Question

read about “Hungry for Change” ideas about how to improve our food system in the US. The link is at PBS, but there is more information on the Food Inc. website as well. Read through the list of suggested actions. Choose one of these actions and write about why this specific action interested you, if you think it is a good idea, and how it could change our food or health systems.

Answer 1

EAT LESS MEAT

Meat-based diets use more energy to produce than vegetarian diets, one study suggests twice as much.One serving of beef has more associated greenhouse gas emissions than 20 servings of vegetables. Meat production as it is widely practiced today also has significant environmental impacts on land use, water use and water pollution.

REDUCE WASTE

Much of household food waste is due to spoilage. Prevent food from going bad by buying smaller amounts; planning meals and sticking to shopping lists; and freezing, canning, or preserving extra produce.Direct-to-consumer meal kits are growing in popularity. By streamlining the supply chain, and reducing food waste and last-mile transportation, meal kits are responsible for 25% lower GHG emissions than a store bought meal.

USE LESS REFRIGERATION

Home refrigeration accounts for 13% of all energy consumed by our food system.Today’s convenience foods rely heavily on refrigeration for preservation.

EAT ORGANIC

Organic farms do not use chemicals that require large amounts of energy to produce, pollute soil and water, and present human health impacts. Sales of organic food in 2019 were 5.0% higher than in 2018; organic food now accounts for 5.8% of all food sold in the U.S.

Hungry for Change is a thought provoking documentary produced by James Colquhoun and Laurentine ten Bosch that delves into the implications of eating a modern diet. Using pathos, facts and figures, and association, Hungry for Change delivers a meritorious performance that engages viewers and leaves them questioning their own diet and lifestyle choices. The film’s use of rhetorical and advertising strategies and its ability to captivate viewers make this an effective, life changing documentary. As obesity and medical problems due to diet become a larger issue within society, it is imperative to educate humans on the importance of maintaining a healthy diet. This is exactly what Hungry for Change does.
As of 2012, “One third of all women and one quarter of all men in the US are on a diet.” (Colorado University, as cited in Colquhoun et al., 2012), according to Colorado University. However, according to the University of California, Los Angeles, “Up to two thirds of those on a diet regain more weight than when they started.” (University of California, Los Angeles, as cited in Colquhoun et al., 2012). This shows a low success rate in a growing industry and proves that diets don’t work, a key point in Hungry for Change. “Fit for Life” author, Harvey Diamond, states “Diets don’t work because they are temporary. What they are doing is taking one of the food categories you need to live like protein, fat, carbohydrates and one of those is eliminated and if you do that some weight will be lost temporarily.” (Diamond, as cited in Colquhoun et al., 2012). So, in order for a “diet” to be successful, it must be a permanent lifestyle transformation, not a temporary diet change. Also, though many people believe diet foods to be healthier, this is absolutely not the case.