Looking at Peter Menzel’s photos comparing the food lifestyles between people in the U.S. versus Mali, the differences were profound. With the photos featuring a sample of an American household, a week’s worth of food displays a colorful variety of different goods. While there’s a few fruit and vegetables on display, it’s dominated by the vibrant colors of packaged products and other processed foods. Pizza and other ‘convenience’ food items are the focal points in the Revis’ weekly diet. Menzel’s photos go on to feature the Revis’ grocery store trip. Aisles of colorful packaging, containing various processed foods, line the shelves. Mass-production and efficiency-oriented food distribution systems have resulted in the convenience to shop for these cheap goods, outlining many people’s diets during the week.
However, observing the Natomo family at their home in Mali illustrates an entirely different scene. Their family of 15 displays a variety of grains and spices with vegetables on the side. Their marketplace features a different dynamic; local farmers and vendors converge weekly to trade produce and goods. Even the way they sell meat is drastically different, where they’re required to sell meat products the same day due to lack of electricity and therefore no refrigeration methods.
The differences in food habits are made clear between the two families. Many Americans lead busy lifestyles and depend on the convenience and affordability of cheap foods. Plus, the move towards urban/suburban residences can limit our ability to choose what kinds of food selection is available to us. It may be more difficult to find locally grown sources of food at our massively stocked supermarkets. This is in contrast to the lifestyle in Mali shown by Menzel’s photos. Some of the photo captions reference the dependence on the Niger River, illustrating its use for the irrigation of crops, habitat for locally caught fish, and other purposes. The photos display a remarkably sustainable lifestyle in Mali, despite the lack of technological means.
Menzel, Peter. “Hungry Planet: What the World Eats, by Continent”. 2005. www.menzelphoto.com