Hungry Planet: What the world eats is a book put together by photographer Peter Menzel and author Faith D’Aluisio, and showcases families around the world and what they eat in a week. What the photos highlight are the differences in food intake among industrial and non-industrial nations, the influence of globalisation in eating habits, and how technology is disconnecting us from nature.
What is astonishing (or not) is that families in the so-called rich, developed nations have some of the worst diets and eating habits. A high percentage of what is eaten is processed and manufactured. Families in the so-called poorer, undeveloped nations may have less range and quantity, but what they eat is real food. They also have a much closer connection to nature, and rely on it to grow and/or source their food.
One argument that often comes up about buying healthy food is that it is too expensive. This is true. But it has been ‘made’ this way. As shown in the book, natural, organic food is what some of the ‘poorer’ nations eat. Organic in the sense that it’s produced in sustainable quantities, under natural farming practices and delivered locally. So how is it possible that a less industrialised country can afford to eat organic food?
The cost of real food is also relative. Cost is often influenced by the value we attribute to an item. How important is it to me?
Posted by Jasmin on May 19, 2015