Michael Pollan begins the Omnivore's Dilemma with a relatively simple and straight forward question: What should we have for dinner? However, he believes that modern Americans have lost the ability to answer this question due to the constant flow of information, media, and seemingly contradictory medical/nutritional advice. In order to discover where our food comes from, and what may be the healthiest way to eat (in a holistic sense) he uncovers the systems behind four different meals: the industrial meal, the big organic meal, the locally produced meal, and the self produced meal.
Now that you have read the Omnivore's Dilemma and worked your way through all of the material in this course, you should have a more in depth and nuanced understanding of the complexities behind different food systems-from cultural, environmental, biological, and political economic perspectives. For this book club assignment, you will be split into smaller discussion groups. The directions for this book club assignment are below--please note that there are TWO parts to this Assignment with TWO DIFFERENT DUE DATES.
Part I: Initial Discussion Post
Choose one of the meals/food systems that Pollan discusses in his book: Industrial (i.e. a McDonald's or traditional supermarket meal), Big Organic (i.e. Whole Foods), Locally Produced (i.e. Polyface Farms), or Self foraged/self grown/self hunted. In a discussion post to the "Book Club Discussion" board (apprx 300-400 words total), please address the following questions:
- What cultural, environmental, biological/evolutionary, globalization, or political-economic principles that we have discussed in class relate to Pollan's discussion of the particular meal/food system that you are focusing on? You must address a minimum of 2 of these different course themes in your response. Be sure to use and cite at least 2 course materials as evidence to support your argument using APA format for in-text citations (apprx 200-300 words). At least one citation must be a reading, the other may be a course video. Neither Pollan or course lectures may be cited.
- How did reading this book change (or not change) your views about your own eating habits and why? Be sure to connect your viewpoints to ideas presented in the book. (apprx 100 words).