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In conjunction with the Center for Environment, Economy and Society of Columbia University and Ms. Kim Baker we are studying issues regarding our contemporary food culture. We are particularly focused on food justice, food deserts and the fast food industry.We will be blogging to report our learning and observations. Keep an eye on our blog as we examine critical issues regarding our societal relationship to food and nutrition.

Blog Entry #5 - A Summary

Blog entry #5- In Class 812 at the Secondary School for Journalism (SSJ) we have spent the last two months examining issues around food. We have been doing this in conjunction with the Center for Economy, Environment, and Society (CEES) of Columbia University and Ms. Kim Baker. We were concerned with studying food deserts, and the growth and prevalence of the fast food industry, and the effects both of these problems have on the health of Americans. We also looked at the possibilities for a healthier lifestyle and how we might change our diets and also how we might encourage healthier alternatives for those around us.

As part of our study we watched “Super Size Me”, which is about a film maker who spent a month eating McDonald’s food exclusively. We read Chew On This, which details the rise and practices of the American fast food industry. We read a variety of articles which described the relationship we have with food as a society and the way government wants us to live one way but then promotes food which is bad for us.

We did most of our work in Room 300 at SSJ, but we had an opportunity to take our work out of the classroom. We looked at our neighborhoods to determine whether or not we lived in food deserts ourselves. Many of us live in neighborhoods where it is hard to get fresh real food. We took a trip to the Union Square Greenmarket where we had an opportunity to try fresh local food and learn about the benefits of buying food from neighboring farms. We kept food journals to make us more mindful of where and how we eat. And yet we still have a taste and desire for fast food. Hopefully we will use what we have learned to change our behavior…

GREENMARKET TRIP!

The trip to the greenmarket was fun. There was cookies that were really big.And the brownies were small but good.The trip was very informational but okay.We got to ask the farmers questions about their farms. We got to try different foods and fruits, learn about the different types of potatoes.

We had a trip to a green market. We learned new things and also reviewed stuff we all knew. But before going to the food/green market we did a chart about what we know and what we wanna. At the green market sarah was answering our questions and telling us the diffences between green markets nd super markets/other places. I feel like this helped us with our health.
What I learned at the food market was that the farmers come from miles away to do what they got to do. Another thing that I learned was that the farmers have to look at every fruit and veggie to take any bugs off and keep them fresh. This things are important especially the buds off the fruit and veggie because we eat them and in order for them to sell them they need to keep them fresh and good to eat. The farmers always like to have their fruits and vegetable fresh.
The thing that I like the best from the green market was the green sheet. We had to ask farmers questions and that was cool. The reason why it was the best thing from the green market its because we didnt know what the did when they w

green market

who: someone.
what: im going to talk about the trip to the green market.
when: february 16, 2011.
where: in class.
why: because i want people to know about green markets.

i learned so many things from the trip to the green market, and one thing i learned it
was about the apples and asian apples, and the other thing i learned is about how do they
make those brown eggs, i think they are important because they are useful in this
world like there healthy.

i like when we did the activity on the green market because it help me to better
understand about markets, and also when we were walking around the market to
see and to ask questions to the farmer's.

i feel that the market is a good idea for people who like to eat healthy that means
like if you want to eat healthy, you just go to a green market a you will find a lot of
healthy things to eat, this is your time.

My food manifesto is about what I would change and there's alot to change about our food in life. Like I would about my food life is to stop eating fast food and junk food. But to start eating healthy food more fruit and vegetable. Something else I would like to change is the school lunches because they don't give healthy food cause all they give is reheated food. Ooh yeah I really would like to change the fast food restaurants because there's to many of it and start putting healthy restaurants. The reason I would do this is because kids my age are over weight and so are adults.

food manifesto

Who: someone.
What: I'm going to talk about my food manifesto.
When: February 10, 2011.
Where: in class
Why: Because I want people to know what is a food manifesto.

Food manifesto: means to do a public declaration about foods.
My food manifesto is to eat less fast food, and to try to eat more healthy foods, so I cannot be in
risk to have a medical problem like obese, and also I didn't realize how much oil and fat I was
eating, but now I have to try to eat more healthy, I think that I eat more healthy in my
house than in school or in the street.

1. Ishould stop eating unhealthy foods like oil, and fat.
2. I should eat more in my house.
3. I should less fast foods.
4. I should encourage other people to eat healthy foods.
5. I should eat more healthy foods like salads, and more fruits.
6. I should stop eating McDonald's.

Our Food Future

A public declaration of the need to change our philosophical approach to food by Mark Bittman:

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/01/a-food-manifesto-for-the-future/