food diary
MONDAY
- Salad
- Lettuce
- Cucumbers
- Eggs
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Feta cheese
- Balsamic vinaigrette
- Vegetable egg roll & sweet and sour sauce
- Smores crepe
- Bomb pop
- Drinks
- Water
- Apple cider
- PB&J sandwich
- Macaroni
- Yams
- Greens
TUESDAY
- Mushroom frittata
- Diced potatoes & ketchup - ketchup is processed
- Water
- Salad
- Lettuce
- Feta cheese
- Onions
- Caesar dressing
The first tracking day of this diary, I ended up eating more than usual. Over the weekend, I went back home and my aunt cooked for the family, which accounts for the yams, macaroni, and greens that I ate. Usually, I swipe into the cafeteria once or twice per day, depending on my appetite. I limit the number of swipes I use for two reasons: I have a limited amount of swipes and I don’t want to exceed them and I am trying to balance my eating schedule for dieting purposes.
The second day, I did not eat much because my class schedule throws off my eating schedule. We were told to try and avoid processed foods, the only extremely processed item I had was ketchup because like Warner stated, I couldn’t “make it in my own kitchen”. During this short experience, I struggled with Warner’s definition because I thought about in a sense of capability. Most of the foods I eat, would be considered processed by my interpretation of her definition because I am not capable of making the dishes: whether skill is the problem or the accessibility of the proper groceries.
If I were to take some of the tips from “How to be your own Italian Grandmother”, it would be easier for me to have balanced meals daily. Fagan emphasizes the importance of buying and cooking in abundance. This point sticks with me because I blame most of my eating habits on my lack of time or the sporadic times that I have available to eat.
REFRIGERATOR project
"How They Eat"
The refrigerator assignment really took me out of my comfort zone. I tend not to interact with people outside of my normal social circle, so when the parameters were set for this project, I knew it would be uncomfortable. I ended up asking a friend of a friend and while they were compliant, they were really interested in why I wanted the picture. I explained the purpose of the class as a whole and even gave them some background on Pandora’s Lunchbox.
While investigation the picture, I realized there was a lot of alcohol in the refrigerator which signified there was at least one person over 21 living in the house. Leftovers in the refrigerator reminded me of the story “How to be your own Italian Grandmother”. In the story, the author throws the reader a useful tip about cooking, “think some for now, some for lunch tomorrow”. To me, having leftovers is a sign of smart cooking, it reduces the struggle of cooking daily for people that are potentially pressed for time. With this mentality, I believe the family or at least the head of the household is employed full time, emphasizing the need for pre- made meals. I also concluded that the family is fairly large because of how full the refrigerator is. The increase in pre- made meals seemed to correlate with the decrease of processed foods in the refrigerator. Melanie Warner, in Pandora’s Lunchbox, described a processed food as any food that “can not be made in your home kitchen”. With more homemade meals and less processed foods, I believe the family is fairly healthy and well rounded.
The refrigerator assignment really took me out of my comfort zone. I tend not to interact with people outside of my normal social circle, so when the parameters were set for this project, I knew it would be uncomfortable. I ended up asking a friend of a friend and while they were compliant, they were really interested in why I wanted the picture. I explained the purpose of the class as a whole and even gave them some background on Pandora’s Lunchbox.
While investigation the picture, I realized there was a lot of alcohol in the refrigerator which signified there was at least one person over 21 living in the house. Leftovers in the refrigerator reminded me of the story “How to be your own Italian Grandmother”. In the story, the author throws the reader a useful tip about cooking, “think some for now, some for lunch tomorrow”. To me, having leftovers is a sign of smart cooking, it reduces the struggle of cooking daily for people that are potentially pressed for time. With this mentality, I believe the family or at least the head of the household is employed full time, emphasizing the need for pre- made meals. I also concluded that the family is fairly large because of how full the refrigerator is. The increase in pre- made meals seemed to correlate with the decrease of processed foods in the refrigerator. Melanie Warner, in Pandora’s Lunchbox, described a processed food as any food that “can not be made in your home kitchen”. With more homemade meals and less processed foods, I believe the family is fairly healthy and well rounded.
Mcdonaldization
The Walmart Woman
Usually, I walk in a store, find the items I want, pay, then leave. No extra conversations take place and no extra time is spent in the store. But, for this project, I attempted to change the dynamic of my shopping experience in both ways. Over the weekend, I went to Walmart and ventured around the baby aisle until I saw an older black lady in the same lane. I told her I had a child and I was looking for the best brands of bottles, diapers, and wipes for him and asked her to help me. Her face was shocked when the first four words came out of my mouth, “I have a child”, then she somewhat accepted it and was enthusiastic to help me.
As the conversation continued, I revealed he was my godson, but I play a big role in his life. She seemed more relieved but still not convinced, until I told her I was gay. She told me she had her first child at 15 and was always trying to convince and aid children into safer sex practices. The lady I met works in hospitals with young women that have children at an early age. She is a WIC employee that gives young mothers quick informational meetings shortly after the delivery of children. For example, she talks about the importance/ advantages of breastfeeding compared to formula feeding, the proper way to use and clean formula food, and she provides basic information of caring for a newborn.
I found the situation extremely ironic because she knew everything that I was pretending to not know. Every question I asked her yielded a “book” answer and a personal suggestion that directly related to black women and/ or black children. The experience provided me with a better understanding of the individual differences of children. Originally, I believed most guidelines apply to all newborn children and that there weren’t many differences within babies. But, after our quick encounter, I was aware that every baby’s needs differ, along with the mother’s. She told me that raising a child at a young age is the most difficult task she’s experienced but it is one that has molded her into the independent woman she is today. I asked what had the biggest impact on her as a teen mom and she told me she had to “mature at an early age.” Many of the activities her friends did, she had to opt out of, for the sake of her child’s health as well as hers. Being pregnant at an early age also caused her to reevaluate her friend group and the people she surrounded herself with. If there was anyone in her life that was a bad influence, she cut ties, in order to prosper. Although she switched schools once she had the baby, she still graduated on time and went to college. We compared some of her experiences with those of current teen moms and one topic we spoke on was the differences in diapers. In her day, to check for pee or poop, you looked in the baby's diaper. Currently, there are diapers that have an indication line that change colors when the diaper needs to be changed. This difference emphasized the term "convenience" we talked about while reading "Tyranny of Convenience." While the act of changing the diaper remains the same, the current diapers remove an extra step.
I learned that with a strong support system, life is easier and more bearable. This is why my godson is so important to me. His mom, my cousin, is younger than I am and she was already struggling before having a baby so I make it a top priority to be there for them, as a support system. So far, she’s doing a great job caring for the baby and herself and I’m extremely proud of her. Overall, I extended my time at the store as well as my communication with another shopper. Once the conversation began, I don’t think the experience was uncomfortable for either of us and I believe we both benefited from the conversation. I applaud her willingness to talk to me and give me answers even when she didn't have to, she reminded me of the lunch lady from "Revenge of the Lunch Lady". McCoy went above and beyond to provide a loving environment for her students, and that's what I felt the "Walmart Woman" did for me.
Usually, I walk in a store, find the items I want, pay, then leave. No extra conversations take place and no extra time is spent in the store. But, for this project, I attempted to change the dynamic of my shopping experience in both ways. Over the weekend, I went to Walmart and ventured around the baby aisle until I saw an older black lady in the same lane. I told her I had a child and I was looking for the best brands of bottles, diapers, and wipes for him and asked her to help me. Her face was shocked when the first four words came out of my mouth, “I have a child”, then she somewhat accepted it and was enthusiastic to help me.
As the conversation continued, I revealed he was my godson, but I play a big role in his life. She seemed more relieved but still not convinced, until I told her I was gay. She told me she had her first child at 15 and was always trying to convince and aid children into safer sex practices. The lady I met works in hospitals with young women that have children at an early age. She is a WIC employee that gives young mothers quick informational meetings shortly after the delivery of children. For example, she talks about the importance/ advantages of breastfeeding compared to formula feeding, the proper way to use and clean formula food, and she provides basic information of caring for a newborn.
I found the situation extremely ironic because she knew everything that I was pretending to not know. Every question I asked her yielded a “book” answer and a personal suggestion that directly related to black women and/ or black children. The experience provided me with a better understanding of the individual differences of children. Originally, I believed most guidelines apply to all newborn children and that there weren’t many differences within babies. But, after our quick encounter, I was aware that every baby’s needs differ, along with the mother’s. She told me that raising a child at a young age is the most difficult task she’s experienced but it is one that has molded her into the independent woman she is today. I asked what had the biggest impact on her as a teen mom and she told me she had to “mature at an early age.” Many of the activities her friends did, she had to opt out of, for the sake of her child’s health as well as hers. Being pregnant at an early age also caused her to reevaluate her friend group and the people she surrounded herself with. If there was anyone in her life that was a bad influence, she cut ties, in order to prosper. Although she switched schools once she had the baby, she still graduated on time and went to college. We compared some of her experiences with those of current teen moms and one topic we spoke on was the differences in diapers. In her day, to check for pee or poop, you looked in the baby's diaper. Currently, there are diapers that have an indication line that change colors when the diaper needs to be changed. This difference emphasized the term "convenience" we talked about while reading "Tyranny of Convenience." While the act of changing the diaper remains the same, the current diapers remove an extra step.
I learned that with a strong support system, life is easier and more bearable. This is why my godson is so important to me. His mom, my cousin, is younger than I am and she was already struggling before having a baby so I make it a top priority to be there for them, as a support system. So far, she’s doing a great job caring for the baby and herself and I’m extremely proud of her. Overall, I extended my time at the store as well as my communication with another shopper. Once the conversation began, I don’t think the experience was uncomfortable for either of us and I believe we both benefited from the conversation. I applaud her willingness to talk to me and give me answers even when she didn't have to, she reminded me of the lunch lady from "Revenge of the Lunch Lady". McCoy went above and beyond to provide a loving environment for her students, and that's what I felt the "Walmart Woman" did for me.