eat your (healthy) food!
Okay, so it’s a cold and rainy day in the Chicago area. Simon is watching some crazy “Superman” DVD and Penny is napping. I decided to share this unbelievable book with all of you. We received it in the mail this past Saturday and we have no idea who it came from, but we sure are grateful.
I think this is one of those books everyone should get to really KNOW what is going on in the world. I know my kids have been really interested in seeing the families and how they live…nothing but a great book to broaden one’s mind, huh?
The writers travelled all over the globe to document the way people eat, what they spend their money on and they even document statistics of each location. It shares the literacy rate, obese population, McDonald’s restaurants, and people with diabetes.
The family(refugees in Chad) above only spends $1.43 a week on their food in contrast to families in Europe and the US spend $347…that’s right over $300! What?!?! We eat pretty well, but there is no way we come close to this figure! I know I but minimal snack foods and the majority of my budget is on local dairy products and fresh meat and vegetables. Crazy.
Guess where the above photo is? I only showed a bit of the photo because it was so embarrassing.
This unfortunate sight is a shot in Mongolia. It is showing how that now that there is more affluence, they now have food to throw away.
What an amazing and sobering commentary this book is on our world! If only people would be more disgusted with how we have become less grateful and more greedy. Of course, I speak from my own little world. I am fortunate to have many resources available for my family…I have learned a lot from this book, especially from those that “seem” to have less. There is something they possess that maybe we all need- and that is the instinct to survive without being swayed by a commercial for Cheetos.
April 25th, 2006 at 4:57 pm
Umm… I meant to call you and let Nathan know a birthday present was on its way. Kind of embarassing, I’m actually blushing right now at my absent-mindedness. I am so glad you like it!
April 25th, 2006 at 6:23 pm
There was an article on this book in the Marie Claire issue that i bought yesterday. Amazing to read what people eat especially their ‘favourite family dish’, the Greenland family stated theirs as Seal stew, yumm!! And they eat polar bear and walrus!
April 25th, 2006 at 6:41 pm
I’ve heard/read about this book. I know I’d love to read it. It sounds very interesting and I’m always wanting to know how people live in their daily lives in different place in the world. Thanks for posting some pictures from it! Maybe I’ll go buy it!
April 25th, 2006 at 9:48 pm
yeah, sometimes I wish I lived somewhere else and ate different food regularly. like in the faroe islands: they eat dry fish and whale. SOOOO good. They are the healthiest looking people i know, quite honestly. Actually, all scandinavian people seem to be _really_ healthy.
The pictures of chinese (or was it korean?) food that you put up make my mouth water. I had Pho for the first time about a month and a half ago and it was SO good. So simple too! I like thin flavorful broths and putting fresh vegatables and rice in. ah.. fond memories of food growing up. Our rice was the best, red/white rice mixed. Great flavor.
Aww.. now I’m hungry. I feel like it’s time to travel again.
April 26th, 2006 at 2:30 am
Wow…what a great book! Never heard of it - must get it ;o) Thank you for sharing.
P.S. Love your *New Look*.
April 26th, 2006 at 1:39 pm
I heard an article about it on NPR once. I shall look for it.