Saige Hanson- Fogarty

Humanities 11 Section
2

The way I want to change

I hated vegetables as a child. Sometimes I would wrap them up in my napkin when I thought that
my parents weren’t looking. I even fed them to the dogs. I would even try put them back into the
serving bowl or on my parents’ plate. I loved Wendy’s, though. Even now as a teenager, I love
their chicken nuggets. Or, at least I did. Until​ ​I read Michael Pollan's book, ​The Omnivore’s
Dilemma.

From genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) that help farmers grow larger yields that don’t
require pesticides, to Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), ​The Omnivore’s
Dilemma​ has a lot to say about how our food is produced and grown. But of all of the things that
I learned, the thing that sticks with me is when Pollan writes, “​Imagine if we had a food system
that actually produced wholesome food. Imagine if it produced that food in a way that restored
the land. Imagine if we could eat every meal knowing these few simple things: What it is we’re
eating. Where it came from. How it found its way to our table. And what it really cost….”

I have never considered where my food comes from. I have never considered where Wendy’s
chicken nuggets come from either. But one day, I was sitting in the Inclusion Department having
a conversation with my teacher and a friend, and suddenly I was faced with terrible facts about
my beloved chicken nuggets: blood vessels, ground bones, fat, and connective tissue. I felt sick
to my stomach. Blood vessels? Ground bones? What was I putting in my mouth?! I knew then
that I would never eat chicken nuggets again.

Suddenly, my parents serving me vegetables made total sense. They were trying to teach me
good eating habits. Suddenly, I was grateful for them and their guidance. Because of ​The
Omnivore’s Dilemma,​ I have been looking for ways to eat healthier. For instance, I wake up
every morning and make myself a smoothie with lots of fruits and vegetables. When I get home
from school and make myself some meat, vegetables, and a salad. If my mother and I go out to
eat, I make sure to balance out my meals with meat and vegetables.
This experience has taught me how important it is to know where your food comes from and
what your food is made of. Knowing where your food comes from is not only important for me
to know, but for everyone around the world. What if you could walk into the supermarket and
know that the food you are buying is wholesome and good for you? What if ​we produced food in
a way that restored the land? What if we could know these few simple things: What it is we’re
eating, where it comes from, and how did it make its way to our table? I think that it would
change a lot of people's views on what they are eating and what they are getting at our local
supermarkets. For me, finding out what chicken nuggets were made out of helped me realize
how I am eating and I want people to see what they are eating too.