There's one thing that we need to do each day and that's eat.Most of us can afford to but there's many in the world who can't.
And those who can afford to are not making very good choices when it comes to their own diets and those of their families.
It seems that those with small incomes are more selective of the foods they put into their bodies but too, they may be starved of choice.
Here's some images and statistics that might make us all consider what we're serving up on our dinner tables.
One thing's for sure, the western diet certainly consumes a load of processed food and artificially sweetened beverages and many of the developing countries are unfortunately doing the same.
Hence the increase in diet related diseases.
But diet is often determined by uncontrollable forces such as poverty, conflict and today to a huge extent, globalization.
These images and many more here are from the book Hungry Planet by Peter Manzel and Faith D'Aluision who traveled through twenty four countries recording the people and the prices they pay for their weekly meals.
It's food for thought isn't it.
I'm eating closer to third world standards than American. Of course, I take the time to cook and prepare foods myself. I'd go broke trying to eat the American Diet. (like other Americans do?)
ReplyDeleteYou forgot to show the images of those who scour the garbage dumps daily. Their average weekly spend is zero.
ReplyDeleteFascinating, can we judge people by how many fruits and vegetables they eat? As an American, they look pretty weird. I read your blog daily but this post really got me. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteYou may be familiar with the old saying Ches. We are what we eat...
DeleteExcept for Chad, it looks like those spending less may eat more healthy than those spending more.
ReplyDeleteYou're right Gorges, the folk with less to spend have to make sure they buy wisely...
DeleteI've seen a couple of these in a text book but it's really interessting to see the lot. Good to have look at the people too.
ReplyDeleteAnd do the people appear to 'be what they eat?'
DeleteThe Japanese look a bit fishy, the Mexicans and Egyptians are colourful, the Germans look fairly square but balanced and beery, the Brits pale and boxy, the Italians slim and fruity and the family from Chad are pretty grounded. Yes they do look like what they eat but the Ecuadoreans don't, surprisingly, look like bananas.
DeleteThought provoking. Not always sure how accurate these comparisons are. Mine looks more Italy with way less bread and lots more greens...no soda.
ReplyDeleteBut then I'm American but perhaps not typical.
I've researched as much as I can for now and even if the numbers are not one hundred percent accurate Diana, they serve up a good guide don't you think...
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