How did a country with a past extreme malnutrition problem end up in the rich obesity pandemic? America’s “fight for food” says it all; America obsession for food, whether healthy or unhealthy, is still an obsession. America was consumed with the notion of a national food system, and criticized foreigners for their cuisine. This food-culture-defining obsession is an example of America’s dietary problems. Being obsessed with anything will result in extremist outcomes, and, like America did with food, ended up either malnourished or obese.
In Gabaccia’s “Food for Fight,” I was most fascinated with the history, or lack there, of America’s food system from underweight to overweight. Why in the past did “culinary cultural pluralism” foster mal-nourishment, but today it as well as American “fast foods” are the totem poles for obesity? America needs to realize that obesity today is not a result of any other culture but its own. America has an eating disorder. It so focused on how and what our foods should be that is blinded by the effect of it overemphasis on cuisine. Its twisted perception on food from being the device to help us live to being the sole purpose of our existence is the biggest problem of all. Food should be to sustain one’s body and act as vehicle to one’s success, but not the success within itself.
-Aliza
You’re right – this is totally fascinating. The truth is, then and now, immigrants ate healthier foods than those associated with Americanism. They weren’t risking malnourishment at all. And if you look closely at the foods they supposedly needed more of (dairy and processed wheat), you see the cultural roots of the current obesity crisis. (Well, sort of… everything I’ve been reading lately suggests that sugar is most to blame.) Anyway, an interesting policy-related question that this reminded me of is whether government should be able to guide eating habits in order to curtail obesity, for example through “fast food zoning” or for that matter, through Bloomberg’s proposed soda ban. Is this the right approach or just more misguided paternalism?