The diet of social status Whether a person lives within high or low class in their social status, the socioeconomic factor can decide on one’s diet, along with one’s health plan. A family’s diet shows “how social class shapes our daily, face-to-face interactions—from casual exchanges to interactions at school, work, and home” (Fiske and Markus). Not many people can afford a particular diet, whether for religious reasons or a life changing personal decision. Similar to the vegan, vegetarian, Mediterranean, or other diets of their liking. Many who fall into the category of overweight and obese do not always have the privilege to live healthily, based off of expenses, however, a diet will determined by their environment, which continues the endless …show more content…
In distinction to purchasing a particular item, then to how it has cooked and prepared or rather takeout food, decides the families’ diet and even choices in food of what they consume. Whether the food cooks in olive oil, vegetable oil, or butter can determine the taste of a meal, but also can improve the health of the meal. The preparations made in order to prepare a meal for the family could perchance measure in convenience. The level of convenience can range around take-out, instant foods, TV dinners/ microwavable, and stuff from a box to healthy homemade/ from scratch, baked/cooked, steamed, and stuff from a can. Not that some convenient foods cannot originally contain good health contents, nonetheless the small changes that can make someone’s food intake much healthier even with a small budget. When purchasing grocery items with a low income, whether an item according to a good healthy diet compares with an item that consists of a bad nutritional value. Parents will purchase the unhealthy choice deceived for its promise to satisfy their children, however, a similar item that stands healthier with the same weighed oz. will fill the proper nutrients that a child needs while they still proceed to grow, unlike processed foods that can fatten a child and stunt their
In her essay, “Food’s Class Warfare,” author Tracie McMillan promotes the inclusion of both “individual changes and structural ones” (217), particularly “class consciousness” (217), in the fight for quality diets in America. She reveals the most common sides of the healthy food debate as the inherent “just-buy-better stuff logic” (215) and the opposing “structural challenges of eating well” (215). The main strategies for defeating the American “obesity epidemic” (216) have been reaching out to the individual, as well as changing the structure of the American food system itself. The favorite concept for structuralists is “food deserts - neighborhoods with insufficient grocery stores and thus insufficient supplies of healthy food” (216). She deems the concept insufficient in practice, as it ignores smaller markets and equates large stores with a healthy food source. While the individual viewpoint and structuralists argue with each other, they share common ideals. According to
In his essay “The American Paradox”, Michael Pollan illustrates his conclusion that Americans who focus on nutrition have a higher probability of decreasing their well-being. Pollan defines the American paradox as “a notably unhealthy population preoccupied with nutrition and the idea of eating healthily.” For most of our human history, our parents and culture have influenced our diet. However, today the idea of what to eat has been based on the opinions of scientists, food markets, and nutritionists. I agree with Pollan’s argument that being preoccupied with what we eat makes us unhealthy, however, we need a balance and a sense of responsibility in what we eat.
An important issue for Today is how can we make people pick the best nutritional option because giving the poor easy access to healthy food doesn’t mean they’ll buy It. For example, “In 2010, the Morrisania section of the Bronx
Although the two authors do not refer to each other directly in their works, both their perspectives share a common ground that no enough income make people eating less healthy. Pinsker argues that the actual barrier that stops people from eating healthy is the lack of income (129-130). He uses studies to show that poor families choose processed food because children like those tasty processed food (Pinsker 129-134). Whereas poor families cannot afford the waste if children refused to eat healthier but less tasty food parents provided (Pinsker 129-134). Cortright also suggests that income matters the most to why people do not eat healthy. He even further discusses income as the most influential limiting factor by addressing that other factors such as physical proximity to local food sources do not cause people to eat less healthy (Cortright 135-138). The two authors, in general, reach a consensus and mutually prove that income plays as the biggest limiting factor for people to have healthy
Without the proper resources, support, and access to healthier options, it becomes challenging for even the most determined person to make a change. The exercise made it evident that Jane would be more successful in her endeavour to lower her blood pressure than Joe would, because of the resources, support, and access than her higher economic status afford her. Sadly, as a result of such an unequal wealth distribution in America, many people are in Joe’s shoes; despite the desire to be healthier, they are unable to control their circumstances and surroundings or get the proper support to help them successfully improve their unhealthy habits or
In the article Unhappy Meals, Michael Pollan strongly believes that it is possible for an individual to live a healthier and better lifestyle through several tactics that he proposes in his article. However, Pollan 's measures are not effective in helping mothers and children in the lower socioeconomic status but rather helps better the health of those with high socioeconomic statuses. For instance, Pollan encourages avoiding foods that "your great-great-grandmother wouldn 't recognize as food...such as Go-Gurt, Breakfast-cereal bars and Nondairy creamer" (Pollan, 2007). Pollan does not take into consideration that "less educated persons with jobs that offer few opportunities for learning may have limited knowledge of the harm of unhealthy
Research proves that low-income families will shop wherever the food prices are lower, and generally cannot afford to pay for healthful foods. In comparison to the residents of higher income communities, low-income households normally have diets that are higher in meat and processed foods and often have low intakes of fruits and vegetables. Research suggests that people with low socioeconomic status spend up to 37% more on food. This is because of smaller weekly food budgets in addition to poorly stocked stores. Those with lower income are more likely to spend money on inexpensive fats and sugars versus fresh fruits and vegetables that are more costly on a per calorie basis. Healthy foods like whole grain products are more expensive than high calorie junk foods.
Nutrition and health have become more popular in today 's society. Our generation is becoming more and more indebted to the idea of being healthy and eating nutritious meals. However, in “The American Paradox,” by Michael Pollan he argues that our unhealthy population is preoccupied with nutrition and the idea of eating healthy than their actual health. He also mentions the food industry, nutrition science and how culture affects the way we eat and make food choices. While Pollan is right about all these factor that affect our eating habits, there is more to it than that. Convenience, affordability and social influence also affects our food choices making them inadequate.
Most Americans do not care enough to take a look at the nutritional values of the food that he or she is consuming. That is why America has the highest percentage of obesity in the world. This is a serious problem because one in every three adults is obese, and one in every six children is obese. There are many factors that go into the regular American diet, but most of those factors are not appealing nor is it healthy. Americans put way too much processed food into their daily diet. Some would say that other countries diets superior the American diet because of nutritional values that it carries. Other countries have proven that an active lifestyle is a huge element in the average weight of the country. There are many things that Americans could change about their diets and lifestyle that would help them to become healthier.
Food influences can be “grouped into five categories: cultural ideas, personal factors, resources, social factors and present contexts” (Jeffery Sobal & Carole A. Bisogni, 2009) Cultural influences set the frame work for behaviors shared by a group of people, these behaviors are a frame of reference to judge normal or right actions. Personal factors for eating include education and knowledge, lack of understanding of how to apply nutritional information does little in creating motivation to change eating habits. Resources can be a determinate in obtaining healthy food or organic food choices, low income groups often consume unhealthy food options and lack the means to shop for healthier food options like fresh fruit and vegetables. The social factors that affect eating are based on social class and social setting. The venue where food is consumed will dictate food choices and cost, in social settings food choices may be limited for people with dietary restrictions like vegetarians or food allergies. Social class is another factor affecting what we eat, there are marked differences between food consumption and experiences with social class; with one sector experiencing food insecurity and a limited food experience, while the other sector experiences food security and wider food
Obesity and overweight remain the two major social problems in the United States. Apart from the fact that obesity and overweight are dangerous by themselves, they also cause a variety of negative health consequences. Our lives our overloaded with tasks and obligations, and we often choose to eat something fast. “Fast”, however, does not necessarily imply “useful”, and more and more people face the risks of becoming obese even at young age. Because obesity has already become a national i...
Many people in America, from toddlers to the elderly, have shown numerous signs of bad health. People have the desire to keep on eating due to more, new things being merchandised as “new and improved items” from the producers. For example, nowadays, people are eating pure junk that they find satisfying on the grocery food shelf. As, stated by Michael Pollan, in his article, “Eat Food: Food Defined” he affirmed that “real food is the type of things that our
This problem is so much so that they require a different responsibility and even different collective actions of civic and even political standers to address (638).” Although healthy choices are more expensive, it is still a choice to enrich your body with responsible options. Obviously with less income, the less one can afford healthier sustenance so ultimately the choices go to the least costly foods and drinks, which sadly are the exact proponents that lead to obesity and health
It became so clear that junk foods lead to a punch of catastrophic diseases like obesity, type two diabetes, vascular diseases and cardiac disorders. Those kinds of diseases cost more than $150 billion annually, just to diagnose, treat people who suffer from them. That disease is chronic and leads to many health-related issues, for example, obesity considers a risk factor for type two diabetes, and high blood pressure, joint disorders and many others (The Denver Post 2012). The key of preventing many chronic problems is nutrition. Low income plays an important role of limiting most people to buy and eat a healthy diet and in the other hand, it is easy for people budgets to purchase junk foods. So controlling the prices of healthy foods to be suitable for all people make good nutrition available for everyone. Adequate diets mean decreasing the epidemic of those serious diseases, and stopping the spread and break the bad sequences that may happen. Long-term exposure to junk foods that are full with chemicals like additives, preservatives have led to chronic illnesses difficult to treat. Also, the chemical added to junk foods are tasted unique and made millions of people becoming addicted to them and are available everywhere for example in restaurants, cafes, lunchrooms (The Denver Post
A recent study has illuminated “the increasing prevalence of obesity during the past two decades correlates strongly with the increasing popularity of dining out” (Pinkowish). These findings make it imperative that we return to our traditional home cooked meals. The risk of obesity is far too great for anything to be worth it. For example, “obesity may lead to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain kinds of cancer or even a higher risk of premature death” (Wood). These are serious conditions caused by obesity. Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death and diabetes has many other side effects from the ailment. Another shocking statistic is that “25 percent of U.S. 4- to 8-year-olds will, on a typical day, eat fast food” (Wood). This rate is too high and there is no excuse for it. Our youth needs to be properly educated in food choices, and the parents of these children need to be aware of all the harmful effects of fast food. If habits are formed at an early age, then there is potential that no one will break these patterns. The rate at which obesity is increasing is largely preventable if we just cut back on fast food and make healthier home meals. The choice is