature local advertisements atop a leopard pattern tablecloth and all underneath a layer of glass at the top. The walls are filled with photos of old movie stars from the 1950’s, 60’s, and 70’s, mostly women. In addition, the windows feature leopard curtains, as well, which match the tables and some of the bar décor and the booths which also contain the same leopard pattern. Moreover, the frequent use of the colors red and white, along with the repeated leopard pattern, give the establishment a western, tex-mex feel.

The main attraction at Obetty’s, much more so than the restaurant’s décor, is their food. They offer an array of interesting combinations of toppings for their delicious hot dogs, which are said to pop once bitten into. The toppings include diced onions, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, jalapeños, coleslaw, chili, numerous seasonings and many more. Their hot dog is definitely one of the better ones that I have tasted in my days. They are unique and their combinations of toppings make for a hot dog unlike any other that I am aware exists. In addition to hot dogs, Obetty’s Red Hot also offers French fries, which are to die for, especially in the late hours of the night. The fries are available regular, with melted cheddar cheese, or with cheddar cheese and chili. The cheese fries are probably my favorite Obetty’s menu item; however, sometimes the cheese is not melted, which completely throws off the whole taste of the, usually delicious, fries.

All in all, Obetty’s is the perfect place for an unhealthy, yet scrumptious, late night meal or a nice lunch. Their food, which is unique and original, has become a tradition to all those who attend Ohio University and covet interesting cuisine around the Athens area.

W7: Food Inc. & The Persuasive Power of Film

I feel as if Food Inc. is a very effectively persuasive film. Michael Pollan, who, sort of, narrated the documentary, is quite a credible source, as he is the author of the book we are currently reading for class. In addition, the testimonials from real farmers, such as Moe Parr and Joel Salatin, are very powerful and persuasive, revealing the evils of the big oppressor of a company, Monsanto. In addition, similar to the techniques used in Supersize Me, Food Inc. used images of the different food products, coupled with captions, to connect to the audience while they were discussing whatever it was.

The film, in many ways, persuaded me. In my opinion, some of the most effective techniques implemented in the film were the testimonials from the farmers dealing with the immoral and foul practices of companies such as Tyson and, more outstandingly, Monsanto. The parts of the documentary including Moe Parr, who had been investigated and sued by Monsanto for cleaning its seeds, and the lady who ran the chicken farm, who was unable to make the upgrades deemed necessary by Tyson and ceased to work for them any longer, were especially persuasive testimonials. After watching these segments, I was infuriated with how the people were treated and at the wealthy companies, who, with a nonchalant flick of a wrist, ruin people’s lives, driving them into debt for simply attempting to lawfully combat these companies and their wrongful practices.

           

            Furthermore, I feel that films, especially documentaries, such as Food Inc., as especially persuasive compared to, say, reading an editorial or attending a lecture. I feel that they are more effective due to the fact that they do the best job of appealing to the audience and grabbing their attention. Reading and attending lectures can get boring rather fast if the topic of discussion is not intriguing. However, with a film, a wide variety of techniques can be present, and simultaneously. Film can include pictures, vocals, and text, which can all be displayed at the same time. This makes for a more interesting experience, in which, in most instances, the audience is more attracted to, than say an article or a lecture. All around, films are a more exciting way to learn.

W6: Open Topic

Over the weekend, I hosted my brother, Andrew, and a few of his friends for the sibs weekend festivities. I had a great time seeing my brother and I enjoyed showing him a piece of the “college life.” Much to my surprise, he arrived mid-day on Saturday bearing an array of food and snacks, which my parents sent down to feed Andrew and his friends. I was excited because I knew that I would be taking full advantage of the leftovers. Among the assortment of food were a box of 24 large Laffy Taffys and a 24 pack of 24 ounce Mountain Dew bottles. Throughout my childhood, these are two things that I enjoyed on a daily basis; however, nowadays I drink a significantly less amount of pop/soda and eat fewer amount of candy than I once did, especially after taking this course.

Nevertheless, along with my brother and his friends I enjoyed myself as I dined on multiple Mountain Dews and a few Laffy Taffys. At one point, in the middle of indulging myself in a watermelon flavored Laffy Taffy, I began to read the back and of the wrapper. Glancing at the wrapper, between bites, I saw the words, “contains egg.” I thought for a minute as I chewed the sweet, tough, and gooey combination. Due to this course, have become more aware of the food that I consume and what goes into the foods that I consume. After reading that the Laffy Taffy, which I was currently stuffing my face with, contained eggs, I studied the small print on the back of the label to see what else helped to form Laffy Taffy. First of all, I do not normally associate eggs with the candy that I eat; and, honestly, I am curious as to how many other different candies contain egg. That just seems weird to me! Really weird! What is more, in addition to egg (egg albumen), Lafffy Taffy also contains “sodium alginate,” hydrogenated coconut oil,” and “carnauba wax,” all of which sound very appetizing. Currently and due to this course, I am more aware than ever of what it is that I am putting into my body. I feel that it is vital towards maintaining an overall healthy body and mind.

W:5 Our Fast Food Nation

It is no question that fast food is associated with American culture and society. It is hard to pinpoint the exact reason behind this, but there is much room for speculation. For starters, in an earlier reading, we read that, although the hamburger patty was not invented in America, the concept was adopted and the idea of putting the patty in between two buns is American. Nowadays, and for some time now, the burger is probably the most common of all fast food items. Another reason that fast food is so American is that a substantial portion of our population is always on the move and is looking for quick and easy food options. In addition, many of the fast food chains prevalent in our society today, such as McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, and Taco Bell, are all multi-billion dollar conglomerates. For as far back as I can remember I have seen far more commercials from the major fast food corporations on TV more than commercials for anything else. This is on display in the film Super Size Me, as well, when the kids are able to identify images of Ronald McDonald and Wendy over images of George Washington and other notable figures throughout our country’s history and in our society today. The images of different fast food “mascots,” if you may, are ingrained into the minds of youth in our society. Our youth, just as was the case with me, are brought up eating fast food and believing that it is healthy and should be apart of the weekly (or even daily) diet. It is not until we grow up that we realize that it unhealthy, for all intensive purposes, and not something that we should consume regularly.

Furthermore, the only time that I have been outside of the country was a family trip to Canada when I was 5 years old, so I am very limited with what I remember. However, from what I hear, in Europe, fast food is not nearly as customary and prevalent as it is in America. What’s more, the menus at European fast food joints, which are much less a regularity than in America, are very different from those at American fast food establishments. They offer healthier options such as “deli choices,” and carrot sticks, and do not feature the gigantic hamburgers that our menus do. The biggest sandwich on the menu is the Big Mac, which appears, in photo, to be far inferior, in terms of size, to the American Big Mac. It seems as if Europeans are much more intelligent than us in certain aspects, this being one of them.

W4 "American Food"

If I were to design a menu for a “quintessential American restaurant” in another country, there are a few different foods that I would be sure not leave off the list. Aside from hot dogs, which falls into the same category as fries, hamburgers, and pizza, I would be sure to incorporate steak, chicken noodle soup, chicken wings, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

For starters, it is hard pressed to find a meal in the United States more notorious and customary than steak and potatoes, especially in mid- and southwestern food culture. In addition, I would probably serve the steak, of which I would have a variety of cuts, with some sort of potato, whether it be mashed, baked, or (sorry) French fries. Steak and potatoes is simply one of America’s typical meals.

Furthermore, it would be an outrage to leave chicken noodle soup off of the menu. To say that chicken noodle soup is a staple in American households is an understatement. Everyone eats chicken noodle soup in America. Even people who are vegetarians or vegan, in our society, eat the chicken-less cans of Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup. In addition, it is the number one food for sick kids in our society, and has been ever since I’ve been here. My restaurant would serve a mean bowl of chicken noodle soup, complete with saltine crackers on the side.

In addition to steak and chicken noodle soup, I would be sure to add chicken wings to the menu. Chicken wings are one of the most common foods in our society. When I think of chicken wings, I associate them with parties, good times, and sports, usually football. Everyone loves chicken wings, and they would definitely be on my menu, with a plethora of flavor options.

Last, but not least, I would be hard to be considered an American if I forgot to include a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on my menu. Just like chicken noodle soup, is beyond the status of being a “staple” in our American culture and society, the peanut butter and jelly sandwich is a time-honored American tradition. It is the meal that your parents made for you a thousand times when you were a kid, and that you still eat sometimes today. My restaurant’s P&J would be rather extravagant, a time-less classic with a new twist, if you may. I would be one of the featured items, consisting of some type of gourmet bread, the finest jellies in multiple flavors, and, of course, the option to choose between regular or chunky peanut butter.

Food Histories and Mysteries

I have learned that some of America’s iconic foods, such as the hamburger, were not even fully invented in our country, yet, were result of a combination of ideas and events throughout different places in history. For example, in Hamburger: A Global History, Andrew F. Smith touches on the fact that the name “hamburger” comes from the dish “hamburg steak,” which was featured on the menu of Phillip J. Lauby’s German restaurant at the Philadelphia’s Centennial Exposition in 1876. Furthermore, sometime between 1880 and 1890, the hamburger became an American favorite, as sometime (it is still unknown as to who) decided to put the patty in between two pieces of bread. 

            In addition to the hamburger, I feel that Jell-o is another iconic American food item. After some careful research, I learned that Jell-o, which is actually a brand name of gelatin desserts, but has pretty much taken over the market for this particular product and their brand name is the only name really associated with this strange and fun dessert. Odd and gross enough, the key ingredient in Jell-o, gelatin, is produced when collagen is extracted from animal parts such as bones, connective tissues, and intestines. However, like most iconic American foods, what we know as Jell-o was first popularized during the Victorian era, in a much more extravagant and decorative manner. “Jell-o” was introduced in America around the turn of the 20^th century, after a man named Peter Cooper sold his 1845 patent for powdered gelatin to a LeRoy, New York couple, who made the dessert out of their house before selling their business to a neighbor. The man who bought the business and patent rights, Francis Woodward, struggled with the product at first, but would eventually popularize the tasty treat.

            Personally, I have been subjected to Jell-o from a very early age. Growing up, and still to this day, I have never been a fan of cakes and cookies. It is a bit odd, however, I am more drawn to the taste of salty foods, as opposed to sweet ones. So, on my birthday’s, when I was growing up, my mom would always put together a tray with cups of “birthday jell-o,” candles and all. Some of my friends would look at me strange, but they would enjoy their jell-o. To this day, it is one of my fondest childhood memories.