Maybe what we should be talking about is an American paradox: that is, a notably
unhealthy people obsessed by the idea of eating healthily
. This obsession has been recognized as a distinctly American phenomenon at least since the early decades of the 20th century.
What is the National Eating Disorder that Pollan is talking about?
Maybe what we should be talking about is an American paradox: that is, a notably
unhealthy people obsessed by the idea of eating healthily
. This obsession has been recognized as a distinctly American phenomenon at least since the early decades of the 20th century.
What does Pollan mean when he contrasts seeing corn as a food versus seeing it as a commodity?
Commodity corn is that which is grown, not to be directly eaten, but to be a raw material for other products or sent to farmlots and other secondary manufacturers to be used for a different purpose. Pollan mentions
that it can be cooked in water, but would not taste the way you would expect
.
What is number 2 field corn Omnivore’s Dilemma?
“Commodity corn” is known as “number 2 field corn,” which means that it
can have no more than 14 percent moisture content and must show less than 5 percent insect damage
. Pollan explains how the standards for commodity corn evolved as well as how farmers are paid.
Where is the farm that George Naylor runs when Pollan goes to visit him to learn more *?
1. One Farmer, 129 Eaters. Pollan visits George Naylor on his 320-acre
farm in Iowa
, which has been in his family since his grandfather bought it in 1919.
What is the dilemma in Omnivore’s Dilemma?
Basically, the omnivore’s dilemma is
“what should we have for dinner
.” Since human beings are omnivores, they can eat whatever they want. However, all the things that people might eat have implications both for the human beings themselves and for the planet on which we live.
What group does Pollan describe as corn walking on legs?
Michael Pollan says that his description of us as “corn people” is the same as the
Mayan
self-description, since neither is intended as a metaphor. The Maya traditionally depended on corn for their survival, and so do we, though our diet has become even more centered on corn than theirs was.
What is meant by Eat your view?
Eat Your View is a
campaign dedicated to spreading the word about the importance of local food production
. … It’s important for all communities to develop their own local food producing capacity because it supports local farmers and local businesses while it builds food security, sovereignty and resiliency.
What is the main idea of Chapter 1 in The Omnivore’s Dilemma?
Scientists comparing the molecules found in human bodies
have determined that, because so many of the things Americans eat come from corn, Americans on average end up eating even more of it than Mexicans, who have a much more varied diet. Pollan explains that efficiency is an evolutionary advantage.
What is the main idea of the omnivore’s dilemma?
A central idea in The Omnivore’s Dilemma is that
corn has taken on an unhealthy role in agriculture and in the food that Americans eat
. Corn is a nutritious plant and perhaps the most versatile of all grasses. It has an amazing ability to adapt and thrive in a variety of conditions.
What are the 4 food chains in Omnivore’s Dilemma?
The four meals in “Omnivore” — call them
Industrial, Big Organic, Pastoral, and Hunter-Gatherer
— seem very different, but they can be plotted on a continuum between two ways of looking at the food chain: as a machine, or as a living organism.
What is the vegetarian’s dilemma According to Michael Pollan?
Pollan is ultimately persuaded by Singer’s arguments for vegetarianism because
he sees the point that animals are, if not equal to humans in ability
, then at least equal to humans in their moral rights. He sees Singer’s point that all living things have the right to freedom from pain.
What is the omnivore’s paradox?
main thesis of the “omnivore’s paradox” is that
the survival of
.
omnivores depends on a predisposition to seek novelty and variety
. (neophilia), juxtaposed with a natural distrust of the unfamiliar. (neophobia). In an evolving world, the durability of a species.
Why would a Naturalist be astounded by a supermarket?
Why would a naturalist be astounded by a supermarket?
Because of all the fruits and vegatables in the store
, along with the amount of the unhealthy choices in the supermarket.
What is so great about these new hybrid seeds How do they help the farmer?
What is so great about these new hybrid seeds? How do they help the farmer? The
hybrid seeds produce a lot more corn
—four times as much corn as the non-hybrid seed. The hybrids also have thicker stalks and root systems, which makes them stand upright, making them easier to harvest with large machines.
What are some potential benefits of growing a diversity of crops and keeping a variety of animals on a farm?
Ecosystems with greater diversity are usually more stable:
they withstand disturbances and can recover better than less diverse systems
. The more diverse the plants, animals and soil-borne organisms that inhabit a farming system, the more diverse the populations of pest-fighting beneficial organisms a farm can support.
