"Innocence Lost: Our Complicated Relationship with Food"
...ma’s famous fixins’, its hard to leave an empty plate. Whenever you do leave a fairly large amount you are always reminded by your elders, the poor starving people on the other side of the world that would love to be able to finish what you left. Many Americans believe that consuming foods with loads of fat is going to make you gain ten pounds overnight. Today America is such a judgemental country and they strongly believe everyone is classified by what you consume. Just like the saying I have heard before, “you are what you eat.” The daily reminders of how our animals are slaughtered that are being advertised on commercials, newspaper ads, and bumper stickers also add to the guilt. Americans try to ignore vegetarians protesting against the slaughtering and murdering of animals, but the gruesome pictures remain as we try to enjoy our Kentucky Fried Chicken or our Tbonz steak. Americans have developed this relationship with food because food is something more than energy for our bodies; it has become erotized, politicized, and fetishized. The fast food commercials that come on constantly throughout the day makes Americans forget about the fat content and more on how erotic the food looks. Advertisers generally commercialize food based on what time of day it is; they show breakfast in the morning, lunch and dinner in the afternoon, then show breakfast again late at night. The comparisons of certain fast food chains has politicized and fetishized our society. Every fast food chain is competing to make the bigger but cheaper burger. If only one knew what these so-called burgers really contained. Americans can not eat out everyday and expect to remain healthy and petite. Everyone dreams of owning the perfect body, much like one of Tom Cruise or Britany Spears. To look like these two requires and very strict diet that usually consists of carrot stick and a bottle of water. In today’s society, what size you wear and whether you eat take out or prepare and meal at home determine your appearance and social status. All Americans want to be thin and accepted but at the same time they are being pe...