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benem
Yo, that's fifty dollars for a T-shirt.
PeaNut 526,154
October 2011
Posts: 5,534
Layouts: 0
Loc: Illinois
 |  Posted: 1/23/2013 4:06:46 PM
I thought this was really interesting
story
The photos are revealing. I can't believe how little some people are feeding their families every week compared to the US! |
"We are NSBR. We talk about E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G.
Diva Cups Merkins Tub Girl Crock Pots Kitten Heels The Hoff HOF Obama Bush Kardashians Shopping Carts Shopping Trolleys Dead Aunt Cookies Trolls Not Trolls Garden Snakes Snails Stripper Poles with or with out Birds In-Laws Scoff-Laws Blogs Borg Paint Colors Dinner Books and Each Other"
--SueSume, 3/21/13
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*2GirlsMama*
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 50,618
September 2002
Posts: 5,200
Layouts: 49
Loc: nwLA
 | Posted: 1/23/2013 4:38:06 PM
Very interesting.
TFS
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Lisa
We have often asserted and we affirm it yet again that no fact in history is better attested than the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It must not be denied by any who are willing to pay the slightest respect to the testimony of their fellow men. That Jesus, who died upon the cross, and was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, did literally rise again from the dead. (excerpted from Dance Your Shoes Off, Second Baptist Church)
Rachel (13), Sarah Beth (9), and sweet baby Jay (4)
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cropduster
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 250,388
February 2006
Posts: 5,651
Layouts: 0
 | Posted: 1/23/2013 4:45:56 PM
TFS! |
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Vi
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 24,036
November 2001
Posts: 5,357
Layouts: 13
Loc: Mesa, AZ
 | Posted: 1/23/2013 4:46:40 PM
That was very interesting. I don't know if all the food we eat would fit on one table.
Vi | |
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snugglebutter
dedicated chocoholic
PeaNut 55,649
November 2002
Posts: 7,087
Layouts: 3
Loc: TX
| Posted: 1/23/2013 4:50:11 PM
link
Here is a similar Time article from several years ago. |
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SillyRabbit
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 104,457
September 2003
Posts: 2,814
Layouts: 12
Loc: Where The Grass Is Blue
 | Posted: 1/23/2013 4:50:15 PM
Wow. That is interesting. Makes me thankful and ashamed all at the same time. |
Cindy 
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*Fresca*
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 204,709
May 2005
Posts: 2,717
Layouts: 0
Loc: Northern Illinois
 | Posted: 1/23/2013 4:54:06 PM
Thanks for this. My daughter lived in Honduras for 3 months and she said she ate mostly the same thing day after day. |
*Debbie*
*****Today I will be happy as a bird with a frenchfry***** | |
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Mrs_Tyler
Sorting Laundry
PeaNut 197,836
March 2005
Posts: 24,079
Layouts: 246
Loc: Enjoying the humid continental climate zone.
| Posted: 1/23/2013 4:55:13 PM
I shared your link with my geography teacher colleagues. They do a couple lessons on consumption and comparing quality of life between regions of the world. I always find these kinds of photos fascinating. Thanks for sharing! | |
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megmc
AncestralPea
PeaNut 497,090
January 2011
Posts: 4,912
Layouts: 0
 | Posted: 1/23/2013 5:00:29 PM
What my neighbor's eat would look like some of those photos. Tye eat very little and make every bit count. | |
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LolaLayout
PeaAddict
PeaNut 544,018
February 2012
Posts: 1,316
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 1/23/2013 5:02:45 PM
I'm amazed at how little so many of those families eat a week.
Do you think it is through choice or that that is all they can afford/grow?
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*Stop the glorification of busy* | |
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lucyg819
pearl-clutching nitpicker
PeaNut 201,774
April 2005
Posts: 14,375
Layouts: 15
Loc: gone to chemo with BethAnne
| Posted: 1/23/2013 5:07:21 PM
Thank you for making me feel horribly ashamed. 
Some weeks I throw away more food than some of those families eat. Honestly, it's a wake-up call. |
LUCYG
northern california
"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts."
--Bertrand Russell
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papersilly
Don't let the dreamkillers get me
PeaNut 109,681
October 2003
Posts: 6,221
Layouts: 112
Loc: so. california
| Posted: 1/23/2013 5:44:38 PM
i was afraid one of the photos would be from the US where you would have stuff much like the photo from the UK but more. talk about an embarassment of riches. |
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Kelpea
In a HapPea Place
PeaNut 176,832
November 2004
Posts: 12,226
Layouts: 2
Loc: gone to chemo with BethAnne
| Posted: 1/23/2013 5:46:18 PM
@papersilly: click onto the time article that is linked further down the thread. They show two American families; one from CA and one from NC, in addition to the other countries. |
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SpongeMom
PeaAddict
PeaNut 89,117
June 2003
Posts: 1,320
Layouts: 2
Loc: Pittsburgh
| Posted: 1/23/2013 5:50:03 PM
I have a coffee table book called Hungry Planet: What the World Eats by Peter Menzel and Faith D'Aluisio. It is the same concept but it encompasses 30 families and has stories about each of them, as well as the cost breakdown. It is completely fascinating and beautifully photographed. I would recommend it to anyone. It made a pretty big impact on my kids too.
Deb | |
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papersilly
Don't let the dreamkillers get me
PeaNut 109,681
October 2003
Posts: 6,221
Layouts: 112
Loc: so. california
| Posted: 1/23/2013 5:54:42 PM
kelpea--thanks for pointing it out. i looked and DING! DING! there was the processed food wonderland that is the US. even if it wasn't captioned it would have been pretty easy to peg as the US. |
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melanell
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 26,836
January 2002
Posts: 14,483
Layouts: 86
| Posted: 1/23/2013 6:28:28 PM
I definitely suggest checking your library for a copy of the book that this idea came from, Hungry Planet What the World Eats .
It was such an interesting book!
ETA: Oops, I see Deb already mentioned it. 
I'll just agree with her, then. |
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melanell
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 26,836
January 2002
Posts: 14,483
Layouts: 86
| Posted: 1/23/2013 6:47:09 PM
I agree with Lucy.
I keep a fruit bowl on the counter and the kids are allowed to take snacks from there on their own.
However, my 2 year old only will eat a ring around the center of the apple and then he says he is done.
Some days I cut the remaining apple for him to eat with a meal later, but sometimes I just let him toss the rest into our compost bin.
I see the family in Azerbaijan who is similar to our family (2 parents, 2 sons) and see how little fruit is on that table and think about my son's nearly full apple in the compost.  |
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gloworm
PeaNut
PeaNut 304,031
March 2007
Posts: 283
Layouts: 1
Loc: Scenic Mirror Lake Hwy, UT
 | Posted: 1/23/2013 6:51:23 PM
I have a coffee table book called Hungry Planet: What the World Eats by Peter Menzel and Faith D'Aluisio. It is the same concept but it encompasses 30 families and has stories about each of them, as well as the cost breakdown. It is completely fascinating and beautifully photographed. I would recommend it to anyone. It made a pretty big impact on my kids too.
In instructor shared that book in my Social Studies Methods class last year. It was fascinating! The book has been at the top of my wish list ever since.
I find the differences/similarities in cultures throughout the world amazing.
TFS. |
-Glo.
"Imagination is more important than knowledge.
Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." -Albert Einstein | |
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Sarah*H
Bring me that horizon!
PeaNut 239,162
December 2005
Posts: 27,897
Layouts: 413
Loc: The final frontier
| Posted: 1/23/2013 6:52:09 PM
Aside from the difference in quantity, the difference in processed foods vs. fresh foods was astonishing. I just looked at the Time article and that first photo of what the Japanese family eats made me sad because I bet 15 years ago, it would not have been a table full of packages and cans. |
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Mrs_Tyler
Sorting Laundry
PeaNut 197,836
March 2005
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Loc: Enjoying the humid continental climate zone.
| Posted: 1/23/2013 7:08:20 PM
I think Hungry Planet also has posters showing what families own. The families bring everything they own and put it out in front of their home for a photo. It's a huge wake up call about consumption. When I taught 8th grade world geography we used those posters and other data to compare consumption and quality of life. We looked at a number of economic indicators. But it's important to note that things for a 'typical" US family will look different depending on the region they live. The kids are fascinated with the comparisons. | |
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Maite
There is no secret ingredient
PeaNut 50,756
October 2002
Posts: 24,882
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Loc: NC
| Posted: 1/23/2013 7:13:28 PM
The same authors have a new book called What I Eat that I am reading now. It has 80 people from different countries photographed with what they eat in a day. It is fascinating! |
Maite
A miracle is something that seems impossible but happens anyway.
my blog | |
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myboysnme
one of those "entitled" peas
PeaNut 69,081
February 2003
Posts: 6,737
Layouts: 1
| Posted: 1/23/2013 7:20:31 PM
Agree with Lucy - I throw away in a day more than some of them eat in a week.
One time my church sold tickets for a church dinner - $5 per person. When we got there about 10 people had tickets that placed them at a sort of banquet table filled with good food, about 25 had a smaller table with some greens (salad) and a few other items like bread.
The entire rest of the parish had tickets that placed them on the floor with a bowl of rice and beans. People got very very upset. The beans and rice people were trying to get rolls from the people with bread. They didn't even approach the banquet table and ask for anything.
A huge lesson in how the world eats - and interesting that the 'rich' were seen as off limits by the poor.
It was an eye opener, and most of the beans and rice people went home and ate or stopped for fast food afterward. |
My choice is to not take it personally - people have opinions. Particularly people here.-Peabay 12/29/11
I know this is assuming, but I'm really starting to think you are one of those "entitled" peas - Dalayney 4/2/12
profile pic courtesy of GreenEyedLady Designs at Scrap ARt Studio.
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not2peased
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 260,865
May 2006
Posts: 12,879
Layouts: 0
Loc: Northeast
| Posted: 1/23/2013 7:32:56 PM
fascinating!!! |
-Kerry
Let the refining and improving of your own life keep you so busy that you have little time to criticize others.
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lucyg819
pearl-clutching nitpicker
PeaNut 201,774
April 2005
Posts: 14,375
Layouts: 15
Loc: gone to chemo with BethAnne
| Posted: 1/23/2013 7:41:13 PM
One time my church sold tickets for a church dinner - $5 per person. When we got there about 10 people had tickets that placed them at a sort of banquet table filled with good food, about 25 had a smaller table with some greens (salad) and a few other items like bread.
The entire rest of the parish had tickets that placed them on the floor with a bowl of rice and beans. People got very very upset. The beans and rice people were trying to get rolls from the people with bread. They didn't even approach the banquet table and ask for anything.
That's an Oxfam meal. My kids' high school did that every year, only it wasn't a surprise. Their names were drawn at random for which meal they were served. A few kids got a full dinner, some had rice and beans plus a little extra, and most just got a bowl of rice.
The proportions of who eats what are supposed to reflect the numbers in the real world. One way to learn that lesson! |
LUCYG
northern california
"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts."
--Bertrand Russell
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scoobers
Why, YES!, I am a princess.
PeaNut 417,049
March 2009
Posts: 12,860
Layouts: 0
 | Posted: 1/23/2013 7:51:13 PM
What I find interesting is the various family sizes compared to the US. |
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wendy.merrill
PeaNut
PeaNut 450,148
January 2010
Posts: 454
Layouts: 34
Loc: UT
 | Posted: 1/23/2013 7:59:18 PM
Very interesting, not to mention humbling. | |
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wren*walk
PeaAddict
PeaNut 481,431
September 2010
Posts: 1,822
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 1/23/2013 8:22:27 PM
I opened this just after preparing a huge crockpot of pork and veggies for a meal for the rest of the week and used more food than many of those families have for the entire week. Certainly more meat. And there is only two of us.
And I was struck how most of them had no meat or very little other protens. On the other hand, many of them look pretty well nourished. The Ethiopian and Tajikistan families made me the most sad. It's quite an eye opener.
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KristinL16
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 142,870
April 2004
Posts: 12,262
Layouts: 102
Loc: MN
| Posted: 1/23/2013 8:26:31 PM
It is surprising to me how little they eat as well. Some look like diverse diets but others seemed like all grains and maybe potatoes? I have to also wonder why they don't grow more veggies or have more meat? Brings me back to the paleo thread from yesterday. |
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bgpa
BucketHead
PeaNut 53,649
October 2002
Posts: 897
Layouts: 40
Loc: NorthCentral PA
| Posted: 1/23/2013 8:30:26 PM
Thank you for sharing this. I needed a good kick in the pants tonight I was wallowing in self pity over a problem at work. It really puts things into perspective when you see those photos. We have so much, and yet complain about everything. These people are getting by on so little. |
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scorPEAo
AncestralPea
PeaNut 181,836
December 2004
Posts: 4,981
Layouts: 0
Loc: YouSeeDavis
| Posted: 1/23/2013 8:37:43 PM
In the second link the all the families look so happy except the Germans; they look miserable. I'm struck by how much processed food is eaten, and how little produce some families eat. |
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pennyring
Thrift Ninja
PeaNut 226,011
October 2005
Posts: 22,413
Layouts: 40
Loc: Rite Aid
| Posted: 1/23/2013 8:40:52 PM
Why ashamed? I'm not ashamed for being able to provide for my household. I just feel lucky/blessed to live in the US and have the opportunities that I have. What's to be ashamed of?
The Time article shows all the developed countries to have similar consumption as the US. Maybe more fresh food, less packaged, but they certainly have plenty to eat, the same as we do.
Where is the shame in having enough to eat? Everyone should have enough. That's not "shameful".
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msbee
Mommy Peas-alot
PeaNut 100,930
August 2003
Posts: 14,203
Layouts: 118
Loc: nc
| Posted: 1/23/2013 8:42:04 PM
It is surprising to me how little they eat as well. Some look like diverse diets but others seemed like all grains and maybe potatoes? I have to also wonder why they don't grow more veggies or have more meat? Brings me back to the paleo thread from yesterday.
fresh vegtables may not grow very easily where they live due to weather or lack of space to have a garden. Meat is usually the most expensive item to buy.
In Zambia their meals revolve around a corn meal mush that is similar to polenta but made with a coarser ground corn meal. Out of the cities and in the village they raise some chickens. Meat is a treat. When you live in a hut with no electricty or running water it can be very hard to store food. |
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bgpa
BucketHead
PeaNut 53,649
October 2002
Posts: 897
Layouts: 40
Loc: NorthCentral PA
| Posted: 1/23/2013 8:46:46 PM
The shame is in the amount of food that we waste. |
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writermom1
Thrift Whisperer
PeaNut 114,407
November 2003
Posts: 22,312
Layouts: 66
Loc: At the intersection of Hooterville and Stars Hollow
| Posted: 1/23/2013 9:03:16 PM
I'm trying to curb food waste in our family, using leftovers and pantry items.
I'm already more conscious of the food we waste in buying bad or letting good go to waste. |
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Gsquaredmom
One step closer to Pea hD
PeaNut 259,367
April 2006
Posts: 7,954
Layouts: 0
Loc: Chicago suburbs
| Posted: 1/23/2013 10:15:13 PM
My son looked at those first pics and said "Some of those would be one day for me."
incredible. OP, tfs that link and thanks to the pea for the later link. |
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Jumperhop
My brain is 70% song lyrics!
PeaNut 43,833
July 2002
Posts: 16,923
Layouts: 29
Loc: The land of make believe
| Posted: 1/23/2013 10:22:32 PM
Wow! TFS
Jen | |
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jemali
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 409,844
January 2009
Posts: 2,328
Layouts: 0
Loc: Dayton (MN)
| Posted: 1/23/2013 10:32:22 PM
We had a guest from Africa at our church one time. Somebody brought him to Cub (a big grocery store) and he was amazed. He said there was more food in that store than there was in his whole country. I don't remember where he was from. |
Jean
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benem
Yo, that's fifty dollars for a T-shirt.
PeaNut 526,154
October 2011
Posts: 5,534
Layouts: 0
Loc: Illinois
| Posted: 1/23/2013 10:36:52 PM
What really struck me was that very recently (a day or so ago) there was a thread on here about what can you not live without or something.
Without reading the thread I had one answer-- a warm bed. It is bitter cold here now and I see a lot of homeless daily. I feel grateful for my warm comfy bed.
Then I read the thread and frankly I was shocked at some of these looooooonnnng lists of what people on HERE supposedly can't live without. Starbucks in the morning, good wine at night, a DVR and an iPad to surf while I watch my shows, etc.
I think it's great that people work hard and can afford entertainment and comforts. Hey I went to the movies last weekend myself. But these are not NEEDS. |
"We are NSBR. We talk about E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G.
Diva Cups Merkins Tub Girl Crock Pots Kitten Heels The Hoff HOF Obama Bush Kardashians Shopping Carts Shopping Trolleys Dead Aunt Cookies Trolls Not Trolls Garden Snakes Snails Stripper Poles with or with out Birds In-Laws Scoff-Laws Blogs Borg Paint Colors Dinner Books and Each Other"
--SueSume, 3/21/13
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benem
Yo, that's fifty dollars for a T-shirt.
PeaNut 526,154
October 2011
Posts: 5,534
Layouts: 0
Loc: Illinois
| Posted: 1/23/2013 10:37:34 PM
Thanks for the TIME link and the book titles! Will check them all out! |
"We are NSBR. We talk about E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G.
Diva Cups Merkins Tub Girl Crock Pots Kitten Heels The Hoff HOF Obama Bush Kardashians Shopping Carts Shopping Trolleys Dead Aunt Cookies Trolls Not Trolls Garden Snakes Snails Stripper Poles with or with out Birds In-Laws Scoff-Laws Blogs Borg Paint Colors Dinner Books and Each Other"
--SueSume, 3/21/13
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Luvnlifelady
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 289,166
December 2006
Posts: 17,335
Layouts: 7
Loc: Southern California
| Posted: 1/23/2013 11:02:20 PM
I would find it interesting to measure happiness or contentment with these pictures somehow.
Yes, the US and other developed countries have enough food and gadgets, etc., but are people really happy? If both members of a couple with kids are working outside the home, especially full-time, I'm not sure their happiness level would be very high.
A lot of people here in Southern CA (and elsewhere) just seem to be on the hamster wheel. Out of the garage at 8, in at 6, chores/errands on the weekends. Where is the time to enjoy any of it?
Just my ramblings for the day, but the food pictures are interesting.
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ExpatInIndia
Make a Wish
PeaNut 154,780
June 2004
Posts: 1,139
Layouts: 114
Loc: Bangalore, India
| Posted: 1/24/2013 3:52:23 AM
I'm living in India and most decisions on what to eat is about money. The fresh produce is cheap, rice is cheap. Processed food is not cheap (with less availability). Most fruit is not cheap unless it's grown here. Fresh produce is picked up daily (or every 2 days, no more) to cook for dinner. You don't go stock up on food you're not going to eat within a couple days. Cans of soda are not sold in a 6 or 12 pack, they're sold individually. Milk isn't available by the gallon. It takes money to stock up on food and space to store it. These two things that are hard to come by. Rice is bought in huge bags which is a staple for most meals. If I go to the largest grocery store here, there are maybe 10-15 types of cereal to choose from and I usually pay $8-9 a box. Locals don't eat cereal. Meat is a very small portion of the meal if they eat meat. Nothing is wasted!!
ETA: some neighborhoods will all pitch in for a mill to grind up grains. They don't have the money or space to have one in every house.
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pelirroja
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 21,146
September 2001
Posts: 2,985
Layouts: 0
Loc: Right Here, Right Now
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Flat Four
PeaNut
PeaNut 241,216
January 2006
Posts: 299
Layouts: 0
Loc: Somewhere in England
| Posted: 1/24/2013 5:22:35 AM
What is interesting to me is that they have shown 'poor' countries and then have included the UK!
Yes we have some people living in poverty and there are more and more food banks springing up but it's really giving the wrong impression that that is a typical week's food over here.
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BrinaG
PeaFixture
PeaNut 205,553
May 2005
Posts: 3,491
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 1/24/2013 8:24:56 AM
my son was researching a project the other day and came across a statistic if every person on the planet ate as much as the average American the earth would have to be 5x its size to grow/graze it all.
These photos illustrate an argument I have had repeatedly that 'hunger' in the US is not the same as hunger in a third world country. | |
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Just T
I need therapea!
PeaNut 65,272
January 2003
Posts: 13,721
Layouts: 0
Loc: In my own little world
| Posted: 1/24/2013 8:45:22 AM
Where is the shame in having enough to eat? Everyone should have enough. That's not "shameful".
I don't think it's shameful to have enough to eat. If you were quoting Lucy, I took her post to mean that she's ashamed because she wastes/throws away more food in a week than many people eat in a week. I agree with her...I think it is shameful that we often take such things for granted and just cavalierly waste food when so many people in the world have so little to eat. | |
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**buglvr12**
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 220,209
August 2005
Posts: 2,293
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 1/24/2013 8:55:16 AM
Makes me thankful and ashamed all at the same time.
This^^^^^
Wow...that is truly eye opening! TFS! |
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guzismom
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 31,617
March 2002
Posts: 9,341
Layouts: 59
Loc: southern new mexico
| Posted: 1/24/2013 10:18:54 AM
The shame is in the amount of food that we waste.
Here is a compelling youtube video concerning food waste and hunger:
Chicken A La Carte: a video about food waste and hunger.
Seeing this video, and showing it to our children, has changed our approach to food waste. Having witnessed parts of it first hand when visiting dh's family in the Philippines makes it even more real.
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Marilyn (now in New Mexico!!)
SCUBA diving and SCRAPPING Mom of two
Canon 5DMkII, 24-70 2.8L; 70-200 2.8L IS, 50 1.4;
my blog | |
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