The Role of Food Essay Example for Free

The Role of Food Essay According to my Nutrition through the Life Cycle textbook, food is an essential need for humans and provides nutrients, energy in the form of calories, and other substances that are necessary for both good health and growth (Brown, 2). Even though this concept is very straightforward and well known among everyone, it is important to understand that there is more to food than meets the eye. Besides its vital role in ensuring that the energy demands of the human body’s continuous physiological processes is met, food can be very symbolic and capable of fulfilling a large variety of roles in an individual’s life. When examining the role of food in terms of the life cycle of an individual, it is important to note that it is always changing and will be different based on the person. In addition to satisfying our personal nutrition requirements, food is capable of revealing our individual characteristics, personal values, or even valuable information about our society as a whole. Out of the many different stages of the life cycle, there will be three stages in particular that I will be focusing on; they are: childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Childhood is often one of the most fun, memorable, and enjoyable stages of an individual’s life. Not only is it a time when an individual begins to build upon the knowledge they’ve acquired from toddlerhood; it is a time when a large number of friends can be made. This leads to one of the many roles food can serve in this stage of life, which is its role in the act of establishing and maintaining friendships. One perfect example of this role in action is during lunch hour in school. When it is time for lunch at school, all of the children congregate together and have the opportunity to socially interact and bond with one another while eating. At this time, children may even offer a portion of their lunch to their peers and use that moment as an opportunity to converse with others and establish friendships that may last a lifetime. In addition to having a social role, food can serve as a learning aid for the child when it comes to defining the traditions and heritage of their family. Parents often expose and introduce family traditions or specific items passed down from previous generations to their children; which may involve food. For example, a certain type of food or recipe (such as a special homemade cake or pie) that is significant or symbolic to a family can be passed down from the parents and presented to their child. Once the child is introduced to this specific kind of food, they will obtain and learn valuable information pertaining to the overall uniqueness, identity, history, and values of their own family. This information contributes significantly to the development of the child’s personal identity in future stages of their life cycle (such as adulthood) as well as their self-worth. Adolescence can be quite a hectic (but memorable) stage in an individual’s life. Just like how the overall way of life around this time has changed, the role food plays in this part of the life cycle has as well. At this point in time, food can often be used to relieve stress or be used as an aid to cope with the challenges life brings. For example, a teenager may binge on chips, cookies, and ice cream to help alleviate the stress of applying to colleges or studying for any upcoming exams that they have. Even though this method of dealing with stress isn’t necessarily the best way, I believe it is fairly common. I know I definitely used food as a coping mechanism during my adolescent years; but I have changed my ways and no longer do so. At this stage of the life cycle, not only does food play a role in stress relief, it also can play a role in the expression an individual’s religious beliefs and faith. Since most individuals at this age still live at home with their parents, most will typically continue to practice their family’s religion and depending upon how religious they are, may even chose to follow the dietary customs or guidelines that are specific to their religion. For example, teenagers that are Jewish may consume matzo during the week of Passover. By consuming matzo during this religious holiday, the teenager showcases to others how meaningful the religion of Judaism is to them and their dedication in following its overall customs and beliefs. The last stage of life that I will be discussing is adulthood; which is a rather lengthy part of the life cycle. During this time, the overall quality of life has changed even more and an individual is now in full control of their destiny. Besides the sudden increase in the opportunities and freedom experienced by those in this stage, the number of roles food can have is now abundant. One possible role food has in the life of an adult is a source of fun and entertainment. This can include a celebration for a significant milestone or event achieved by one or more individuals (such as a birthday or marriage), eating contests, parties, and cooking shows on TV. For example, when there is a wedding reception and banquet, a full three course meal composing of extravagant foods may be served and conclude with the ceremonial cutting and consumption of a specially decorated wedding cake. The cake itself not only celebrates the marital bond between a man and a woman; it is very symbolic and a common tradition followed by most in our society. One other role food can serve in an adult is a method of expressing both creativity and artistic skill. Cooking can be viewed as a form of art due to a massive number of ways foods can be prepared or combined. Foods exhibit a large of colors, can be plated or decorated beautifully, and baked goods can even be shaped in unique ways. For example, at the world famous Boudin Bakery in San Francisco, bakers demonstrate their artistic skills by molding sourdough bread dough into the shapes of animals (such as turtles and lobsters) and baking them. Another example includes a pastry chef decorating a birthday cake by adding and shaping the frosting at certain areas of the cake to look like flowers. In my life, food serves a large number of roles with one of the biggest being the fact that it identifies both my family heritage and culture. My grandparents emigrated from Eastern Europe and the Balkan region (specifically Belorussia and Serbia) and brought along with them their knowledge of the various food delicacies that are specific to their cultures. For example, my grandmother from Serbia regularly prepares and cooks traditional Serbian foods such as pita (hand-rolled dough with cheese and meat), stuffed peppers, and sarma (boiled cabbage stuffed with ground beef and rice). In fact, whenever I go back home, she always makes these foods for me to enjoy; even though it takes a lot of time to prepare them. Overall, these specific foods remind me of home, my childhood, and represent my cultural contribution and background to the diversity of our society. In my life, food also serves as a method of celebration and a reward for reaching special milestones or achieving goals. For example, when I received an acceptance letter from the Skaggs School of Pharmacy at the University of Colorado, I enjoyed a fabulous steak dinner with my family and indulged on an enormous slice of chocolate cake. I always watch what I eat and try to make healthy choices, but that day was an exception because I accomplished a major personal goal. As you can see, food serves more than just a physiological and nutritional purpose. It has roles in portraying our personal religious beliefs, culture, family backgrounds, societal traditions, bonds with others, and unique personal skills. Food can even have a psychological role in people and serve as a coping mechanism in times of great stress. While this list or possible roles is rather lengthy, it is tiny compared the possible number of roles food can have to an individual throughout their lives; especially when considering the many different stages of life. Although there may be some role overlap, the role food plays in the life of a child could be different than in another stage of life (such as adolescence and adulthood). With that in mind, the next time you are in a restaurant or eating centre, take some time to observe what people of all ages are eating and how they are acting. You will see first-hand the importance and significance of food beyond the scope of nutrition and physiology in our way of life. Works Cited: Brown, Judith E. Nutrition Basics. Nutrition Through the Life Cycle. 4th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, CENGAGE Learning, 2011. 2-3. Print.

Consumer Goods :: miscellaneous

Consumer Goods A few years ago I was walking around my old hometown, Portland, Oregon. I walked past a basketball court full of teens wearing Ambercrombie shirts and Nike shoes. "Bro, why don't you get some of these cool clothes, rather than that boring and odd shirt you have on? one of them said to me. "No, thanks. I like what I have on." I wasn't going to let them persuade me to waste my money on expensive popular clothing when I already liked what I was wearing. As you can see by my experience, many Americans, especially high school students, shop to "look cool" by wearing popular clothing. They emphasize wearing the right type of clothes. For instance, an adolescent clothing addict named Delia Cleveland believed "clothes made the woman and everything else was secondary" (193). Teenagers buy the right clothes so they'll be popular. In high schools today, many students are seen with an "Ambercrombie & Fitch" label or shirt bearing the name of the company. That's because they "repeatedly rank it near the top in terms of coolness." (Cave 199). By wearing the A&F clothes, people see them as "cool" and therefore respect them. However, it's not always about wearing a certain company's clothes to look cool; it can be about wearing the right color clothes or buying caps that show a logo of a sports team. Why do teenagers make such a big deal out of wearing the right kinds of clothes? A big reason is the fact that many of them go to rough high schools, so they have to wear the right type of clothes, because if they don't, they might get picked on. I have had many friends in this situation. This can make them get used to wearing popular clothing, and then they really start doing it, possibly even to show off their clothes. Luckily I've never had to go to high school (I was homeschooled), so I haven't had to go through with looking cool by wearing popular clothing. IN my opinion, clothes are clothes, and it doesn't make any difference what they look like. But in America today, often that's not the case. Another reason people buy what they buy is because the media influences them greatly, with symbols and rule-breaking strategies. On the telvision today I often see commercials influencing the viewer to buy a prodcut, one way or the other.

Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” Essay

When Marlow talks of London being a dark place, the theme of civilization versus savagery comes into play. Marlow’s aunt believes he is an emissary of light, being sent into the darkness. Marlow sees this darkness through the placing of heads on poles, for a man named Kurtz. All of this makes Marlow change his inner feelings of himself, which relates to the theme of the journey of the inner self. Marlow talks of when the Romans first came to Britain, and how they had actually brought some light into the somberness of London, and how one day that light may disappear. This relates to the theme of dark and light. As Marlow tells of his voyage deeper into the unknown, his capacity for self-control is tested. Kurtz seems to inhabit his every thought. While this is happening, the theme of a journey into the inner self is seen again. There are certain patterns in â€Å"Heart of Darkness†; one of these is the theme of â€Å"threes†. There are three chapters, three women, three times Marlow breaks the story, three stations, three central characters and three views of Africa. Marlow indirectly suggests by referring to the Roman conquest, that the theme of colonialism has existed since the earliest times of human history. Colonialism is seen as one of the major themes in the book. When Marlow talks of London once being a dark place, the theme of civilization versus savagery comes into play. The book implies that civilizations are created by the setting of laws and codes that encourage men to achieve higher standards. London itself is seen as a symbol of enlightenment. We see this through Marlow and how he tells his crew that the Romans had brought a light into the darkness of Britain. Marlow and Kurtz are two antithetical examples of humanity. Kurtz represents what every man will become if left to his own desires, without a  protective, civilized society. Marlow represents the civilized soul that has not been drawn back into savagery by his â€Å"heart of darkness†. The book implies that every man has a â€Å"heart of darkness† that is usually drowned out by the light of civilization. However, when a man is removed from a civilized environment, the basic instinct of savagery must be unleashed. Savagery is linked to darkness, and in most parts of the book, we see Marlow  as the light in this darkness. Marlow’s aunt believes he is an emissary of light, being sent into the darkness. Marlow sees the darkness through the placing of heads on poles, for a man named Kurtz. All of this makes Marlow change his inner feelings about himself, which relates to the theme of the journey of the inner self. Through Marlow, the book creates a voyage of self-discovery. All of Marlow’s experiences point to a change him. The thoughts about the people he meets, and their behavior, slowly begins to change. Marlow’s trip from Europe to the outer, then central station tests his capacity to discriminate between good and evil, since he witnesses actions which directly ask him for a moral judgment, such as brutal beating of the native worker. Marlow’s detailed account of what he sees, shows his compassion. Conrad suggests that those who are unable of controlling their unconscious side, run the risk of losing control the their heart of darkness. Marlow talks of when the Romans first came to Britain, and how they brought light into the somberness of London. He also tells them that one day that light may disappear. This relates to the theme of dark and light. In â€Å"Heart of Darkness†, there is an obvious contrast between what is light and what is dark. Light seems to represent civilization, or the civilized side of humanity whilst dark represents the uncivilized or savage side of humanity. In this book, dark and light or black and white, have the same usual connotations of good and evil. According to Christianity, in  the beginning, everything was dark. The same thing applies to London before the Romans came. At the same time, Africa was considered â€Å"dark†, as most of it had not yet been discovered. However, as Marlow’s journey progresses, it appears that dark and light are used counter intuitively. Darkness refers to truth and light refers to falsehood. In Marlow’s interview with the Intended, the windows of the room, which are normally a source of light, are covered and let in little to no light at all, as in a mortuary. The â€Å"cold and monumental whiteness† of the fireplace adds to the deathlike atmosphere. This shows that Conrad had used dark and light inversely. We could assume that the dark could represent the unknown. As Marlow talks of his voyage deeper into this unknown, his capacity for self-control is tested. Kurtz seems to inhabit his every thought. While this is happening, the theme of a journey into the self and the unconsciousness is seen again. Marlow’s story clearly implies that the kind of world men make for themselves, and for others, results from the character of individual behavior. Kurtz appears to be stuck inside Marlow’s head. Every thought is focused in this man he has never met. Kurtz wins control of men through fear. His power over the natives almost destroys Marlow. Kurtz is actually a victim of the manager’s murderous cruelty. It is possible that Kurtz might never have revealed his evil nature, had he not been tortured by the manager. Marlow struggles with himself, the person he thought he was turns out to be a nobody. Marlow sees the â€Å"real† person he is, and fears himself. After seeing the Kurtz, Marlow realizes how much like Kurtz he has become and regains control from his heart of darkness. There are patterns noticeable in this book. One of these is the theme of â€Å"threes†. There are three chapters, three times Marlow breaks the story, three stations, three women, three central characters and three views of Africa. The three stations are the inner station, the central station  and the outer station. These are symbolic of the stages in Marlow’s journey of self-discovery. The inner station is the first station he goes to. Here, he sees how the natives are treated, and gets a glimpse of the things he may have to face in his future travels. He reaches the central station, and discovers that Kurtz may not be the man he first heard of. He was told that Kurtz was this wonderful man, who had plenty of power. Now, Marlow is beginning to see in his mind, someone that has followed his own ideas, and doesn’t care about anyone else. He struggles within himself to see if he is like this man. At first, he dismisses the idea that he could ever be that  kind of person, but soon after, he changes his opinion. The outer station is where Kurtz is finally reached. Conrad also uses imperialism as a major theme in the book. Marlow indirectly suggests by referring to the Roman conquest over Britain, that the theme of imperialism has existed since early human history. As Marlow tells his story, a different narrator, who is also a member on the ship they are traveling on, sees the Roman invaders to be like the English conquerors. He expresses that they were both â€Å"hunters for gold and pursuers of fame†. He does not understand that without the Roman invasion, Britain may have remained a dark country. Through Marlow’s tale of truth, pain, anxiety and the quest for complete knowledge, the major themes are revealed. Colonialism, the journey of the inner-self, the theme of â€Å"threes†, dark and light and civilization versus savagery. All of these themes lead to the understanding that Marlow’s voyage into the deepness of the Congo, is symbolic of the journey he had to take into the deepest side of himself. He successfully battled with his savage side, and came out a changed man. It just shows that no matter hoe perfect something seems to be, there is always a heart of darkness deep within somewhere.

Should Privacy Be Allowed On The Internet - 1792 Words

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