In the article “Food as Thought: Resisting the Moralization of Eating” by Mary Maxfield published in 2012 states that people’s knowledge about health, is more so based on culture or origin. Rather than what is actually healthy. She also claims that as a culture “we no longer discuss healthy eating without also discussing healthy weights. Due to Maxfield’s claim that as a culture, we do not make conscious dieting decisions about healthy foods and normal weight, I disagree with that for a few reasons. There are many people in America that are health conscious, and some people truly have their own knowledge about what is healthy weight and a healthy diet. In my own personal experiences, I have met an abundance of people who are health conscious. By health conscious I mean, people who knows exactly what processed food does to the body and also what is an average or healthy weight limit. I personally believe that they reject the obese American’s diet, simply because they are fit and in great health. My friends who are health conscious have also tried to get me into changing my diet, and consuming better things instead of the average southern diet. There are other Americans who truly have knowledge about different foods. Whether or not they should be vegan, vegetarian or just an …show more content…
Some have similar to others, but the majority make their own decisions. You cannot classify or put a nation of people in a box, and have a legitimate claim. To say that “We do not discuss healthy habits or limitations”, without proper facts and statistics is absurd and would definitely make that an opinion statement. If Maxfield was to actually go out and take a poll on how many people either eat healthy or select unhealthy foods, then to have it published that would aid her claim significantly. While it is true that Americans are either overweight or obese, it does not and cannot define us all, as an
Mary Maxfield wrote her essay as a response to Michael Pollan’s essay on the western diet. Maxfield does not believe we should see food as what we can or cannot have, but to trust our instincts that our bodies will know what they need, which is contrary to Pollan’s article. Maxfield says that she does not believe that there is a correlation between weight, diet and health, which is also contradictory of Pollan. She believes that the body will naturally crave what it needs and you should let your body have what it wants because of this. Maxfield is targeting those interested in the real diet issue (possibly writers) and the Americans looking to make a difference in their diets.
In Michael Pollan’s essay “Escape from the Western Diet,” he directly to Americans about the western diet and why he believes they need to escape from it. The reason Americans should escape the western diet is to avoid the harmful effects associated with it such as “western diseases” (Pollan, 420). To support his view on the issue, Pollan describes factors of the western diet that dictate what Americans believe they should eat. These factors include scientists with their theories of nutritionist, the food industry supporting the theories by making products, and the health industry making medication to support those same theories. Overall, Pollan feels that in order to escape this diet, people need to get the idea of it out of their heads.
Michael Pollan’s “Escape from the Western Diet,” is used to directly talk to Americans about the western diet and how he believes they should escape from it. His main point is that we should escape to avoid the harmful effects associated with it such as “western diseases” (Pollan, 420). Then he goes on to describes what Americans believe they should be eating and how they don’t even seem to care. They are nutritionist with their theories, the food industry supporting the theories by new healthy products, and the health industry reaping the reward by making medication to support those same theories. For Americans to escape this diet, they must get the idea of it out of their heads.
People should become aware of the realities about the foods that they are eating because while eating fast food instead of having to take the time to cook a meal may seem like a good idea, the body things otherwise. In Wendell Berry's article,”the pleasures of eating,” Berry claims we do not pay attention to the foods we eat, making us eat foods that are quick and processed more often than we should. In his article, Berry lets us know that it is crucial to know what our food is made up of and where it comes from, he explains that instead of consuming processed foods, it may be a better choice to grow food instead.(Berry) Michael Pollan in “When a Crop Becomes a King” addresses the fact that nearly the entire food industry uses corn and corn
In “Food as Thought: Resisting the Moralization of Eating,” Mary Maxfield wrote about the reason behind being overweight in America. She stated the “mistakes” Americans make when it comes to eating healthy. Maxfield, also stated
In the first article “Resisting the Moralization of Eating”, by Mary Maxfeild she ¬argues many things against the other author Michael Pollan about how we need to change how the American people eat, and how the government needs to handle obesity better in the United States. This portrays to the other article “Escape from the Western Diet” by Michael Pollan in many ways, as well as many challenges. “The challenge we face today is figuring out how to escape the worst elements of the Western diet and lifestyle without going back to the bush” (Pollan 437). In this paper I will go over many subtopics including: Obesity, health, and food.
Fat acceptance: A basic primer Critique essay Cynara Geissler’s article “Fat Acceptance: A Basic Primer” was first published in Geez Magazine in 2013. Geissler addresses a lot of issues about fat acceptance and how it is affecting our society and people’s attitudes towards over-weight people. One of the reasons why Geissler thinks that is because many health industries now days have a slogan “Thinner is better” and that makes over-weight people seem lazy or just not willing to put the effort to become better. Most importantly Geissler mentions that health industries and causing people to make a negative attitude towards overweight people which can be seen.
I believe that Micheal Pollan has described the bad habbits that the typical Americans do in majority of the time by mistaking fast foods with the whole healthy foods because lack of time or lifestyle. In the Michael Pollans argument about the "Western Diet" he informs that the majority of the American population about the western diet and believes that they need to get away from it, but it's for their own better health that many of us sometimes forget or don't even pay attention to it. There's many factors that the reasons Americans should get away from it is only to avoid the harmful chemicals we eat from a plain cheeseburger or fries and that effects our metabolism to get worse associated with it as the "western diseases" (page 433) Micheal Pollan has said.
Health Factors of a Caucasian-American Reflecting on the Caucasian-American culture required for me to first look into what my culture actually entails. In this paper I will discuss what elements of my culture are beneficial as well as detrimental to my health, the health disparities that my culture faces, what about my culture causes those disparities, and how society contributes to these disparities. Only upon this analysis of my culture and myself will I truly understand the health risks of being a Caucasian-American. The main benefit of being a Caucasian-American is that we have access to great medical care.
On a differing take on the solution, “Escape from the Western Diet” by Michael Pollan provides the complete change of our diet and way of life based around cooking and eating meals. however creates a more powerful and logical argument against the “Western Diet” in his article, He uses a combination of his credibility from his publications on health and foods, evidence against the practices of the medical community, along with his solution to the issue of obesity to create an article that draws in audience’s emotions and rationale. Pollan’s strongest points in his article was the use of credibility and his ability to bring logic and reason to most of his points against medical society and the publics solution to obesity. Pollan comes in with a stronger
America Goes on a Diet! As generations go on, the human population has become more aware and creative with what we consume on a daily basis. The idea of the United States placing first with the highest obesity percentage may be debatable. Although, giving the government permission to regulate our diet will have more benefits to our society than harm. Such as, continuous end to our unhealthy habits, an increase in graduates, and a more energetic and motivated society.
The Government’s Influence on America’s Diet The United States was founded to be a “City on a Hill.” The founders wanted other countries to look up to them. Although this idea still remains, it isn’t as greatly looked upon as it was when the founders made this nation. The government is trying to make it shine as bright as it did in its earlier years.
“In the past, eating disorders were generally considered to be confined to young white females from middle-to-upper class families living in Western societies” (Caradas 112). Both studies exploit the false stereotypes associated with eating disorders and culture. Both parties believe that non Western cultures are being influenced by the “slim is beautiful” idea. Each view points out the false misconception that non Western cultures traditional ideas of being thick is related to health is protecting them from eating disorders. Studies prove all ethnicities have shown concern towards body shape and eating attitudes in recent years around the
The sociological imagination on food In this assignment I am going to talk about the sociological imagination on food and the aspects it brings with it. Before starting that large process I firstly will explain what the social imagination is and what the key points of the imagination are in able to fully understand the topic; food and its history, biography, and the relation it has in society. This is my first assignment for the module understanding contemporary society so please bear with me as I will do my best to explain it in a logic manner so everybody can understand it.
Moralizing nutrition is not healthy for people or society, but society does have a responsibility to provide accurate information concerning food. Maxfield believes that, weight, diet and health have no correlation. Meaning that there are more components to health then just what you eat. I agree with maxfield on that because there are so many factors to consider when talking about health. Not only does shaming people out of eating not work, but it also causes long term harm.