hungry planet analysis-final draft
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Hungry Planet Analysis-Final DraftTRANSCRIPT
Michael Young
Ms. Claudia Browning
English 105: Advanced First Year Composition
6 November 2012
The World Through the Food
Food is one of the necessities that links every human being together regardless of race,
creed, gender, and socioeconomic status. People must eat to survive. In a world where the food is
predominately purchased rather than hunted and gathered, money and cultural norms play a large
part in determining what a family eats. The husband and wife team of photographer Peter
Menzel and writer Faith D'Aluisio traveled to twenty-four different countries and chronicled the
weekly diets of thirty families. The book that resulted from the travels of Menzel and D’Aluisio,
Hungry Planet: What the World Eats provides powerful insight into the diets, cultures, and
socioeconomic differences in people across the world (Norris).
One of the most affluent families that Menzel and D’Aluiso meet during their travels is
the Melander family from Bargteheide, Germany (See appendix A). This family of four consists
of Jörg, 45, and Susanne, 43, with their two sons Kjell and Finn, ages 10 and 14 respectively.
The Melanders spend 375.39 or $500.07 a week on food, beverages, and other items that are a
part of their diet. They spend $31.98 on grains and starches, $64.33 on dairy; $51.31 on meat,
fish, and eggs; $78.10 on fruits, vegetables, and nuts; $31.83 on condiments, $14.56 on desserts
and snack foods, $66.78 on prepared foods, $70.01 on beverages, and $91.01 on miscellaneous
items that consist primarily of vitamins (Norris, 205). The Melanders clearly are able to afford a
diverse and balanced diet.
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Without looking at the amount of money spent on a weekly basis, the reader can tell that
the Melanders are a somewhat affluent family, which is exemplified by how the food is
displayed and by the family’s home decor (Apendix A). When the reader first sees the
photograph, he or she will immediately notice the volume of the food consumed each week by
this family of four. Not only are they able to afford such a giant spread of food, but their house
also appears to be well maintained and orderly. The furniture is of high quality, and the fixtures
seem to be well made. As the reader glances toward the right side of the photograph, he or she
notices the many books on the family’s shelves. The Melanders definitely are well read, so one
can assume that they are a well-educated family. Jörg and Susanne appear to be college
educated, and they are trying to provide the very best for their two children.
In reference to the family’s body language present in the photograph, the Melanders
appear to be somewhat aloof, which does not create much of an emotional response in the
reader’s mind. The reader notices a quiet confidence present in the faces and body language of
Jörg, Susanne, and their oldest son, Finn. Their noses are almost turned up in a condescending
manner in the photograph. Some of the audience viewing this particular photo might have
difficulty connecting to the Melander family, because they do not seem to exude warmth and
therefore are not the most inviting people. Their facial expressions are somewhat somber.
Perhaps this family exemplifies the old adage that money does not buy happiness. On the
contrary, the Melander family may be more reserved and less expressive by nature. A stoic
personality can be a common German stereotype, so they may be no different than many other
families in the region. Nonetheless, a true emotional connection is hard to establish with the
Melanders due to how they are presented visually.
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Menzel and D’Aluiso chose a family, in the Melanders, that represents the dietary
choices and customs of a modern German family. Breakfast is arguably the staple of the German
diet with meats, cheeses, eggs, and breads being common. Lunch is the second most important
meal of the day, while dinner is the least important. For both lunch and dinner, the German
people often consume large amounts of meat. A diet that is high in fat is not uncommon in
Germany, due to the prevalence of meat in the average diet. (Boxall). The Melanders consume
large amounts of breakfast foods from cold cuts to eggs to croissants. They tend to purchase
many foods that are high in fat, such as beef, pork, and sweets (Norris). The one typical German
food that they do not have, however, is sausage style processed meats (Boxall); (Norris). Perhaps
they are more health conscious than some other German families, because they do not consume
many processed meats; rather they opt for a fresher variety of foods. They have a diet that is rich
in fruits and vegetables, and they even grow their own apples. Additionally, the family spends
nearly twenty percent of their food expenditure for one week on an eclectic mix of vitamins.
Salads are also an integral part of their weekly consumption as they purchase a large amount of
lettuce and other vegetables to add to their dishes. The Melanders seem to enjoy many foods that
originate from other countries, such as Italy for example. They have two types of Barilla pasta,
extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, frozen pizza, tortelloni, and Bertolli pasta sauce. When it
comes to the beverages that they consume, the Melanders are very much in line with Germany’s
alcohol consuming and breakfast oriented culture. The reader immediately notices the large
amount of beer, wine, and juice that the family drinks on a weekly basis. In total, they consume
twenty-eight bottles of beer and four bottles of wine. Even with ten of the bottles of beer being
non-alcoholic, the Melanders drink a substantial amount of alcohol, which is a common
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occurrence amongst German families (Boxall);(Norris). Menzel and D’Aluiso’s choice to
photograph and document the Melander family makes sense, because there diet is very accurate
for a modern German family.
Interestingly enough, The Melander family’s diet and lifestyle is not very similar to that
of the Revis family from Raleigh, North Carolina (see Appendix B). The Revises are a family of
four with two boys as well, but the dietary differences between these two families are quite
distinct. The Revis family also consumes a relatively costly amount of food per week at $341.98,
but the quality of their diet is much lower than that of their German counterparts. The American
family consumes a greater amount of processed foods as well as fast food than the Melanders.
The Revises appear to have a rather average American diet that is relatively unhealthy. Coca-
Cola, McDonalds, and pizza are all dietary staples for this North Carolina middle-class family.
On the positive side, they do consume a large amount of fruits and vegetables much like the
Melander family. The Revises do not appear to be concerned with any health food crazes and do
not consume any vitamin supplements. Surprisingly, the Revises look to be physically fit,
although their diet would indicate otherwise. Both of the Revis children are in arguably better
shape than the Melander boys. The American family spends $158.09 less than the German one
does, yet judging by their facial expressions, the Revises appear to be living a much happier life.
Once again, money and happiness do not seem to correlate. Both families clearly were chosen
for their culturally customary diets (Norris).
Menzel and D’Aluiso’s Hungry Planet: What The World Eats is a powerful book that
reels the reader in as he or she connects with each and every family photographed. From the
truly poverty stricken to the somewhat affluent, the book is aimed to create awareness of the
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world’s cultural similarities and differences. Food is just a small piece of the photographs, as the
families themselves each tell a story. Food is a common unifier amongst the human race, because
eating is essential to survival. How one’s nutrients are consumed is largely dependent on an
individual’s socioeconomic status, nationality, and cultural customs.
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Appendix A
(http://img . timeinc . net/time/photoessays/2007/hungry_planet/15 . jpg )
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Appendix B
(http://img . timeinc . net/time/photoessays/2007/hungry_planet/05 . jpg )
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Works Cited
Boxall, Jane. "Diet & Nutrition in Germany." LIVESTRONG. N.p., 18 Jan. 2011. Web. 27 Oct.
2012. <http://www.livestrong.com/article/359745-diet-nutrition-in-germany/>.
Menzel, Peter. Melander Family. N.d. Photograph. Time. Web. 27 Oct. 2012.
<http://img.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/2007/hungry_planet/15.jpg>.
Menzel, Peter. Revis Family. N.d. Photograph. Time. Web. 27 Oct. 2012.
<http://img.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/2007/hungry_planet/05.jpg>.
Norris, Michele. "Hungry Planet: What The World Eats." NPR. N.p., 09 Nov. 2005. Web. 27 Oct. 2012. <http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5005952>.
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