Three-Day Reflection Comments: My Daily Food Consumption - Paper Example

My three-day food acquisition can be said to be of unhealthy aspects. Unhealthy aspect is seen where my daily consumption is not inclusive of a full balanced diet because not all dietary supplements are consumed. My food consumption seems to be based more on protein, sugars, and starch resulting to fewer nutrients, vitamin, iron, and other foods. In addition, most foods are those that add less value to the body and result to high cholesterol which is unhealthy. The diet is also unhealthy due to less water consumption and intake of supplements which is dangerous especially if its not medically prescribed.

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Introduction and methods

I conducted my food acquisition by first identifying the foods that I consume in my day to day life. Having done this I decided to acquire some of the foods from their respective places. I began by first visiting the market where there are a number of groceries; from there I picked some apples and bananas. Secondly, I visited a chemist located downtown where I pick my supplements, from the chemist I gave a list of the supplements I wanted which were later given to me after payment was made. In addition, I went to the store which is a few blocks from where I live there I acquired some commodities such as milk, cereals, eggs and toast. The other foods were acquired randomly via friends and family and when I made food stopover.

Sourcing my diary was conducted in different ways example before sleeping I would recall and note down, at times I would scribble down on a piece of paper whenever I ate and I came up with a reminder that reminded me to record the information in my diary. Identifying the manufacturer, origin and the place the food was grown was done in different ways. In some commodities, I would get the information from the packaging box. Other commodities I had to research further via Google and sometimes I would ask the seller.

There were, however, some methodological challenges and problems one was time consumption which occurred before bedtime when I had to write down my diary before sleeping. Some commodity sellers would ignore my questions and send me off. The research part was also a little difficult for I had to dig deeper to get the information. Forgetting to update my diary was at first a problem since it had occurred a few times but after coming up with the method of setting a reminder the challenge was no longer there. Procrastination was also a challenge where I would postpone on when recording my foods in my diary but at last, I was able to complete the recording.

Reflection

Lamb chops are usually acquired from restaurants where chefs cook it and people order. The food is also acquired from the market in this case butcherys that usually get them from slaughterhouses. The slaughter houses are believed to get their products from farms as well as the animal keepers. Lamb chops come from lambs other live stocks such as goats and cows have always been domesticated animals. They were first domesticated during the Stone Age period where man reared livestock till to date (Lee, 1968). However, it is believed that domesticated animals have a higher cholesterol ratio compared to wild animals that have a high protein ratio. Lamb chops are not as cheap as they sound instead they are slightly pricey due to their availability and method used to cook them.

Snacks such as hot dogs are usually inclusive of animal products such as sausages which can be obtained from beef, poultry or pig. However, some religions and cultures have adopted taboos over pig foods thus they can only consume other products (Allison, 1991). Hotdogs are commonly acquired from street vendors, as well as food joints. They come from the animal products which are processed in their respective companies and then sold to the market. The con that comes with the sausage is from bakerys which get their main component from maize in this case flour, dough. The con is also baked and sold to the market where a mixture of both forms a hotdog. The cost of hotdogs is slightly high due to its many constituents.

Chocolate is also a beverage in my diary, chocolate can be said to fall under the group of cash crops. Chocolate is readily acquired in hotels and restaurants. It can also be acquired in powder form from any convenient store. While in powder form one can add water and sugar or any other item so as to make the beverage out of it. Chocolate comes from Cash crops considered to have originated from ecological food technology which been manufactured in industries converting them to beverage products (Pelto, et al). Chocolate was originally introduced for medical purpose in places such as Texas. Chocolate was consumed after one had swallowed ill-tasting drugs so as to establish a sweet feeling. Later after that, it spread to England where it was sold and refined at high costs due to the fact that it was considered a classy drink. Chocolate was thus an exotic drink till today where it costs higher than normal tea and has spread all over the world.

Seafood is acquired from the market, seafood butcheries, and Chinese, Japanese restaurants. They can also be acquired from a supermarket where they are sold in cans and in their raw form.Some people can associate the origin of seafood to Japan due to the many fisheries whereas others can go back to Early Man who also consumed seafood. Seafood is prepared and harvested in different ways resulting to their expensiveness (Theodore 2005). The seafood has also brought about socio-cultural beliefs where some sea foods are considered a taboo whereas others add nutritional value as well as brain effectiveness.

Milk is considered a food and beverage which acquired from food stores, dairy shops, and dairy companies. Milk originally came from all animals as well as human beings. Breastfeed milk has been said to be an important part in a young one as well as the mother. It is now in this current state as well as the future that breastfeeding has been said to help minimize cancer risks for the mother. In addition, most countries in Africa have had children suffering from diseases such as night blindness due to inadequate breastfeeding (Blum, 2004). A scientist has, however, recommended that milk provides fitness thus it is affordable to all people. Milk is also a source of calcium which has helped in many body functions such as teeth formation. Milk has also created other products such as ice-cream and yogurt which is also affordable.

The sandwich is one of the locally available snacks that can be made from home or any other place. A sandwich can be said to have its origin from different backgrounds due to its constituents such as vegetables and bread. Bread uses flour as well as dough which are refined from maize. Maize a staple food in some countries in Africa, as well as an animal feed, has resulted in the production of bread. Just like cassava, maize has to be analyzed or additionally processed before consumption (Pelto, et al). They tend to have a poisonous part which can result in death, however; most foods made from flour, dough are at affordable prices.

Vegetables are also part of a sandwich which is known to add nutrients, vitamins and prevent illnesses in human beings. Some vegetables are consumed by not only humans but also animals. They can be said to have originated back in Africa during the Stone Age period where the man decided to practice subsistence farming. The man had to come up with food and this planting developed to agricultural a practice which is now in every part if the world USA included (Pelto, et al). Vegetables are sold at different prices depending on what type of vegetable it is. The common vegetables are affordable but the technologically processed are slightly expensive.

Lastly are the fruits which are acquired from groceries as well as local markets. Fruits originated from the forest which goes back to Stone Age period. The early man practiced subsistence farming he figured out which fruits could be ingested by human beings. This later became a common practice that developed and resulted in a variety of fruits. Most countries all over the world take part in agriculture which has been the major source of fruits. However some areas like the Kalahari who are not developed still pick fruits from the forest a common practice to them known as gathering (Lee, 2004). Fruits are readily offered at different prices both cheap and expensive. This is because some are seasonal and some ecologically processed.

Conclusion

All foods have a specific origin as well as their area of manufacturing or processing. Due to the diversity and migration of different people from different cultures food has been diversified resulting in many types of foods. Most foods add nutritional value to the body and as for some if consumed in larger quantity result to diseases (Pelto, et al). Foods are now available in stores, markets, food joints as well as the streets. It is thus clear that with such adequate varieties to choose from I must try and come up with a healthy balanced diet. This is because junk foods are more luring, available and addictive compared to the healthy foods. I should also watch my cholesterol levels as well as too much protein. I have also decided that I will come up with a food timetable so that I can have a healthy meal. Identifying myself with the origin of the food as well as paying attention to the price will be a newly acquired behavior for me. This is because I have learned a lot, as well as I, can economize and watch my foods spending.

Findings of the Appendices

In my three day diary, my major food intakes were beverages, starch, and carbohydrates. This shows that my cholesterol levels were increased and that I paid less attention to the nutritious foods. My diet was not completely balanced because the foods were not well ingested. This shows that my diet is unhealthy and I should try work on it as well as try equalizing the food ratios. (Refer from appendix 1) It is also clear that I mostly consumed food from outside compared to the homemade food. The findings show that much of my food was either from restaurants, street food or cafeterias as well as other food joints. In addition, I also acquired food from convenient stores this was mostly able to cater for my breakfast and dinner ensuring that I did not starve. (Refer from appendix two)

References

Allison, A. (1991). Japanese mothers and obentos (pp. 204-230). Routledge, London.

Blum, L. S., Pelto, G. H., & Pelto, P. J. (2004). Coping with a nutrient deficiency: cultural models of vitamin A deficiency in northern Niger. Medical anthropology, 23(3), 366-395.

Lee, R. B. (1968). What hunters do for a living, or, how to make out with scarce resources. Man the hunter, 60-81

Pelto, G. H., Goodman, A. H., & Dufour, D. L. (2000). The biocultural perspective in nutritional anthropology. Nutritional anthropology: Biocultural perspectives on food and nutrition, 1-9.

Theodore C Bestor (2005) How sushi went global