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Amellias Blog

Blog Contents:

Letter to the Editor

Book Report

Iowa City Field Trip Blog

Food Blog

Article to The New York Times

The article is http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9B06E0D91739F934A25753C1A962948260 It is about changing student lunches to be more nutritional.

I am happy to see the mothers are making a change in the school lunches of their children and that the trend of school lunches are going in a more healthy direction. I think, if not scientifically, then just through observation that the quality of people's lives are affected by the quality of food and their habit of eating. With this is mind, I do not see the problem of the quality of food in students' lunches being solved just by giving them food that has proper nutrition and not actual good quality alive foods.

The direction we seem to be going in is treating the students' like machines. We are calculating how much to oil their gears and putting in variable mathematical equations to cover the necessary nutrients. And that's it. Let's eat bad tasting food because it is cheap, but hold on...don't worry, it covers our basic needs to survive.

We are creating laws and regulations so that we can keep the children surviving...but not allowing them the good quality food and keeps them alive and living. There is a sterility about this paradigm that needs to change into the idea that we are not machines and enjoying our food goes beyond the nutritional facts on the label. It goes into the experience we have every time we sit down to a meal. The taste of the food, the room, the company.

I believe that by changing the food to more nutritional food will help and keep people healthier, but really it will only keep the students surviving...and for what, that same unhealthy life style?

It seems like they simply need better quality food. Fresh food will not only taste better but will solve the problem with healthier food. We are not going to have healthy children just by giving them this food that has proper nutrition. And what is the point of healthy children if they are not happy as well? Let's have healthy and happy children because they are enjoying their high quality, great tasting, fresh food, which I am sure will change more than just the diets of the children, but their entire quality of life.

Book Report

This book goes into the art of a culture through their agriculure. By emphisizing how the culture is based on its means of food, through its agricultural systems the traditions are created. It is amazingly inspirational hearing about farmers all over the world through Abelman's travels and seeing how naturally they farm and give back to the earth through their nature appreciation of where their food comes from. He also goes into the way people are farming that is not taking care of the earth and gives ridiculous statistics showing the outcome of such horrible ways of farming. He mainly talks about the United States of America in regards to the disgusting farming ways with pesticides and chemical processes. Just about every page has a captivating story about a farming tradition and the heart of the farmers. I basically read it in one night because I could not put it down...until he goes into the devastation of American agriculture. I am very inspired by this book and I do not feel I can do it justice. You have to read it. The pictures are beautiful just to flip through and look if you do not want to read.

Attach:Man.jpeg Δ This picture is of a man "weeding" out the mustard plants and instead of throwing them away, he is taking them home to feed his livestock.

Attach:Land.jpeg Δ

Iowa City Journey 12-12-2007

I enjoyed the whole day greatly. I didn't exactly know much about each business to start with so I was going in blind and didn't really know what questions to ask. It was very inspiring to learn about businesses that create strong healthy relationships with the local families instead of souly driven to use the families for the money. I was also very nice to meet the people who dedicate their lives to local, fresh, healthy foods for the community. I enjoyed going to The Kalona Organic Creamery and the Hen House because it is food that I actually eat and to see the history and work behind it adds to the nutrition and appreciation of the foods.

Actually learning about the history of the Pioneer Co-op was really fascinating and to actually see where the breads are made and their processes was exciting. To see something so large that started from so small was very inspiring as I feel the projects we are doing in class are starting from the same small scale and have a potential for huge success.

Ending the day with Chuck Wilson at the apple orchard was wonderful. I was very heart warmed to hear his story and his mission. I love when such simple goals, to be fresh, good, and local can be so successful with no hoops and whistles just common sense.

I felt I am more educated on the heart level now after that trip, as well as practical knowledge. Thank you!

This is the article of a blog by a guy named Steve:

Awake - The Morning Energy Drink

by Steve 12/03/2007 11:48:00 PM

Apple & Eve, LLC, of Port Washington, NY, recently launched a new energy drink called, "Awake", billed as "the only energy juice specially formulated for morning consumption".

It's basically 100% juice, though I don't know from what fruits, but it has an orange/tangerine flavor. Except, it's spiked with enough caffeine as a tall cup of coffee, and includes an energy enhancer called, "Essentra", dubbed as a patented restorative and rejuvenating extract derived from a natural botanical.

It's like blending coffee and orange juice together, and then sprinkling in some magical herbs.

Awake also comes in a light variety, and is currently only available Northeast, with plans to roll out nationally.

Visit Awake online... http://awake-energy.com

Amellia's comments:

I personally think it is halarious that they are saying it is an energy drink specifically made for morning consumption, as opposed to all those other liquids that shouldn't be drinken in the morning. I am personally against energy drinks so right away I am against this product. This is a message to me saying that people are even more retarded than I believed, especially if this marketing angle works and substitutes actual breakfast foods with 'unknown real fruit juice' in a can spiked with caffeine.