NUTRITION DF UNIT 1
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University of Ibadan *
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305
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Health Science
Date
Nov 24, 2024
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docx
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Uploaded by yungjoe02
Food is an integral and critical part of our lives and often plays a large role in our
social lives. For this reason, it is imperative that we give thought to how food can be
an abundant, sustainable, and accessible resource for all. It is this community-minded
thinking that helps me sustain my current dietary pattern, which Zimmerman & Snow
(2012) might refer to as a "low-carbon" diet (section 1.6). I avoid eating animal
products and limit the amount of processed food I intake. Eating a predominantly
plant-based diet does less harm to both the human body and to the environment
(Blackstone et al., 2018). Another way I support a sustainable food system in my
community is by drinking tap water, as Zimmerman & Snow (2012) suggest. Most
people I work with insist on drinking bottled water and go through multiple bottles
daily. The typical excuse given for this is that our water comes from a lake that,
during warmer times of the year, can give the water an earthy, moldy taste due to algal
and bacterial growth. This taste does not bother me enough to use bottled water
because the water is carefully monitored and safe to drink. There are other benefits to
both eating a healthier dietary pattern and drinking tap water, so I would continue to
do them even if they were not a part of a sustainable food system. This fact highlights
that even without trying very hard, we can participate in sustainable food practices by
making certain easy and inexpensive lifestyle adjustments.
There are a few ways in which I would like to adjust my food habits further after
reading this week's chapters. Firstly, I would like to garden more. I am very fortunate
to live in an apartment that has a small patio with enough space to grow some
vegetables in the summer. One year, we were able to grow a kale plant inside which
yielded a good amount of cruciferous greens for us. And while one kale plant is not
enough to meet a family's needs, it did mean we purchased less from the store and less
food waste occurred as a result. Zimmerman & Snow (2012) also recommend
composting as a way to complete the food cycle -- bringing the nutrients of the food
waste back into the soil to help other foods and plants thrive. I used to compost with
an organization in my community, but due to a lack of financial support, they halted
their operations earlier this year. I know it isn't good for food waste to rot in landfills,
but it can be hard for many city dwellers to find a way to compost at home. I hope to
one day live in a city that offers composting as one of its waste management
programs. Now that I know more about how my food choices and actions can impact
other members of my community, I hope to get back to helpful practices such as
gardening and composting.
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