Food Advertising

Food commercials have always struck a chord with me as being manipulative and deceitful. Growing up, I even was under the impression it was to be cool to be eating a Lunchable or eating Teddy Grahams. All my peers had the latest snack. I would see them being advertised right in the middle of my favorite cartoon or favorite show. If I had stayed home sick from school, I would notice that once my shows came on after all the grown-up talk shows in the morning, there would be more and more commercials for Fruit Roll-ups, or 3-D Doritos. They would even put my favorite cartoon character as one of the spokesman or on the packaging.

The only reason why I had noticed these things growing up, because all these snacks were the more expensive as opposed to the generic label which tasted exactly the same but with no favorite characters or special packaging. It was my mom and I growing up and let’s just say we didn’t have a giant surplus of money. It was considered a luxury to have Hot Pockets in the house or Kraft Mac & Cheese in the house. That Safeway brand box of mac n’cheese was just as good and for half the price, in the eyes of my mother.

I noticed that when I did have the occasional Lunchable at school, my friends would reference it. It always struck me as why they would point out I got the latest snack as opposed to my dinky sandwich that I had the day before. It made me realize that even at young age that popular snacks were just a gimmick and it was all geared towards kids. I’m thankful that I learned that at such a young age, but I’m sure I didn’t tell my mother that. I did want to be cool and have my Lunchable whenever I had the chance!

Word Count: 318

Dia de los Muertos

Despite Mexico being right below us in the United States, I have little knowledge when it comes to their culture and their food. Even being a native Californian that has a significant influence from Mexico, I had learned so much from my classmate’s heritage presentations.

One specific presentation was on Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos. I learned so much from that presentation that I had even impressed my friends are Mexican immigrants. Prior to the presentation, I thought Dia de los Muertos was a party day like as in the United Sates for the Halloween. The day was just an excuse to drink, be silly, and dress up. I had no idea that it actually consisted of three days with each day representing a specific day for the respect of the deceased. Its representing happiness and celebration. The 31^st of October is the complete opposite as to what Halloween is here. The heavens gates open for the spirits to reunite with their families. Followed by the 31^st, the next two days are celebrated with a feast full of food and maintenance of the cemeteries. It is believed by the Mexicans that if the spirits are happy when they return annually that they will bring good luck for the living.

Corn is a major component of the holiday and they use it almost every dish. The even drink it in a beverage called atole. I’ve always known tamales to be a huge celebratory food in the Mexican culture, but I had no idea to the extremities of the amount of work its involved with. This dish is served at every major celebration and I can see why. It bring together everyone’s involvement which brings families together.

I thought that Carlos gave an amazing representation of the spectacular three-day event and it provided me with better insight to the Mexican heritage.

Word Count: 313

Nufs 144 class lecture

I was absolutely fascinated with the food history lecture in the beginning of the semester. Our evolution as humans is so captivating to me and the fact that we have come so far specifically in our food, is remarkable.

Our ancestors are probably rolling around in their graves if they knew what we are today. Their skills of hunting a gathering back in beginning of times have evolved us into farmers and then what we are today.  They hadn’t even discovered fire yet, and their skills that helped them survive were so perfected with patience, perseverance, and endurance made them survive. It’s hard to imagine life without fire. Their raw diet before the use of fire wasn’t as nutritious or practical as it is with fire. Cooking made nutrition more easily absorbed, and less energy to digest. I think that this triggered a substantial mark in our evolvement rate. Everything quickly evolved at a rapid rate after that.

Farming made more food for more support. It encouraged for more reproduction and domestication. I think that this lecture made me think of how evolved we are now to what we were then. Based on Kathleen’s harmonious lectures and the extremely interesting reading that’s were given to us, the history of how we have our food was eye-opening to me.  As I learned throughout the chapter, I would teach with what I learned from class to my friends and colleagues. It struck me with surprise that as I would teach them, they had no idea and found it just as fascinated as I was to know how we have evolved when it come to our food. I think that this class should be required to all students. It’s knowledge that has been our foundation to what we are today and I believe it would open a lot of eyes to everyone.

Word Count: 309