Updated 5/20/13
Food Project
This year the food project focused on answering one main question: “How does one navigate their own personal omnivore's dilemma in a world of abundant eating choices?” In essence this means how can one eat and choose to live healthily in a world full of unhealthy foods? Based on this main question each student picked a research topic that we felt adamant about and wrote an expository essay on it. My topic was food addiction and how it influences our brains.
The main connection I had with this project was finally understanding what food addiction really is. I’ve always been interested in why some people just can’t stop eating certain foods even though they know how unhealthy it is. In the beginning, I thought you were addicted only by sugary foods but it turns out that you could also be addicted to healthy foods as well (for example, salad). I found the saying “too much of a good thing is bad” is very true. If you were only to eat meat, your body would be lacking all the nutrients it needs from vegetables and fruit. Hence, the omnivore needs a very balanced meal, not just meat or greens. The eating goals I hope to pursue is to eat a very balanced meal with the correct amount of nutrients from each food group with only the occasional sugar product. I also hope to eat all organic, GMO free, locally grown food.
Personally, the most challenging aspect of this project was finding reliable resources that provided scientific information about how our brains react to food addiction. In the beginning, I watched some documentaries about recovering from food addiction and how to avoid it, but there was nothing about the science behind the addiction. As a result, I began searching “food addiction and our brain, how the brain reacts to addiction, science of addiction” and other similar phrases. Eventually, I came to a website that seemed to offer a large wealth of science journals about food addiction, but you had to be a paid member in order to access them. The website seemed to be trustworthy so I signed up. Long story short, it was a scam for money. I was back to square one and ready to give up. However, I stumbled upon an online library that had every source in the world that I could ever possibly need. I personally believe that this reinforces the art of perseverance and to never give up when things are looking down.
I have found that my writing process is very structured and organized. First, I choose my topic, then I go and research as much as I can. It doesn’t matter if I get more sources than I need, because it gives me the option to pick and choose the facts I wish to include. I then organize my research in an outline. Next, I write my paper and then edit, revise, edit, and revise again. If I could change a part of my process, I would opt for better research skills. This would allow me to spend less time wading through sources that I won’t be using. If I was to approach this assignment or any other large writing assignment again I would definitely like to be allowed more time. This would enable me to perform better research so I could go into more detail and would allow me to revise my paper to a higher degree.
My answer the question of how does one navigate their own omnivore’s dilemma is to do as much research as possible and get informed. Go online and search for GMO and processed food facts and learn about how the animals are raised. This research allows one to form their own opinions about todays food. If you decide to eat organic, research the nearest local farmer’s market and organic food stores. If price is a problem for you, then buy half organic meals (i.e. organic meat and vegetables, but processed dairy products). Also, do some research into desserts and sugar products. Try to find desserts that taste good but aren’t high in sweets (i.e. fruit and yogurt). To wrap things up, people are entitled to their own opinions and choices, but they should know all of the facts first.
The main connection I had with this project was finally understanding what food addiction really is. I’ve always been interested in why some people just can’t stop eating certain foods even though they know how unhealthy it is. In the beginning, I thought you were addicted only by sugary foods but it turns out that you could also be addicted to healthy foods as well (for example, salad). I found the saying “too much of a good thing is bad” is very true. If you were only to eat meat, your body would be lacking all the nutrients it needs from vegetables and fruit. Hence, the omnivore needs a very balanced meal, not just meat or greens. The eating goals I hope to pursue is to eat a very balanced meal with the correct amount of nutrients from each food group with only the occasional sugar product. I also hope to eat all organic, GMO free, locally grown food.
Personally, the most challenging aspect of this project was finding reliable resources that provided scientific information about how our brains react to food addiction. In the beginning, I watched some documentaries about recovering from food addiction and how to avoid it, but there was nothing about the science behind the addiction. As a result, I began searching “food addiction and our brain, how the brain reacts to addiction, science of addiction” and other similar phrases. Eventually, I came to a website that seemed to offer a large wealth of science journals about food addiction, but you had to be a paid member in order to access them. The website seemed to be trustworthy so I signed up. Long story short, it was a scam for money. I was back to square one and ready to give up. However, I stumbled upon an online library that had every source in the world that I could ever possibly need. I personally believe that this reinforces the art of perseverance and to never give up when things are looking down.
I have found that my writing process is very structured and organized. First, I choose my topic, then I go and research as much as I can. It doesn’t matter if I get more sources than I need, because it gives me the option to pick and choose the facts I wish to include. I then organize my research in an outline. Next, I write my paper and then edit, revise, edit, and revise again. If I could change a part of my process, I would opt for better research skills. This would allow me to spend less time wading through sources that I won’t be using. If I was to approach this assignment or any other large writing assignment again I would definitely like to be allowed more time. This would enable me to perform better research so I could go into more detail and would allow me to revise my paper to a higher degree.
My answer the question of how does one navigate their own omnivore’s dilemma is to do as much research as possible and get informed. Go online and search for GMO and processed food facts and learn about how the animals are raised. This research allows one to form their own opinions about todays food. If you decide to eat organic, research the nearest local farmer’s market and organic food stores. If price is a problem for you, then buy half organic meals (i.e. organic meat and vegetables, but processed dairy products). Also, do some research into desserts and sugar products. Try to find desserts that taste good but aren’t high in sweets (i.e. fruit and yogurt). To wrap things up, people are entitled to their own opinions and choices, but they should know all of the facts first.
Abstract
This paper explores society’s addictive nature, and how those addictions drive us to over consume food. Food abuse is a result of biological, psychological, and sociological factors that drive our desires and induce altered chemical levels. If the act of overeating is persistent, it will cause the addict to overeat not because they are hungry, but because it’s a coping mechanism to deal with underlying issues or stress. Overeating is a dysfunctional mechanism that makes us feel better. It in turn causes more problems such as obesity, malnutrition, diabetes, and other health problems. Ultimately, the addict needs to learn how to cope with the triggers that induce over consumption and to deal with the underlying issues that induce binge eating.
To read the full essay CLICK HERE.
To read the full essay CLICK HERE.