A Reflection

I feel as though a reflection is necessary. My ‘Anthropology of Food’ class opened up my eyes to an entire world of food and the issues that come with it. Food is not just about what you put into your mouth when you’re hungry, instead, it is what fuels the nation. I never understood the issues of food until my one-month course. I was clueless when it came to the monopolies that are destroying families, cattle farms, guerrilla gardens, local markets, dumpster diving and so much more that comes with something I take for granted everyday.

The course opened up with Ruth Ozeki’s “All Over Creation” which reminded me of the 1960’s and 70’s when hippies rebelled against the man and tried to end the corruption of a nation. I realize now what I can do to fight the system and I intend on choosing organic food whenever possible, finding alternative fuels for a more eco friendly car, and embracing all types of people to help fight a flawed food system. The characters in the book were so believable, and it’s easy to see them in everyday life. The organic eaters that fight against the corporate life style of a constant moving world, the older generation that remain unaware of what is going on, the children growing up in an food educated home, the farmers just trying to make a living and those who know the issues and refuse to change. The book really showed how it’s hard for an entire group of people to change a system if they don’t feel it is an immediate life threatening issue.

“The Omnivore’s Dilemma” by Michael Pollan was a more difficult read because it just put the gruesome facts out there. As a non red-meat eater, I will admit that it was difficult reading about the cattle farms. However, how the animals that billons of people choose to eat are treated is not as surprising as the corn factor. I find that I am incredibly conscious of which corn products are in the foods I’m eating. I was never even aware before reading this book and taking the course that corn is the food of the world and is feeding everyone and everything. After reading the book and then watching “Future of Food” I felt as though I never wanted to eat corn or corn products again. It’s hard to support such a corrupt system and companies like Monsanto anger me. To eat products from a corporation that takes peoples life savings goes against what I believe in when it comes to the humanity that people need to show each other.

Books like “The Omnivore’s Dilemma,” “All Over Creation,” and movies like “Future of Food” really increased my awareness of the issues that consumers are facing. Unlabeled food products, the lack of organic, non-patented food sources, and the monopoly of power companies. All of the things I studied in my ‘Anthropology of Food’ course opened my eyes to a world of a corrupt system, paid for by a lot of government funding. I have become a more conscious consumer and a pickier eater. I refuse to ruin myself and my beliefs by eating hormone injected and genetically modified foods because I’m too lazy to find ulterior options. I strongly encourage others to take a more proactive step in finding out what they’re putting inside their bodies.

Dumpster Diving to End World Hunger

‘Dumpster Diving’ is a very interesting idea that tends to gross many people out, including myself. I personally cannot imagine jumping into a dumpster to fish out peoples “treasures.” However, as the old saying goes, “another man’s trash, is another mans treasure,” I have come to learn that there is some truth in this.

What do you get when a group of people organize nation wide dumpster dives to help the needy and hungry? What do you get when companies over-exaggerate expiration dates and end up throwing away billons of dollars worth of perfectly good food? You end up with a disgustingly large number of perfectly good food thrown away and people taking a proactive stance to change that.

‘Food Not Bombs’ is an organization that does nation wide dumpster dives to “rescue” food from an unnaturally early demise. The food is found in containers, and often times the activists can get the food before it even hits the dumpsters. However, many grocery stores and companies are not okay with this because they aren’t making any money off of it. And in today’s day and age, who really is willing to give anything away for free without any strings attached to those who are in need? Trust me, there aren’t many. So why try and inhibit the few that do try from making a positive difference in the world?

My ‘Anthropology of Food’ class had the privilege of drinking juice saved from the dumpster, and trust me, it tasted just fine. It’s hard to imagine that billons of pounds of foods are simply tossed away while there are entire nations starving. It angers me that companies can be so selfish and not think about how they could be aiding the public instead of destroying resources. I personally hope to get involved with ‘Food Not Bombs’ and strongly encourage all those who do not wish to see people starve to take a look and perhaps a stance against the starvation of humanity.

Destruction of American Farms

There are few things in life that shock me, especially when it comes to my food. However, throughout my ‘Anthropology of Food’ course I’ve come to find that I need to hope for the best, but often times, expect for the worst. The film “The Future of Food” dives into the culture of farming in the United States and the monopoly that patenting has created. The video left me enraged and saddened.

The movie showed the stories of many abused farmers who had their lives turned upside down by the company Monsanto. This company tears families apart by their patenting overdrive. To think that a company can patent types of farm crops is a scary thought. There are so many crops that are not being made available to consumers because the company gets to decide what we eat by monopolizing the entire farming culture.

It was hard to watch families torn apart by a company that serves us genetically modified foods without proper labeling that could do serious harm to our healthy and environment. It’s disgusting to also learn that our own countries attorney general is accepting money from companies like Monsanto, allowing them to destroy hard working families and ultimately destroy the health of America!

I find myself incredibly upset at the fact I feel our country has dug ourselves into a huge hole surrounded by genetically engineered crops, failing farms and bankrupt families. When are the effects going to become bad enough that people are going to make a stand? One person cannot do it all, and I challenge every American concerned with their health, the health of their nation and the environment to strongly rethink who they buy their food products from.

Pro-Pizza

Imagine if you never left a carbon imprint? If everything you did was organic, freshly grown food from your own garden, cooking from a clay oven in your backyard and began a mission to simply your life. It sounds impossible, and it probably is, but what if it were possible? What if everyone took a moment to step outside themselves and realize that there is more in the world than fancy cars and big supermarkets.

Ruth Ozeki took the time to explore the possibilities in her book “All Over Creation.” Although the book showed the views of many people, the “Seeds of Resistance” really caught my attention. I found myself swept up in their drive and passion for the earth. What if everyone found that same passion? What if everyone drove cars fueled by the excess fast food oils instead of petroleum? That is asking a lot of people, but the results could be huge!

The University of Washington’s farm just celebrated the first burning of their oven. Keith Possee of the biology department worked hard over the summer to create a wood-burning oven that my class had the privilege of baking in. I baked an amazing and healthy organic pizza with a homemade pesto (with organic ingredients from the UW farm) and cheeses. Looking into the oven and watching my very own organic pizza bake was really entertaining. It made me realize how truly amazing it is to create something organic that does not affect the earth in a negative way.

While watching other students, faculty and friends line up to have their pizza’s baked, I couldn’t help but feel a very ‘Seeds of Resistance’ vibe. Nothing we were doing affected the earth in a negative way, and I couldn’t help but feel that the characters in the novel (if they were non-fictional) would be incredibly proud of the proactive actions of the bakers and farmers at the UW farm.

Hopefully one day I’ll be able to follow in the footprints of those who have left a very small carbon imprint.

A Taste of Home

There is nothing more comforting than a taste of home. During class on Thursday, my ‘Anthropology of Food’ class made a vegan lentil soup. My mom and I used to make lentil soup together all the time, especially in the wintertime. Any piece of home feels good, doesn’t it?

I have never made vegan lentil soup, and it was exciting learning how to make it. It had so many flavors, which would surely satisfy any carnivore or non-vegan. I was hesitant when I saw that the recipe called for 6 cups of water instead of a vegetable broth. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I tasted the soup and it tasted just as good as a soup with vegetable broth used.

After eating three weeks worth of college dorm food, it felt great to be in the kitchen cooking something familiar and something incredibly healthy. It was the first meal that didn’t make me feel weighed down because of heavy oils. I enjoyed the experience of making a vegan dish and eating it.

The recipe is simple and I encourage anyone who has some time to make this soup. It is healthy, easy and tastes great even after being frozen or in the fridge.

Ingredients
1 cup brown lentils
6 cups water
2 celery stalks, diced
1 carrot, peeled and diced
3 cloves of garlic, sliced
1 onion, diced
¼ c olive oil
½ c tomato sauce
1 bay leaf
2 potatoes, diced
2 T red wine vinegar
½ c red wine
salt and pepper

Make the soffritto with the celery, onion and carrot in the olive oil. The red wine vinegar may be added as well, along with the garlic. Sauté the ingredients in the olive oil low heat until soft for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Make the soup with adding the 6 cups of water to the soffritto, bring it to a boil, and then add all of the other ingredients. Reduce the heat and cover it partially for 30 minutes, and then you’ll have a lovely soup to eat.

(recipe from Ann Anagnost)

America's Supersized Problem

“Super-size me” is a simple request that can lead to less than simple consequences. Heart disease, diabetes, cancer, infertility, mood swings, poor health and more. After watching the video ‘Super Size Me’ in my ‘Anthropology of Food' class I could not help but feel enraged and thankful at the same time. Thankful that I haven’t eaten fast food in years, and infuriated because I know that there are still people who choose to eat fast food on a daily basis. To watch a video like that with all the facts laid out in black and white and still continue to eat processed “meat” (if you can really even call it that) is a form of ignorance and idiocy that one can only blame themselves for.

(Image from Google Images)

Watching the deterioration of Morgan Spurlock made me feel ill to my stomach. He started out with outstanding health and ended up with a failing liver that looked as though he were a dying alcoholic, massive weight gain and more. I cannot imagine what millions of Americans must be suffering from just because of their food choices. America is now the most obese country and is on its way to becoming the least intelligent as well. The school systems are lacking, not only by educational standards but by food standards as well.

It is not always practical to eat a home-cooked meal every single day, three times a day in this fast paced world. There are places to go and people to see, but is it really THAT difficult to make healthier choices when you do need to pick up a meal on the go? Is it really that impossible to make lunch healthy for the children so they can learn to live a healthy life with good food choices? The truth is that it’s not. There are organizations like ‘Natural Oven’ that offer healthy food options at the same price as the unhealthy pizza and snack loving companies that most schools pay for. People know that these options exist, so why aren’t they going for them? Does America want to get fat?

It is not impossible to eat a healthy meal on the go. Nothing is impossible, especially when it comes to food. American groceries are stocked full with endless amounts of possibilities, and there are healthier restaurant alternatives, not to mention a persons self-control and portion control. As a freshman living in a college dorm I see the choices that people make. Going for a doughnut for breakfast instead of a bowl of cereal. Choosing the large food they are serving without a side of veggies over a salad. I hear the excuses as to why they could not make it to the gym or why they’re choosing the elevator instead of going up that one flight of stairs. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve taken the elevator and I’ve had the chocolates, but I also choose the gym over television and a salad over fries. It all comes down to personal choices.

There is no one source to blame. A lack of self-control is a huge contributor and a persons lack of motivation is part of the problem as well. However when 10,000 commercials are aired a day telling you that you REALLY want that big mac with fries, it’s hard to ignore it. The restaurants understand advertising and they have it down to a tee. The food they serve is horrendous and the companies along with the consumers know that toxins are going into the food and the horrific effects they have on ones body. However, with neither party willing to change, what hope is there for a healthier America?

Presto, Pesto!

The ability to make fresh pesto from organic homegrown basil is incredible. Not many people resort for their own gardens for ingredients to make pesto. Instead, the super market pre-made pesto is the closest most people get to homemade pesto. However, many opt for the already made pesto from restaurants. All variations of pesto are going to taste great, but the store bought pesto lacks so much…the smell, the hard work and the satisfaction, along with the knowledge of knowing what has gone inside the pesto.

With my ‘Anthropology of Food’ course I had the pleasure of helping make pesto with freshly picked basil from the University of Washington farm. Myself, along with 5 others were able to make the pesto from a simple recipe, and it was by far, the best tasting pesto I have ever had. Making pesto from scratch was something I never had the opportunity to make before, and now, I would love to make it from scratch all the time. It was truly simple.

Take a bag full of freshly picked basil; add 3-4 garlic cloves, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, pine nuts and salt. With a little spin in the blender, presto you’ve got pesto! It’s so simple and I encourage everyone to try it once. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how quickly you can get it done and be able to relish in your satisfaction of your home made organic pesto.

The Beauty of City Gardens

It’s amazing to think that in a city as large as Seattle gardens can flourish. My ‘Anthropology of Food’ class had the chance to explore the University of Washington area and view surrounding gardens. The garden plots aren’t large in comparison to large farms in flat lands down country roads. However, in a city such as Seattle, the idea that a garden can survive and supply food to people is truly amazing.

There is also the idea of the guerrilla gardens, which is by far a very progressive idea that will hopefully inspire more people. Earth conscious citizens began plotting plants and growing gardens outside of a sanctioned plotting area, to help grow awareness of the need to begin growing food locally and organically.

Both the guerrilla gardens and the p-pods (the plots of gardens within and around Seattle) are inspirational. They show people that changes can be made, big or small. That even in a large city such as Seattle, there is no excuse not to grow food organically. To utilize any open space for gardening and food is a far more productive action than to grow grass and weeds.

Gardens full of flowers are beautiful, but plants that can be used for food and aesthetic reasons are just as beautiful and add more to ones environment.

Garden Fresh

There is nothing as fresh as an open garden underneath the burning sun. The University of Washington farm is an escape from the bustle of a busy campus and a hide away from the stresses of a modern city. The farm encompasses a small amount of property developed by “rebel” students. I found that as I walked with my ‘Anthropology of Food’ class, I was overwhelmed with a sense of wanting to do something more. It never occurred to me how a simple garden could express so much.

The idea that modern gardens only include flowers and ground cover for beauty is becoming dated. With the growing concern of pesticides and poisons, garden has become another word for farm. I never realized how many beautiful colors grew from edible plants. Whenever I thought about a farm, I automatically assumed corn stalks and wheat fields. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw an elaborate array of colors and textures.

Knowing exactly where your food comes from and what has gone into it is a powerful notion. I am constantly worried about what other ingredients are going into the food I eat and the harmful effects they are going to have. I walked away from the University of Washington’s farm knowing that I can make a change, not only for myself, but the environment. The farm not only serves as a source of food, but a habitat for animals and a beautiful sight to see.

Love From an Obento Box

Japanese food culture is not as different from that of my experience living in the United States. Although the foods they consume may be different, many of the concepts remain the same. The idea behind a typical American style lunch from a mother or father to a child is to give them something they will enjoy and remind them that they are loved. The typical lunch box might include a PB&J sandwich, an apple and other little snacks. Lunch is usually a child’s favorite time of day, and the Japanese realized the importance of it as well.

The idea behind an obento box is a simple one, however, it is made more elaborate by the complexity of the individuals design. Japanese students worked extremely hard in school, and the obento boxes, typically made by the mothers, were a way to give the student a break from hard work and allow them the comforts of their own home with food that brightened their spirits. Many of the obento boxes are propaganda, designed like famous scholars, urging the students to continue to work hard in order to accomplish great things in life. Obento boxes are not always designed as propaganda, but are always made to remind the child at home that they are loved, and to give them a break from a hard day at school.

I had the opportunity to create an obento box for a loved one. Mine was a far cry than that of the Japanese culture, and although I would like to believe I have the talent or ability to create something as magnificent as an authentic Japanese obento box, I realize that will most likely never happen. I might not have had the artistic vision or patience one needs to create a prizewinning obento box, but I did have the right mind set. To create a meal that was fun, loving an enjoyable.

The design is simple; a nice rice man reaching his cucumber arms out to give a hug to the student to express a feeling of love and comfort coming from a friend. Obento boxes are masterful with ornate designs, but I hope that one day when I make lunches for my children, I can convey my love for them, even with a simple PB&J sandwich. I know that when I look back upon my elementary school days, I loved going to lunch and exploring all the great food my mom took the time to make for me.

When Food is More Than Just a Meal...

Throughout history, food has made the transition from just a necessity, to a form of expression and comfort. The idea that food is only there to keep one well nourished has become obsolete in many wealthy cultures and upper class living. It has become an art form, an expression of love, a cultural standard and overall, something extremely significant.

When I think of food, I usually don’t think of the nutrients in it, or that I have to eat it to live. Instead, I think of food in the sense of a way to communicate. The food itself reflects how much time and preparation went in to it, or the love that someone feels for another. It is also a way to talk over a meal and share emotions over something that both parties can enjoy, and has the ability to become a keepsake for memories.

There are many meals I can remember. The memories are mainly consumed with the remembrance of my moms home cooked meals, or the dinners with my family while I was growing up. However, as I started to get older, meals manifested into something way more than just a family meal, they transitioned into meals with other loved ones. I can remember so clearly the last meal I ever shared with my cousin Scott, and even though I can’t remember if the food was that great, his company was significant.

Café Felix is known for their amazing sweets and coffee drinks, but I will always remember Café Felix as the final meal with my cousin. It was a beautiful day on the bustling Main Street back home in Ann Arbor. I’m sure the food was great, but the company was really all I needed. It’s amazing though, how a year after Scott passed, every time I walk past the café, I am overcome with such amazing memories of the greatest meal with a loved one. The café has come to represent the love I have for my family, and how food has become one of the most sincere forms of communication and expression of love for another.

The Comforts of Home

August 22, 2007

Sarah’s Digest

The idea of not being home for months at a time is an exciting and terrifying notion. The comforts that I’ve come to expect from living at home with an amazing mom have, to a degree, come crashing down. No more laundry service, no car, and no more evening home cooked meals with the family. Although I truly do enjoy cooking for myself, there isn’t anything better than my moms amazing food and our occasional authentic German meals.

I’ve explored the campus dinning, and plan to do some further exploration throughout my time spent at the University of Washington. Contrary to popular belief, there is the ability to eat healthy and delicious meals. It just all comes down to choices. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to experience the comfort of my moms food, but for the time being, I plan on trying different ethnic foods unique to the West Coast and exploring as many healthy, comforting and different foods as possible.