PART III: DIET FOR A SMALL PLANET REVISED
- Chapter 1 - America's Experimental Diet
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-During this chapter one comes to realize that Lappe is pointing out that more animal food and more processed food is the new way of the American diet. "Processed simply means that between the ground and our mouths someone takes out certain things and puts in other things -that aren't always good for us" (119).
-Over half of the fat in the American diet comes from animal foods and out of that amount one third comes directly from red meat.
-The most starling fact I found this chapter was about how every man, woman, and child in the U.S. consume one-third of a pound of sugar daily. Talk about gross! Think about a bag of sugar and really think how much that truly is. It's SICK!
-Toward the end of the chapter a discussion on what there is TOO much of in our diets now is brought up. We as a population are consuming too much sugar, salt, alcohol, calories; while in addition to too many additives, antibiotic residues, and pesticides.
-The chapter is ended with Lappe stating that all hope is not lost for America. We can edit our eating habits we just need to make some adjustments with our diets. A valid point is made from her "most important first step" idea --> change where you shop. If you shop at a large supermarket chain difficultly will be a problem when trying to find local and 'healthy'. However, if you shop at a community food center or a place like the Whole Foods Co-op in Duluth, you will not only have local choices but you will have a variety of healthy choices set in front of you. Therefore making your process a less challenging and difficult one for the everyday shopper.
- Chapter 2 - Who Asked for Fruit Loops?
-Lappe starts off this chapter (and is used throughout) with a quote used by a man she met at a party. He stated, "Well, don't blame the corporations. If people are stupid enough to eat junk food, they deserve to get sick. Naturally corporations are going to make what sells best." This set Lappe on a tangent that brought about the chapter and how we assume that people with a weak mind are always the target but Lappe doesn't believe this.
- The first portion of this chapter is spent discussing how major corporations have taken over smaller business and bought them out. Many of the consumers are clueless to the buyouts and continue to buy the typical foods not knowing they are supporting the larger conglomerate company.
-An example of this is a company named Beatrice Foods. This is a company who I've never heard of before as well as many Americans. However, this company has the rights to over 400 companies!! Tropicana, Milk Duds, Rosarita, La Choy, Swiss Miss, Mother's and Aunt Nellie's and even Samsonite and Airstream --> all are under the Beatrice company now. As a consumer myself I was shocked to read this! I use/ have used almost all of these products and have never heard of the name Beatrice once! Talk about a major company shock. I knew many companies had claim over other ones but I guess I never truly considered what the major coroporations were!
-There are major companies that control the sales of everything are Proctor and Gamble, Campbells, Kellogg's, General Foods, and General Mills. An ironic fact is that our major food corporations specificially Borden's, Nestle, General Foods, and Kellogg's once had set out to make people healthier. Dr. Kellogg was a strict vegetarian who developed the first wheat flakes; yet the company today now has two of the most sugared cereals. Along with the man who created General Mills or Postum wanted to free us all from the evils of caffeine; now they sell seven brands of coffee plus Pop Rocks. Talk about the double edged sword.
-It's sad to see how companies started off as looking out for the betterment of all mankind yet had succumbed to power and money after they became a booming company. They gave into the 'business' and forgot about the people.
- Chapter 3 - Protein Myths: A New Look
-This chapter really emphasizes the myth that a meat diet is the core of protein. It points out how we have been trained to think that meat the only way we can increase our protein intake. An illustration of different parts of the world shows that vegetables and other whole grains are the protein in their diets. Meats are the "sides" rather than the main meal.
- Chapter 4 - Protein Complementarity: The Debate (til pg 182)
-A focus on how much quantity we really need for our protein level is brought up. Most Americans think that eating more protein, or more meat, would be better for oneself. The realistic set of it is that a variety of protein is a good thing. Eating different amounts of protein enriched items will be a healthier choice than just focusing in on meat.
PART IV: LESSONS FOR THE LONG HAUL
- Chapter 1- What Can We Do?
-How we, as a nation, can make a change. We have to the come to the acknowledgment that the first step is the hardest. A friend of Lappe told her when she thought about the downfalls of writing this book and all the debates that would be argued about, "that's a pretty crummy reason for not doing something you believe in... just because other people don't think it's important. If you think it is important, make it important."
-I love her friend that encouraged her with this statement. How motivating to have a friend that pushes you to do something even if no one else believes it's meaningful. I think everyone needs someone like this embedded somewhere in their lives.
- Chapter 2 - How to Plug In (through page 199)
-I think this chapter is the most crucial. It discusses how to get going you need a positive support system. Every now and then you need to look around and find someone who believes in something just as important as you. Something they care about so deeply and that they are passionate about. Also how we can choose people to place in our lives from time to time that challenge us to take risks and explore different routes.
-It's extremely meaningful because without people to show you both sides of a topic you could remain in your own bubble not knowing anything different. Someone causes you to think outside of the box and you are enlightened to many different aspects and realms you might have never known if you didn't open your eyes.
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