American Diet

American Diet

Are you over weight? Do you get tired easily? Do you struggle with high cholesterol or with high blood pressure? If so, do not worry you are not alone. Thousands of United States citizens suffer from obesity and other food related health problems. These problems can be traced back to the early twentieth century because it was at this time that the technology necessary to manipulate terrestrial food became readily available. This new technology enabled terrestrial foods to play a vital role in the global market, thus affecting the economy and creating social and environmental concerns. Social concerns mainly came about because of the decreased role of women in family life which had a domino effect -- giving birth to the fast food revolution, the creation of the FDA, world hunger.

In the early nineteen hundreds when agriculture was technologically advancing, the United States citizens were consuming a wholesome and more healthy diet than what we have today. Before chemicals and pesticides came into view, farmers ate and grew all natural fruits and vegetables to sell as well as to consume. Because of the Native Americans, farmers learned how to grow certain vegetables in a way that would help support other kinds of vegetables reproduction. 'They planted corn, beans, and squash together in small groups, so that the corn plants supported the beans, the nitrogen released by the roots of the bean plants fertilized the corn, and the sprawling squash vines reduced the number of weeds.' (Agriculture) In the 1930's new uses for farm products and agricultural wastes were discovered. New standards were beginning to become important when farmers packaged and sold vegetables and fruits. The standards were based on the sizes of the crops as well as how many were being packaged and shipped. These standards were in high demand of the people because farmers wanted to receive the bigger amounts that were being packaged as well as the bigger pieces of food.

The United States had extremely good quality fertile soil and plenty of land owned by farmers who were mostly interested in selling their goods than using them for their own personal use. This made farming much easier and made meat, grains, and vegetables widely available. The United States was so well off with their production that it was helping to feed the starving victims of World War I. (United States Culture: Food) Technology was getting more advanced and farmers were able to make more money by sending fruits that had been picked that very day on a refrigerated railroad car and straight to the consumers. This idea of 'same day delivery' made it seem that everything was fresh and new, while overlooking the fact that in order to freeze food other things were put into them.

Since the 1970's high technology farming, including new hybrids for wheat, rice, and other grains, better methods of soil conservation and irrigation, and the growing use of improved fertilizers has led to the production of more food per capita, not only in the United States, but in much of the rest of the world. (Agriculture)

World War II had a drastic change on family life. When men left for war and more jobs opened up for women, the food production industry also took a turn that forever changed the world's health. When women began to work, most of the jobs were long hours from dawn until dusk. No longer did they have the time to cook meals where they would have to literally milk a cow and chase a chicken. Since they no longer had enough time to cook from scratch because of their jobs, they had to jump at the idea and opportunity of frozen foods that would be shipped to them that same day, and ready to eat after it defrosts. After long hours of working, women were appreciative of the fact that they could begin using the new idea of canned goods.

The absence of knowledge about the health risks associated with prepackaged foods made it so that women fed their families the food that was available to them due to a larger income. Also, it was easier for children to feed themselves with meals that were already prepared. In some ways women are at fault for the emergence of prepackaged foods beginning rather than the all natural home cooked meals that people were accustomed to before and during the early 1900's.

Canned goods and pre-prepared foods were beginning to seem very practical to the average American family especially to the women whose husbands were off at war. In a certain way it started a lazy revolution. As a result of more convenient ways to do things, it became the norm to have an easy way out of everyday chores and jobs. While women were working and men were at war, without even realizing it everything was very slowly, but dramatically changing. For instance, machines were being built for farming, and the process of preparing food took less time because of the ways produce companies found easier ways to make food stay 'fresh' longer.

'The government encouraged agricultural expansion more directly with the Homestead Act, passed in 1862.'(Agriculture) The Homestead Act offered 160 acres practically free to any citizen who was voluntarily willing to develop land for use of consumption and farming. Politicians hoped that this opportunity would be more attractive to farmers because they wanted to expand the agricultural development in the western states. However, this expansion did not successfully occur. There was not enough rainfall in the West that would grow healthy crops because the farmers did not have the amount of land that the Homestead Act provided (Agriculture).

The government knew that it was extremely important to begin making the United States' agriculture grow into a strong foundation. Because there was so much land available, the government knew that all they had to do was give the perspective farmers the land which would instill self motivation, and then they would soon be able to build an incredible state of production.

These farming families settled on millions of acres that had been shunned by farmers who had crossed over the region earlier to settle in more inviting places on the Pacific Coast. These families farmed the plains with new techniques and equipment developed after the Civil War. (American Westward Movement) The government communicated with farmers to decide upon ways to manage the land and come up with ideas that could help increase the lands' production output increase. Farmers quickly learned how to use what was around them to help grow more crops, rather than depending on rain showers, and expensive equipment. When farmers began to move closer to streams and rivers, they began producing more than they ever did before while at the same time they were able to sell more crops and consuming more.

The US government created