Reading Reviews #1

Omnivores in A Pickle

A very simple frequently asked question: what do you want for dinner?

A much harder frequently asked question: what do you want for dinner?

The book, Omnivore’s Dilemma, gives a lot of thoughts in this question. It points out that we, as human beings, are what we eat. So what do we eat?

We Are Omnivores

Naturally, all kinds of creatures belong to the food chain, and so is human being; however, as we evolved, we gradually stepped out of this chain. With the intelligence of observation and memory and being curiosity toward the living place, our ancestors explored and experimented, fighting against natural rules and attacking its defense. For example, nature decides that human cannot run faster than deer or beat bears with bare hands, so our ancestors invented bows and arrows and spears. For another example, nature decides that human cannot digest raw meat easily, so they learnt to cook. If this went on, before we know it, we may jeopardize the balance of nature. As some philosophers suggested, this was the reason why human need ethics and rituals to build civilization: we are omnivores, we have the teeth both to tear meat and to grind seeds, and we are insatiable; before we destroy the world, we need regulations.

In a nutshell, we have plenty to eat, almost whatever we see. What we eat and how we eat really determine who we are. So what’s the problem?

We Want Growth

Again, we are insatiable. Do we have to? If you were still thinking about ancient tribes, perhaps no; but now we are talking about billions of people, of whom in theory, every single one is equal to everyone else and deserves the right to use resources.

So the answer is yes, because let’s face it: we don’t have that much.

Of course, human had had bad times: people launched battles and wars to fight for resources. Now since we want peace, we try to share. We need to produce more so that everybody can have a bite - that’s how we got industrialization. Therefore, we grow crops and raise livestock that are easy and cheap.

But get this: Mother Nature doesn’t like industrialization.

Nature automatically keeps its diversity using various means. Human always tries to simplify the complexity of nature, but as a result the process of food production has given rise to a lot of health issues and environmental problems. In other words, many health issues we face nowadays could trace back to the way farmlands grow our food, but the policies regarding these operations are usually unknown to the public.

We are what we eat, and what we eat also becomes us. So how do we look like now?

We Are Industrialized

What’s sad about industrialization is that it completely buries the relations between mankind and other species. Fewer people hunt for food, but instead most of us just simply accept factory food without “primary research”. We don't know how they raise the pigs because the only access we have to pork is the fridge of a supermarket.

In the industrialized life, you don't get to choose. We give up the control of what we are really eating.

Before reading the book I would think that the whole “obeying the law of nature” is nonsense. However, after knowing that almost everything contains corn, I do realize the conundrum we are facing. It would appear that I have a lot of choice from Ralphs, but what do I know, maybe at the end of the day I can only eat either corn or the products of corn. And why is corn so popular?

It’s the result of market and governmental control. Notice: it’s not always because of the demand and supply curves; a lot of factors take part in deciding what crops to grow. Many times when corns in the market are more than enough, governments subsidize farmers who couldn't earn back what they had spent. That’s why people use corns everywhere, or otherwise they are wasting.

So no, my food choice doesn’t depend on what I want. Again, sometimes I don’t even know what it is. So what can we do?

We Are What We Eat

Many of my friends came to realize this and started to grow their own vegetable. Although they still have to acquire the bulk of their meals from the market, they feel happier because they at least gain some control back. It’s not just preventing from eating farm chemicals that they don’t know about, but also about the belief that human should obey the law of nature.

You have this option, too. One of my friend even gave up his promising future in a city and took his family to live in the suburb where he could grow his own meals. When he told me this I could feel his joy, but also some disappointment about the boring rural life and the low income. Personally, I would rather spend more hours on working, reading, or singing than on preparing food. I’m fine with simple meals if other things are more meaningful to me. Fast food works for me every other days.

It’s just like any tradeoff. Your choices build up your personality, that’s all.

To eat or not to eat, that’s the pickle.

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