In Peter Menzel and Faith D’Alusio’s Hungry Planet: What the World Eats, through the medium of photographs, rich stories of many cultures surface as well as contrasting themes of economic access to nutrition and/or lack of dietary variety is immediately apparent. The photos not only provide a glimpse into the food culture of different countries but also a… Read more »
To many it is common knowledge that there is a vast disparity of food security across the world. Peter Menzel’s photographic essay, “Hungry Planet”, brings this disparity to life by showing the differing food expenditures of families across the world. Of particular interest to me was the Aboubakar family of the Breidjing Camp in Chad and… Read more »
I chose a family in the developed world with a relatively low budget, $159.18 per week, and a developing world family with a relatively high budget, $75.70 per week, at least compared with other countries in their “developed” and “developing” groupings. In the US family I see an overwhelming amount of processed foods—frozen pizzas, corndogs and quick fix meals like… Read more »
For my Hungry Planet paper, I chose to compare the Ukita family of Japan and the Ayme family of Ecuador: “The Ukitas are a four-member family unit in a relatively small living space, which is common for Tokyo-dwellers. They spend roughly $320 per week on a variety of foods, including fish, fruits, rice, noodles, vegetables, oils, and several snacks. Sashimi… Read more »
The Ayme family of Tingo, Ecuador and the Melanson family of Iqualit, Canada appear to be polar opposites. The Aymes spend $3.50 per person per week for their food, while the Melansons spend $69 – a staggering 1,970% increase in cost. The Aymes are subsistence farmers and eat produce and grain nearly exclusively, while the Melansons consume far more meat,… Read more »
The wide range of families and diets portrayed by Menzel and D’Alusio’s illustrate both the diversity in cultural foods, while also highlighting the wide spread disparities. When looking at the dietary contents of the various cultures, a striking number of cultures were consuming a lot of processed and pre-packaged foods, this was more prevalent in areas that would typically be… Read more »
Compare the diets of the LeMoines of France and the Batsuuris of Mongolia, as Menzel and D’Aluisio have in Hungry Planet (2005), and the impact of climate, culture, and industrialization becomes clear: The LeMoines’ larder is full of packaged, ready-to eat fare while the Batsuuris’ table still recalls the traditional diet of nomadic herders. Mongolia’s harsh winters and short, inhospitable… Read more »
The world’s food system is intricately connected through a myriad of national and international organizations and policies. Ironically, at the same time that millions of people are dying from a lack of access to food, the Western diet of an overconsumption and processed foods is increasing mortality through diseases such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Food and trade… Read more »