Food: What are you?

           

       What we put in our bodies becomes a part of us: thus the famous saying “You are what you eat”.  In today’s world, time is limited due to our jobs, school and the daily agendas we make. Therefore, our food industry had the smarts to evolve our food along with our busy schedules. Families especially benefit from fast food, children get their cereal before school and Dad swings through McDonalds for a quick bite to eat during his lunch break.  I remember, as a child McDonalds was a common treat after a long day at school.  My mom would pick my brother and I up, then we would swing by the drive through; it was so convenient. To this day, the smell of McDonalds brings me back in time and makes me feel like a child again.  My association with Junk Food is a love hate relationship. Junk Food is a sad part of our American culture, however I do my best to not indulge in such eating habits anymore.

            Now that I am no longer a child, I am aware of the truth behind Junk Food and how it goes much farther then just food.  Not only does it affect our health, but also on a bigger scale it is affecting our culture. These large food corporations have so much power over our food, which directly affects us. If I had it my way, I would shop solely at Whole Foods, Lassens and Trader Joes. These stores are fresh, Organic and is food that we should be used to eating. However, on busy days that I go directly from School to work, it is hard not to stop for a convenient meal; something that just gets the job done.  I usually feel so guilty when I eat fast food, it is just necessary when I get off work late at night and nothing else is open.  

I try and avoid McDonalds and KFC with more effort than most fast food restaurants.  Those restaurants in particular gross me out, especially when you go to eat inside; watching people eat them are the worst.  When I was about 13 years old, I helped petition KFC because of the animal abuse and the way their chickens are raised and butchered.  It’s sad however, because that’s usually the case for all fast food restaurants and large meat company’s.  Try watched Fast Food Nation, that documentary will make you vegetarian for at least a month.

I want my body to get the nutrients it needs as well as the attention it deserves. I’ve been trying to make time to cook food and stop by a natural food store occasionally. Once you make it a part of routine, it all falls into place. Once I have children of my own, I certainly wont be going to McDonalds everyday after school. You must think about it in the long run as well, how will all that junk affect you in 20 years? So if you are what you eat, what are you?