Summary Of The Film 'Food, Inc.'

Assignment 1

The documentary "Food, Inc." directed by Robert Kenner opens with the sentence, "The way we eat has changed more dramatically in the past 50 years than in the previous 10,000 years.” Later in the film it's pointed out that one of the important changes in what we eat is that our food supply has been flooded with sugar and other refined carbohydrates. It carries a strong and often scathing message against the food and farming industries. It also highlights that what you eat is not always as healthy as you think it is. The documentary focuses on several areas of food production, including meat production, seed production, bad practices and even the organic farming industry. U.S. farming and food industries are dangerous, and people

often assume that farmers and food producers have their best interests in mind. The "Food Inc." documentary clearly shows that this is not true. With the abusive animal practices and the scramble to make more money by producing unhealthy food, unconcerned companies endanger your life. The final part of "Food Inc." ends on a more positive note. While this grim documentary makes you wonder if you are going to eat food again, a hopeful picture of some good organic farming gives you hope. Local-market farmer Joel Salatin raises his animals according to the guiding principles of nature. Without using hormones, food fillers, pesticides or antibiotics, this concerned farmer sets an example for sustainable and compassionate farming. This final summary leaves you with an optimistic look to the future and perhaps a new way of shopping for your food.

Assignment 2
​The documentary, Super Size Me, was not only created to show the harmful effects of eating fast food, namely McDonald’s.

Morgan created the film to show that fast food has become a fixture in our country’s culture. The movie showed that McDonald’s, along with other types of fast food, can directly affect a person’s health. This repetitive eating of these foods can cause cholesterol issues, liver issues, chest pains, obesity, and seem to be acting as a drug. Morgan frequently pointed out that throughout his day, he felt depressed and sad, but when he ate his meal from McDonalds, he once again, felt that he had energy and all together, became a happier person. This shows that the food was directly affecting his moods. Our culture has seen similar effects by heroin, cocaine, marijuana, and even cigarettes. It’s hard to believe that a simple hamburger is as addictive as the nicotine in a cigarette. However, it seems that the lack of McDonald’s can create the same mood fluctuation as the lack of nicotine. Although these two can be linked, in the way they affect your attitude, one is much more socially acceptable then the other. The film is not all eating and doctors: Spurlock interviews industry experts, academics, public school officials that have banned soft drink sales on campus and instituted healthy lunch programs, a man who had radical stomach surgery to curb his weight, and so on. Spurlock also travels to McDonald's restaurants from LA to Texas to New York. The film is

enlivened by Spurlock's charming sense of humor and his lovely if anxious girlfriend, who's a vegan chef. Though quite funny and entertaining, the movie quietly drops plenty of frightening information about the fast food industry's lobbying power, marketing techniques, and the ill health and eating habits of our nation.
Assignment 3

Select a food that you eat often.
➢ Breaded Chicken

Find out, from the label or from the restaurant:
the percent of the Daily Value of:
• Saturated Fat​-​38 %
• Trans Fat​-​1 %
• Sodium​-​7 %
• Carbohydrate​-​2 %
• Fiber​​-​1 %

If saturated fat or trans fat is greater than 20%, locate a substitute food, similar to what you have been consuming, with lower percent
➢ Tofu is a popular substitute for chicken meat. Tofu is usually softer and less meat-like however, absorb flavors and marinades effortlessly. For this reason, some cooks choose to use marinated tofu "chicken" cutlets in recipes that call for chicken.

If the % sodium is high choose your replacement to also be lower in sodium
➢ To cut down sodium on your food, be creative and season your foods with spices, herbs, lemon, garlic, ginger, vinegar and pepper. Remove the salt from the table.

If you are interested in losing weight, include a lower % of carbohydrate in your choice.
➢ Food groups that are low in carbohydrates, includes lean meat, dairies, fish, and vegetables.

Also note the % fiber. If there is little or no fiber, devise a way to improve % fiber.
➢ One of the easiest ways to up fiber intake is to focus on whole grains such as barley and rice.