Food and Dietary Needs for the 21st Generation Essay

Cheese is one of the products that is made from milk. Therefore, making it be both nutritious and healthy in the body. One of the products that I like to consume is the McAdams Sharp. This is a cheese product that is produced by one of the best companies in the United States. Having won several awards and remain the best Cheese manufacturers in the United States. Their products are made from milk and thus are both healthy and nutritious to consume. However, According to Pollan, this would be a food product rather than food. Pollan gives some metrics on which to qualify food (Bauer, pg. 13).

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The food product is one that is not food in the peripherals of the Supermarkets. This means that the food product cannot be classified as fresh food. Most of the cheese, yoghurts and other manufactured dairy products will not be found on the peripheral of the stores (Bauer, pg. 14). They will be usually found in ideal places where the customers can easily locate them. This disqualifies the food product according to Pollan's argument to be 'real' food. Moreover, the products can only be found at the supermarkets and other convenient stores. Pollan encourages people to get out of the supermarkets and look for foods from the farmers. This is because such foods are usually fresh and not 'imitations'.

The products also have got some health claims. It is said to be higher in calorie content and thus provides some great amounts of energy to the individuals after consumption. This according to Pollan are claims that are aimed at attracting many customers to buy the products but in real sense does not promote the health claims made. In this case, I would also concur with Pollan that McAdams Sharp cannot be classified as food but rather a food product (Bauer, pg.15-17).

The essay from Jill brings a new sense to the consumption that many people have indulged in. She speaks of the attraction of many people to the junk food. The Americans, in this case, have been glued to the consumption of the junk foods such as the ice creams, chocolates, and Coke. These are all foods that have got a high content of sugars. The foods are not both healthy for the body and have got no nutritious value in the body (Bauer, pg. 32).

Jill explains of her moment when she has felt awkward in the consumption of the junk foods. She narrates of the visit with her children where they complained that the cakes were not sweet and colored. She also narrates of how she felt sad after her appetite for Coke had been lost during her pregnancy.

The love for the food that can easily be prepared in the microwave for her is not something that is easy to reject. She views such as a fast mode of preparing food with less hustle. Her visit to her niece surprises her. At four years she is already accustomed to the culture junk food. She asks her if she would take a glass of Coke as she prepares food in the microwave. She has already joined the culture of the family. The love for the junk food (Bauer, pg. 34).My dietary attraction is different from those of atypical American diet. Most Americans diets are made up of the junk foods. They are considered to be fast to prepare. However, this is at the expense of the healthy values provided to the people. Many people despite this fact continue to cherish and consume the junk foods without consideration of their health. In my case, I prefer the consumption of vegetables and fruits all of the times. I visit the groceries, and my shopping cart is mostly made of the vegetables and the fruits. This is because they have got high nutritional value with vitamins and fibers. They have also got the natural fats which are important for the body in the intake of the fat-soluble vitamins. Health wise, the consumption of the junk foods may lead to some of the lifestyle conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiac arrest. To avoid all these conditions the solutions lies in eating healthy foods. Moreover, the cancer cells are always attracted by the sugars. Therefore, the consumption of junk foods in the long-run may lead to cancer.

The essay by Berry sheds light on how different individuals continue to consume foods that they do not understand their origin or even how they have been produced. The conditions have even worsened with the increase in the technology. People have continued to be busy, and consumption of food is viewed as a 'waste of time'. People are always in a hurry to consume food.

The manufactures have also become unethical where to them the processed food that is provided to the consumers have got no health concern. The manufactures are always concerned with increasing their profits and the amount of products that they produce at a particular time (Bauer, pg. 47). Increased competition in the food industry has forced some of the manufacturers to use dubious means to attract customers and make huge profits. This may include the use of even some of the ingredients that might be harmful to the human beings.

Berry criticizes the farming practices that take place. He would be even more displeased with the current farming practices that take place. There is less or no organic farming that takes place. The farmers use machinery, and fertilizers in this farming which 'work easier' (Bauer, pg.50-51). There is also a lot of genetically modified crops that have been developed. These are the crops that can be able to withstand harsh climatic conditions and also grow at a fast rate. However, research has proved that most of these crops and animals that have been genetically modified have been a major cause of cancer and other chronic illnesses.

The consumers have also remained less concerned with the process but are attracted to the product. Most regulating organizations such as FDA also have little concern on the advertisement that takes place. Even more, some of the advertisement is only intended to lure the consumers to purchase the products. Most of them have continued to have false health claims which the regulating body has not refuted.

My Aphorism for the 21st Generation

Those who eat first can save more time for other 'beneficial activities'. Therefore, eating should be considered as a side activity in life and more of less importance.

Eating the junk food is a save of time and costs. There is less hustle in the preparation and the consumption of the foods.

Specialization and technology in the food industry ensure that one takes part only in that they are good at. Farmers do their farming; the teachers do their teaching and the manufacture process the foods.

The aphorism is ironic of the situation in the 21st Century. People are so busy that some of the activities that are important in life have been neglected such as good health. It is the high time that the 21st generation rethinks of its priorities ((Bauer, pg.68). Many people continue to die off so conditions which could have rather been avoided through the consumption of the right types of food.

The future should be graced with good health. It begins with one making an effort to understand that which is right to consume and its origin. Individual health is one responsibility, and failure to take care of one's health may have some detrimental result. The government through the regulating bodies should monitor that which is provided to the consumers.

Works Cited

Bauer, Holly. Food Matters: A Bedford Spotlight Reader. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2017. Print.