Final Post

One of the most interesting things that I have learned about food this during this class is the connections that each person has with food.  Each person relates to food in their own personal way and in doing so, they deepen the importance of food for them.  In researching food, I have learned a lot from each source that I have used in my research papers.  I have done a few research papers in my day, and I really enjoyed reading from each source and really getting a lot out of them.  After this class, I have really gained a better understanding for food.  In the long run, I would like to expand upon my knowledge of more foreign foods, and really get out of my comfort zone and try new types of food.  I think that after taking this class, when I study abroad I will be able to try a lot of food that is customary to that particular country.  Overall, I think this class has really done good for me and my relationship with food.  It was really the time that I enjoyed writing just because food is something I hold near and dear to my heart.  I would certainly recommend this course to someone who has not taken an 1133 writing course yet.

EE2

Kerry dePenaloza

Prof. Leake

Writ 1133

20 May 2013

A Breakfast for Champions Manifesto

            If you were to ask someone what they thought the most important meal of the day was, chances are they would respond with breakfast, and they would be right.  Breakfast is not only one of the most delicious meals of the day, but it is extremely vital to your health both mentally and physically.  Personally, breakfast has always been a part of my life.  When my older brother and I were still in school back in St. Louis, my dad would always be the person to prepare breakfast.  When most people think of breakfast, they think of bacon, sausage, eggs, pancakes, and waffles, and that is exactly what I think of when breakfast comes to mind.  My dad was always a fun cook when it came to breakfast because the same dish was never served twice in a week.  In the article “Breakfast and Your Health” in Harvard Men’s Health Watch, the author states, “the hearty feast of bacon and eggs that you may remember from your youth is hardly a good start by today’s standards, and the doughnut and coffee that have replaced it in today’s fast-paced world is no better.”  Eating breakfast like this every day is not a healthy way to live ones life.  In order to really appreciate what breakfast does to me and others, I need to fully understand the health benefits of certain foods, and how I can eat the food I want to eat, but at the proper amount.  If I am able to do this breakfast will be forever a part of my life and hopefully the lives of others.

            Coming from a background where I always had breakfast before school, I am amazed at the amount of people that choose not to eat breakfast every day at the University of Denver.  I have noticed it a lot more once I got to college probably because I was never around my friends when they ate breakfast before school back home.  In Julie Deardroff’s article “How to Eat Breakfast” she sums up the problem some people have with breakfast by saying, “breakfast comes at a terrible time of day to make a rational decision.  We’re rushed, we’re groggy, and we’re famished.”  It seems pretty obvious that in the morning, your brain is not quite awake, which would account for someone making an irrational decision and skipping breakfast.  As much as someone does not want to eat breakfast, it is really something that should not be skipped.  Unaware to some, breakfast does a lot more then filling your stomach.  Breakfast fuels your brain, it maintains weight, and it provides much needed nutrition. 

            The fact that breakfast fuels your brain may seem hard to believe at first, but when you think about it, it makes plenty of sense.  When you sleep, your brain does not just turn off, in fact it is working the entire time.  Your brain is working to drain its main energy source, glucose, and breakfast is needed to replenish your brains fuel.  In Natalie Smith’s article “Breakfast’s Benefits” she states, “A morning meal replenishes that energy supply.  If you skip breakfast, you are left feeling tired and irritable.”  In this case, the glucose gained from food is exactly like the gas for your car, both requires food to work properly.  It makes a lot of sense that my dad always made sure I was well fed before I left for school.  After refueling my brain with a great breakfast, I was able to focus more in school, succeed on tests, get good grades, and overall just be ready to tackle the day ahead of me. 

Along with fueling your brain, breakfast maintains weight.  Some people may be “skip[ping] breakfast in an effort to curb their daily calorie intake, but what they don’t realize is that they’re usually doing more harm than good” (Smith).  A known fact about weight loss is that you need to burn more calories then you consume in a day in order to maintain a healthy weight.  Its understandable why someone would think that avoiding the breakfast calories would benefit them, however they tend to make poor food decisions due to hunger throughout the day because of that decision.  Simply eating breakfast is not enough for a healthy lifestyle though.

In my life, I have always played sports after school and starting the day with breakfast was always a necessity in order to perform well in school all day and continue that performance into my practices and games after school.  As well as brain fuel and weight maintenance, the nutrients that are provided by a healthy breakfast every day are essential to a daily life.  In Natalie Smith’s article, she refers to the American Dietetic Association saying, “According to the American Dietetic Association, children and teens who eat a healthy breakfast are more likely to meet their overall nutrient requirements.”  Many breakfast foods are high in many essential vitamins and minerals such as calcium, vitamin D, iron and folic acid.  All are vital for a healthy life and a productive day. 

As a kid growing up, breakfast was never out of question.  I feel that I can attribute a lot of my success in school to breakfast.  Starting the day off with a complete breakfast really got me ready for the day.  However, my breakfast eating habits have certainly changed a little ever since I arrived to the University of Denver.  As I have gone through my first year as a college freshman, I can certainly see my eating habits changing.  I still have breakfast almost every day, but sometimes I do not have morning classes, and because of this I sleep in and sometimes miss breakfast.  This is a new thing for me and I can easily see the negative effects of skipping breakfast.  Also, the dorm cafeterias have limited selection on healthier breakfast options, which are important to have, I cannot be eating pancakes, bacon, sausage, etc. every day.  Regardless of the excuses I make or others make, breakfast is something that should never be skipped if possible.  Natalie Smith talks about the American Dietetic Association’s observations in her article “Breakfast’s Benefits.”  According to the American Dietetic Association, “more than half of male teenagers and more than two thirds of female teens do not regularly eat breakfast.”  This is an astounding number to me.  I guess it just seems so surprising to me because of the fact that I was brought up with a meal every morning.  At school, some people have some strange breakfast eating habits.

One thing that I have noticed, besides the fact that many people skip breakfast, is the amount of people that do not eat breakfast, but drink coffee or tea in the mornings instead.  I always have a cup of coffee if I have early morning classes, but it is part of my complete breakfast.  First off, if someone is only drinking coffee, they are depriving their body of the necessary nutrients.  Simply drinking coffee pretty much does the opposite of what a healthy breakfast does to your body.  Once the caffeine wares off, the coffee can leave you fatigued, in a bad mood, and even can lead to weight gain.  It is important to eat breakfast along with the coffee.

The key about breakfast is that there are some many unhealthy things you can eat.  It may be one of the most important meals of the day, but it can also be one of the unhealthiest if breakfast is not done right.  The most common mistake about breakfast is that people tend to eat too many simple carbohydrates.  Simple carbohydrates are things like sugary cereals, white breads, and toast.  Simple carbohydrates have an effect on the body that results in a surge the body’s blood sugar levels.  As science tells us, when blood sugar levels get too high, the pancreas releases insulin.  According to “The Southern Reporter,” “the insulin removes sugar from the blood and puts it into storage, primarily fat.  The result is a decreased level of blood sugar and a hunger for more carbs.”  Simple carbohydrates are a part of a lot of major breakfast foods and are some times hard to avoid.  Simple carbohydrates are very prevalent and they can “leave you starving by 11 a.m. and craving sugary foods” (DeCostole).  In order to avoid the inevitable release of insulin after eating food with simple carbohydrates, a protein-based breakfast is an excellent substitute.  The more protein-based diet provides necessary nutrients and energy that is vital to the body, and at the same time it avoids the increase in blood sugar ultimately limiting the release of insulin.  In regards of a protein-based breakfast, “The Southern Reporter” states, “it helps to avoid a dependence on carbs during the day and in this way, appetite stays under control and the body uses stored fats to get more energy.”  It seems like the best choice to eat more protein-based breakfasts.  Incorporating more fruits, protein, and good oats is ultimately the best type of food for the most successful day. 

            The idea of having three square meals a day has always been a part of my life.  As I have gotten older and more educated, the reason for having three square meals has taken a new meaning with my understanding of how the body works and what the body needs.  However, I never really thought much of the phrase “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” until now.  I always knew it was important, but never this important.  After researching the idea of breakfast, I have learned a lot.  Breakfast is something that should not be treated lightly.  I will be tailoring my breakfast meals from now on in order to get the energy I need to get through the day.  I will be eating more protein-based foods, more fruits, less simple carbohydrates, and always eating when I drink coffee.  It is imperative the my brain be properly fueled for a long day of schoolwork ahead.  I will certainly be getting up a few minutes earlier in order to leave myself enough time to prepare a healthier breakfast seeing as how the cafeteria does not supply the healthiest options.  Breakfast will forever be a part of my life, it is better to know the benefits at a younger age than to never have known them at all. 

Works Cited

“Breakfast and Your Health.” Harvard Men’s Health Watch, Vol. 9, No. 7. February,    2005.

Deardorff, Julie. “How to Eat Breakfast: What you eat in the morning can make or break your

            day.” Orlando Sentinel. August 18, 2009.

DeCostole, Jessica. “Eat this for Breakfast!” Redbook, Vol. 208, No. 1, p. 56. January    2007.

“Feel Good by Eating a Healthy Breakfast.” The Southern Reporter Apr 13 2013.                                   ProQuest. Web. 22 May 2013

Smith, Natalie. “Breakfast’s Benefits.” Scholastic Choices, Vol. 21, No. 1, p. 18-20.          September, 2011

P9

Kerry dePenaloza

Prof. Leake

Writ 1133

19 May 2013

P9

In the essays written by Michael Pollan and Melanie Dupuis, they both focus their attention on the food trends that have been present throughout history.  For example, in Melanie Dupuis’ article, “Angels and Vegetables: A Brief History of Food Advice in America,” she talks a lot about food trends in terms of slavery, religion, the Civil War, WWI.  Each example really shows how the food trends have changed significantly over time.

  As well as talking about past food trends, another big focus in both essays are what a good solution would be for the current food trends that are unhealthy and are just bad eating habits.  For example, in Michael Pollan’s essay, “Unhappy Meals,” he makes note of the modern eating habits and how bad the food is for the consumer than it use to be in the past.  He talks about eating habits that claim to be healthy and in fact are not, such as some of the bogus diets that are out there today.  Pollan puts a lot of emphasis on the amount of food people eat in the present day.  He talks about how what someone eats is important, but even more important is the amount of food that person eats.  

After reading both essays, I was able to relate them to a contemporary food issue that affects us whether we know it or not.  In fact the essays made me think of two big issues that relate to how much or how little we eat.  Americans eat a lot of food and sometimes it is very unhealthy food.  Part of the problem is that we are always given large portions of food rather than the right amount.  Consequently, some Americans do not eat enough.  There are so many products on the market now that promise the results that are only achievable through proper food intact and proper exercise.  It is not physically possible to take a pill twice a day and get the desire results.  Both Pollan and Dupuis do a good job of backing up their arguments with examples as well as making valid points on food trends of the past and present.

What Should I Eat?

When I am looking for something to eat, I kinda do a little mental game as to decide what I want to eat. Some food I know make my stomach upset and I tend to stay away from them, but thats only a few.  When I walk into the dining hall, I first make sure to see what is available, then I begin to decide.  I don't think too long but I eventually make a decision.  When I eat I sometimes eat for pleasure, but I always incorporate something healthy and for my body.  To make it more concrete, I would say I choose my food based off of healthiness and taste.

Spinach SE5

Kerry dePenaloza

Prof. Leake

Writ 1133

14 May 2013

Spinach

            Over the past few days, I have been keeping a food log.  This is the first time I have ever kept a food log, and it is quite interesting to see what I eat on a regular basis.  I ate things from Asian noodles, to chicken wings, and even a chicken caesar flatbread sandwich.  Even though I was eating so many different things, there was one item that I had more often than not, and this became more evident after writing a food log.  I noticed I was eating spinach salads more than I normally do.

            My like for spinach came from my background in food.  My parents have always kept healthy food in the house and always made healthy food part of every meal.  Spinach is a plant that is that to have originated in ancient Persia.  Spinach has been around for years and a part of my different cultures thanks to the Arabs.  In the article “Pakistan & Gulf Economist” by S. M. Alam, the author writes, “Arab traders carried spinach into India, and then the plant was introduced into ancient China.”  It is very cool to eat something that has ties to different centuries and different cultures.  I really enjoy eating spinach, not just because of its unique history but also mostly for its health benefits.

            From an early age, I would watch Popeye and see him eat his spinach when he was in a sticky situation.  When I eat spinach, I feel energized and ready to go, just like Popeye.  In the article Pakistan & Gulf Economist by S.M. Alam, the author talks about the health benefits of Spanish by saying, “spinach is an excellent source of beta carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, potassium, iron, sulphur, sodium, folic acid, and oxalic acid.”  Along with all the beneficial things one can get from eating spinach, it also contains more protein than any other vegetable on the market.  In the article “The World’s Healthiest Foods,” author George Mateljan talks about the unknown benefits of spinach, saying, “you may be surprised to learn that spinach helps to protect against inflammatory problems, oxidative stress-related problems, cardiovascular problems, bone problems, and cancers.”  The reason spinach has such an effect on our bodies is due to all the phytonutrients it contains.  Almost every vegetable contains phytonutrients, however, spinach is among a few that contain some of the most beneficial phytonutrients.  Every part of spinach has something beneficial to us as humans.  Spinach is something that should be a part of every diet.  In one cup of cooked spinach, you get 24 nutrients that are all good for you.  The real question is why would someone not eat spinach if it does nothing but benefit you and your body.

            I have never really gone in depth with spinach.  I have just known my whole life that it is healthy for you.  After doing a food log and seeing the times I ate spinach, I will certainly be increasing my spinach intake.  The article by George Mateljan really puts things into perspective.  I was never aware of everything that spinach does for the body.  If you are not the biggest fan of spinach, I would highly suggest reading the article by George Mateljan; it makes me like spinach even more.  I have always wondered why I feel so energized after a bowl of spinach, and it is extremely evident at this point.  I guess Popeye was right when he said “I’m strong to the finish because I eats my spinach!”

Works Cited

Alam, S. M. "Spinach." Pakistan & Gulf Economist 30.11 (2011): 60-1. ProQuest. Web. 14 May 2013.

Mateljan, George. "Spinach." The World's Healthiest Foods. N.p.. Web. 13 May 2013. <http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=43

Food Log

Kerry dePenaloza

Food Log:

Wed May 8^th:

-Dinner: creamy mashed potatoes, green beans, three strips of steak, and Asian noodles  and a glass of water @ 5:30 PM

-Late night meal: chicken Caesar flatbread with ancho chipotle sauce and lettuce and a bag of jalapeño chips with water @ 10 pm

May 9^th:

-Breakfast: egg, ham, bacon bagel sandwich. Peach yogurt with granola and a cranapple drink @ 9:30 am

-Lunch: chicken, bacon, lettuce, cheese, spicy wrap, and tater tots with water @3:30 pm

-Dinner: 8 chicken wings celery and carrots and water@ 7pm

May 10^th

-Breakfast: 2 bowls of Reese’s puffs with orange juice@ 9:30 am

-Lunch: Udon noodles ,spinach salad, and a grilled cheese with a Gatorade @ 12:30 pm

-Dinner: Cheeseburger with avocado. Spinach salad and carrots with a water @7 pm

May 11^th

-Breakfast: Two fried eggs, toast, and yogurt with orange juice @10:30 am

-Lunch: Two hotdogs with ketchup and mustard with coke @2 pm