Popular Food Culture: Shaping Who We Are

Episode 1: “Food, Nutrition, Health, and the Anti-Wellness Society”

Greetings…let me begin at the beginning…and take you through your day...

A day without orange juice is like a day without sunshine

You can… double your pleasure, double your fun…

But, don’t leave home without it And you can… be all that you can be…

Then, Just do it And… have it your way when…  it’s the Real Thing…

Because it takes a tough man to make a tender chicken…

And… we do chicken right…Because… nothing says lovin like something from the oven…the toaster oven….Mmm, Mmm Good But… watch out for the Snap. Crackle. Pop.

Oh, and… when you give your kids frosted-strawberry pop tarts.. you will rise and they will shine…..and… They’re Grrrrreat!! so…Where’s the beef ? With 57 varieties… Betcha can’t eat just one… And… it’s good to the last drop….Besides… it’s kid tested, mother approved,  And… you deserve a break today While… I’m Lovin it… and… You’ve come a long way, baby…When… the milk chocolate melts in your mouth, but not in your hand!

So…Nobody better lay a Finger on my….__butterfinger__ And…..we can ALL HAVE:

Two---all-beef-patties-special-sauce-lettuce-cheese-pickles-onions-on-a-sesame-seed--bun ….

….for dinner tonight!!!

Those are the words of slick advertisers who WORK to make you remember their slogans for a very long time. Some you even sing to yourself -days after you see and hear them on TV or Radio or the Internet. And they REPEAT, and REPEAT, and REPEAT. And MOST of them about…..FOOD! SODA! And BEER!

According to the author of FAST FOOD NATION…Eric Schlosser,

In 1970, in the United States ,  people spent about $6 billion on fast food…

But in the year 2012, we spent $168 billion on fast food.

Last year the FDA spent approx. $1.5 million on the Five-a-Day healthy eating campaign.

Five fruits and vegetables a day (No… fruit roll-ups do not count!)

Color Your Way to 5-A-Day---More Color More Health!  (you recognize that right?)

Growing up you may have been told to eat your greens, but what about your reds, oranges, yellows and blues? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the 5 A Day Partnership encourages YOU to "Sample the Spectrum" of colorful vegetables and fruits. By putting some color on your plate or in your lunch bag, you are more likely to eat the 5 to 9 recommended servings of vegetables and fruit each day. Just think: 1 cup of leafy GREENS, ½ cup of BLUE tomatoes, ½ cup of YELLOW or RED peppers, 6 oz. ORANGE juice and ½ cup of BLUEberries. And you have

That “CAMPAIGN” for “5-A-day” is what $1.5 million buys for you in the world of advertising. Well, last year the McDonald’s corporation spent $2 Billion on advertising.

The following statistics are offered by Eric Schlosser: Fast Food Nation (the Dark Side of the All-American Meal)

* In 1968 there were about 1,000 McDonald's in the United States;                  today there are more than 30,000 worldwide.

* McDonald's is the largest purchaser of potatoes in the U.S.

* McDonald's is the largest purchaser of beef and pork in the U.S.

* McDonald's is the second-largest purchaser of chicken in the U.S.

* McDonald’s is the largest purchaser of playground equipment in the U.S.

* Today, McDonald's is the largest private employer in Brazil. 

Which one do you think kids in our elementary schools notice…

“Get your 5-A-day”  OR,  “I’m Lovin It” ??

We live in an Anti-Wellness Society because, in our Culture we produce the most unhealthy foods….and SELL them at VERY LOW COST!….while the healthiest foods we produce are always much more expensive (Organic)  What’s wrong with this picture?

Stay Tuned for Episode 2….

Eat Well…Shop Wisely....Stay Healthy!

 Shop at the South Windsor Farmers Market 2013--Winter Season

10am to 1pm, AT: St. Margaret Mary Church Hall, 80 Hayes Rd.

EVERY Saturday Thru Dec 21.

Find us on Facebook: South Windsor Farmers Market

Webpage: swfood.org

* The South Windsor FOOD Alliance: Sub-Committee of the SW Park & Recreation Commission