UNIT TWO: Ethical Essay

A SCRUMPTIOUS MEAL-Ethical Essay

What would taste better to you: A home cooked pot of simmering stew, or frozen stew from a bag heating above the stove? We all have different opinions and experiences, but in my opinion I would rather peel and cut the vegetables than tear open a bag and plop the stew in water. The food industry is becoming more popular with developing "homemade" meals into a meal quick and easy. Nutrition is an important part of our lives, and learning which foods are essential and where you can find them, would be beneficial to know. A few major points to discuss in this essay would be: where does our produce come from, the abundance of processed/packaged foods, and healthy versus "empty calorie" diets. Are individuals paying attention to what they are eating? Our bodies need the nourishment to stay healthy, but many food markets supply many unneeded produce that consumers continuously buy.

While biting into your sweet, juicy apple; does it ever cross your mind where the apple came from? "Food travels on average 1,300 miles from farm to table" (food travels, article). This type of produce(fruits and vegetables) is from local farmers; mainly from California, Florida or Washington. Another interesting fact is, most produce that is shipped from around the states or different countries could take up to "7-14" days before it gets to the supermarket. This makes it difficult to find the freshest bach of produce at some local supermarkets. A lot of times fruits and vegetables are expensive, and not everyone can afford spending money on fresh products. But, in my opinion, I feel that fresh products are healthier than packaged/processed. In my opinion cans of fruits/veggies are packed with sugar giving it a total different taste. Some produce hold the same vitamin contents of fresh produce, but I personally don't know how when its packed with processed ingredients. In this same article it states that the: "U. S. has lost 4.7 million farms" since 1935(food travels). This cut off may explain why food marketing has such an increase in packaged foods; since the farmers aren't there to supply their need of produce. Regardless, I still buy fresh products over processed. If I had the land, I would love to plant my own fruit trees and garden. But for those of us that don't have that, think about the apple(or fresh food) you bit into; somewhere a farmer planted the tree, helped it grow, and picked it off the tree for you to ENJOY!

Walking through the aisles of the supermarket, every few feet a blazing sign saying "NEW TRY ME," stands out amongst all the other processed foods. One thing I find amazing is that frozen dinners have become a popular meal of choice. I enjoy cooking and baking, therefore, I tend not to buy these pre-made meals, but occasionally I do. Most of them are loaded with sodium, fats, and calories, but they are tasteful. An article describes the harm in processed foods; "contains huge amounts of chemicals and toxins which were added in the processing" (health, article). Companies try making the food taste fresh by adding colorings, artificial flavors and preservatives. These preservatives are used to make the food last longer to avoid it being disrupted from mold, bacteria, or yeast. Freezing, Canning, Sterilization, Adding sugar and salts are examples of preserving food. This website also states that the reason some vegetables taste bland is due to the fact they lack minerals; chemicals are mixed into it to give it a flavorful taste. "Processing takes a lot of nutrients out of the nutrient rich foods" (health, article). This states a lot of the packaged foods we open and plop into the microwave or stove top. Many of these products are stripped from the original nutrients, giving the buyer a mouthful of processed material. It would be expensive to buy all organic instead of some of the processed foods. I feel it is important to get a variety of fresh produce, but eating preserved/packaged foods is part of our society.

Lack of time is very common in today's society. Therefore many Americans grab "empty calorie" foods for a meal. These calories can be from candy, soda, beer, to a fast food hamburger. The reason these "empty calories" are important to watch is they are eventually converted to fat. Which leads to a common disorder, Obesity. Most of these foods lack the essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients our body needs to function properly. These foods tend to be cheaper, readily available, and tasteful which is why many individuals aim for them. I will agree that many of the healthier foods are more expensive, making it harder to keep them as a daily diet regimen. Nutrient density foods may contain the same amount of calories, but they are filled with vitamins and minerals. A good example we are all probably aware of is a potato vs chips. They may be similar in calories, but the baked potato has fiber, calcium and other vitamins far more valuable. Learning the foods that are priced the same as junk food, will hopefully keep individuals away from the empty calories vs nutrient filled foods. We hear the comments about eating healthier over and over, but unhealthy diets seems to be getting more common. Constant consumption of junk food( "empty calories") may put an individuals health at risk for cardiovascular and other diseases.

In conclusion, it seems to be that our society is lacking in trying to keep our bodies healthy and full on vitamins and minerals we need to nourish our bodies. Many of the produce products we get in the supermarkets are shipped from other areas throughout the states or even country. We know many of them need to be preserved in order to last the long trip to the market. Again, I personally enjoy fresh produce versus packaged foods. Home cooked meals in most families have lost its meaning, since many place a frozen lasagna into the oven or dine at restaurants. For many individuals the cost of healthy foods is more expensive than the "empty calorie" foods; therefore many pick the packaged versus more nourishment. We are all at guilty of eating at fast food restaurants, but in my opinion doing that on a daily basis is not healthy for your body. Depending on what foods you consume, but for the most part french fries and hamburgers are not good for the arteries day after day. Many diseases can arise from lack of nourishment and the constant consumption of carbohydrates, fats, and sugars. Learning to recognize the harm some foods can do to your body, will hopefully make some individuals stop and think before they bite into their hamburger for the 5th time that week.

Works Cited:

http://www.mcvitamins.com/Health%20opponents/processed_foods.htm

quotes

http://www.ediblecommunities.com/

picture of tractor

http://www.foodroutes.org/

quotes, beginning quote

http://www.wegmans.com/

picture of apple