No Lunch Left Behind

     Out of the 5 articles we were given to read, "No Lunch Left Behind" was definitely the one that was most interesting to me. Alice Waters and Katrina Heron mention a lot of details and facts about the National School Lunch Program and how it works, and honestly I don't think its working out so well. I think their points are proven just by looking at the lunches we are served at Mayfair. I don't know about you guys, but I have chosen to pack my own lunch because I refuse to have greasy cheese pizza or soggy grilled cheese every day. In certain aspects, our lunch program isn't too bad; I mean, they do offer salad as a choice and provide fruits, such as apples and pears. But how many students do you see that actually reach for the fruit, or choose the salad over the pizza instead?
     Waters and Heron mentioned that the program costs around $9 billion, but that little of that money is even used on the food that is provided for us to eat. To make up for the cost, "schools are entitled to receive commodity foods that are valued at a little over 20 cents per meal". So on top of the fact that our lunches are "low grade meats and cheeses and processed foods", we are paying $2.50 for lunches that are only worth 20 cents! Sounds a little silly to me, given that a chicken sandwich from any fast food restaurant runs for half that price. But that is also part of the problem. The National School Lunch Program is receiving billions of dollars to provide healthy meals for students, but instead we are being served food that is equivalent to, if not worse, than fast food itself. Clearly, a little more effort should be put in providing healthier foods to students, especially since health rates have been declining every year.
     Waters and Heron suggest buying locally grown food to provide for students in school, although it will cost a little more money. Do you guys think the cost is worth it? Should the government be willing to give a little more to provide healthy meals for us? And as mentioned, should the Department of Education be involved and also be required to pay for part of the lunch program?

Cornstalks Everywhere (but nothing else)

Check out this review of the book A World in One Cubic Foot by Robert Krulwich of Radiolab!  This is cool because it communicates so well, but it's awful, tragic, devastating information.  It worries me.  

The Pleasures of Eating

While shopping at the grocery store with my dad, I would walk up and down the aisles, dreading every minute, wanting all of the food that I saw. I asked my dad if we could get this and that, of course it was hot Cheetos, or junk food and he would always say no. I never paid attention to what was in the meat my dad purchased, or any other type of food we bought. I just saw it as its there so might as well eat it. After reading Wendell Berry's "The Pleasures of Eating" I got an uneasy type of feeling in my stomach. What have I been putting into my body all these years? How are these animals being treated and raised? A whole bunch of emotions came over me and I wanted to stop reading, but I continued and his words opened my eyes. Now when I go to the store I will take this things into consideration. In the seven steps he listed, I know I can prepare my own food, and become more informative regarding farmers and gardening. I think we should all attempt to try at least one of his steps. It will never hurt to try. :)

Age of Power!

Many of us are reaching the age of noticeable power…18. At 18 we can register to vote and “make our voices heard” on issues that we find important. We can have our say in the food movement and decide where the power lies: with the big businesses controlling our conscious decisions or with the consumers making informed and intelligent choices. For example, I think taxing unhealthy foods and drinks and more obvious nutrition labeling are huge measures that can attack the obesity epidemic (Jane E. Brody) and stand up to the big businesses like Monsanto. In order to really address the politics of food, we have to make changes to the lack of transparency for consumers and the lack of choice for farmers. The consumers need to know what they are consuming and how it came to be what they see in the package. Labeling and information provided on food are practical requirements and we need the right information to choose intelligently. The lack of choice does not end with the consumers; the farmers suffer the suffocating fist of big business that does not allow for the healthy, “right” way of growing food. I think it’s worth putting our money towards promoting healthy lifestyles with taxes on bad food and creating healthy school lunch programs (“No Lunch Left Behind”). By investing in these kinds of steps we not only can show our power by taking control through our informed and intelligent choices in the food industry, but save lives. What is the extent of your role in the food movement? Now that we have read these articles, do you plan on making changes to your food choices and understanding as a consumer?

Politics of Food

This is a wide open topic with multiple fascinating avenues to explore.  Don't get stuck.  Find a research question you are genuinely interested in, and follow your research in a direction that matters.  It makes the work fly by; it's interesting and real when the writer really wants to know something.

Here are some websites you can explore:

Michael Pollan has his own web page
Here's the Atkins Center for Weight and Health at UC Berkeley
The Food Inc. documentary has a website
The Edible Schoolyard -- wouldn't it be cool to plant a garden here at Mayfair?  What would it take?
Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity

The fourth talk here (all about ecosystems) is about our dwindling bee populations.  Galvanizing.
Ron Finley inspires me:  a TEDTalk about guerrilla gardening
Jamie Oliver's TEDTalk called "Teach Every Child About Food"
Another TEDTalk:  "My (subversive) garden plot"

I planted last year in hay bales that I purchased up the street at Bellflower Feed.  You could put one of these bales almost anywhere, even beside a driveway.  I'm going to try this again this year -- it was easy, cheap and fun -- my idea of a good time.  Last year, I planted four; this year, I'm gonna double that.  (Twice the fun.)

Early:

Later:

Audre Lorde

I just wanted to discuss Audre Lorde and her article we had to read. She really opened up my eyes to problems that we are surrounded by but don't pay attention to. I never realized how many people face the same problems she did. I find it very inspirational that she was brave enough to speak up, which made a difference in many individuals lives. Hopefully your mindsets changed after discussing and reading her article. :)

Hello everybody. I hope second semester is going well for you all. We are getting closer to the end so lets keep working hard. :)