| Author(s): Starwynd Panther
Date: 22 April 08 C16. Give up all fast food from April 1-18. Note any changes in your health, weight, or energy level. What does the fast food industry have to do with the Earth’s health? Write a 1+-page piece describing your physical findings and your discoveries. Bonus points: watch or rewatch the film Supersize Me. Inclulde your impressions of this film in your report. Trial by French Fry Giving up fast food is something that I have done before, but I suppose I defined “fast food” somewhat narrowly. This time, I have truly done what I can to stay away from the wider definition of “fast food.” I have introduced yogurt into my diet in an attempt to not only eat healthier, but boost my immune system. In the time that I have avoided fast food, I have noticed that my body has grown more accustomed to the nutrients from a steady diet of healthier foods and when I stray towards those of a less healthy variety, my body begins to crave those nutrients in their healthier forms. Also, my pattern of eating has changed. Where I would eat three meals a day, now, I eat every two to three hours, as long as my schedule permits it. My portion sizes, however, have decreased. This increases my metabolism and gives me energy. I can hardly finish a dinner portion now without feeling overly full. I have also noticed that I am terribly lethargic if I do not eat breakfast and furthermore, what I eat for breakfast affects my energy throughout the day. Yogurt gives me more energy than cereal, it seems. A piece of fruit also works pretty well. I have been trying more and more to train myself to eat something in the morning before the hour commute to work. It’s become a vital part of my level of alertness throughout the day. The change in diet has also manifested in physicality that is visible to the eye. I can see the results of poor eating habits as soon as the next day. Perhaps that’s psychological, but when I eat correctly, I will usually wake up the next day and look in the mirror and I appear thinner. I believe that this is because I have a smaller frame to begin with allowing for a greater discrepancy between resulting appearances. I believe that poor eating habits lead to poor health, not just on the part of the individual, but globally. Portion sizes are growing, leading to a demand for more food, which depletes the Earth’s resources at a greater rate than they can be replenished. In addition, the method of processing much of the fast foods we crave release harmful pollutants and toxins into the air. While organic farming is not a perfect solution, it is a step in the right direction as it is friendlier to the ecosystem and more energy efficient. Changing our eating habits would enable an improvement in overall health. Supersize Me Review: I ended up watching the film Supersize Me towards the final period of this challenge. Although I had little difficulty avoiding fast food throughout this period (New York has many options regarding food), Supersize Me would have been that extra incentive to stay away. I was disgusted with the information that the film provided; especially, the attitude of the GMA towards the increasing problem of obesity and their responsibilities as part of the problem. Easily, one of the most graphic scenes for me was the process by which they make the chicken nuggets. My friends and I have often joked about what goes into the chicken nuggets, but knowing the truth, there’s nothing humorous about it. We all know that fast food is bad for us, but I never realized the magnitude of damage that comes from eating fast food. It was eye-opening. |
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c16 (swp) |