Dichotomies

1. The dichotomy between health food in American society today and unhealthy, canned and frozen foods.

2. The dichotomy between the artisan/local and mass produced frozen food that is filled with preservatives.

3. The dichotomy between over and under valuing food.

1. Americans have been "obsessed" with health for years. There have been countless articles published about health foods, diets and exercise. However, even with this obsession-which includes all new health-food products- prepackaged food with harmful preservatives still rain supreme. Why? Well, part of it is because we have become accustomed to that kind of food.

Another reason why we eat prepackaged food is because we are so busy. In our individualistic society, we measure success individually. This reflects a different lifestyle and value system than collectivist cultures, which place more emphasis on relationships. Because we must work harder to become "successful," we have less time to devote to other activities. This includes cooking.

I was conversing with my friend today about how she is accordingly busy. She sometimes will make a salad with her own vinaigrette, but she is one of the few people to use fresh ingredients. This is a commendable practice. However, she is so ravenous when she gets home that, at times she simply grabs something that is quick and unhealthy. Because there is only at Starbucks in her building, when she grabs food, instead of walking a few blocks because she does not have time, she goes to Starbucks and gets a pastry.

After our class tonight we found vending machines because I was hungry. Catholic University of America is rare in that it does have a health-food vending machine. Most places only have crappy candy bar vending opinions. The American palette has been significantly changed from what it used to be so that people predict food high and calories of sugar and fat.

2. There is a dichotomy today between the sub-culture of people retreating to local and artisan foods and the majority which eat mass produced food. Even so, going back to a localized food production structure is not the answer. A Ted talk in the series " Chew on This," a researcher discussed how food should neither be localized nor globalized, but rather become regionalized.

My mom says she has not tasted that good apricot since she was a little girl. This makes sense because pesticides are used on a regular basis.

3. Americans today seem to have been an interesting view of food. They will go out f for a nice meal in a restaurant that might cost them an exorbitant amount of money. This cannot be done on a regular basis. Most Americans seem not to understand is that if they learned to cook, they could have food equally exceptional if for a fraction of the price.