Statement+on+the+Role+of+Food

What is the role of food in our society and should it be that? Role of Food in Society  The role of food in our society, varies based on who you are. The vast economic and cultural demographics of America simply make it impossible to give it one simple explanation. However there is a clear trend that since the decline of the affluent society of the fifties, the prevalence of the traditional family dinner has diminished giving way to drive throughs and microwavable meals. The role of food in America is a dangerous desire for quantity over quality.  Walk anywhere in America and the obesity problem is quite apparent. Everything is bigger in America even the people. At the same time the pop culture never matches the average American. Celebrities are stick thin, diet ads are everywhere, and even our cars are being slimmed down. The green moment emphasizes less is more, apparent in both the size and appetite of new eco-friendly cars.  Then why does America still have the fattest people and produce one of the highest amounts of greenhouse gases? American consumption.  Americans may choose the diet Pepsi or the Prius Hybrid but then they abuse the product. The extra large cup with free refills is always accepted and hybrids are driven like sports cars. If not used correctly no matter how healthy the food is, eat enough of it without exercise and soon enough you will be packing one too many extra pounds. Why do Americans make these seemingly contradictory choices? Because we are American.  We have always been known to shoot first and ask questions later, just watch a Die Hard film to understand. This trend is obvious in every aspect of American life. The economy failed due to short sighted trades because they made the most money, the country is dependent on the finite source of energy that is oil because it happens to be the most effective and available currently and Americans eat enough food to feed a pro-athlete even though the majority of Americans now have sedentary life style.  In the land of the free we do exactly what we want. And what we capitalists want to do is consume. That is the role of food, something to consume. It may be enjoyed individually but one is never enough. Perhaps all Americans need to think before we act not out of fear of the country’s normal governing factors, the fear of god and the unknown, but because we pay attention to logical reason presented to us.