a wasteful america, part two
This is part two of a post I began ten years ago.
I'm a procrastinator, sue me!
However, this next topic has ALWAYS been on my mind: how wasteful our country is with food.
Primer: A little side note about wealth disparity
Last week, as I walked down 51st street to buy something at CVS, I noticed that the food line for our community ministry (at the church where I work) is steadily increasing. However, I also noticed that this line doesn't contain the "usual suspects" - this line was multi-racial, multi-generational, and multi-gendered. Hell, some of the folks in line even looked like they were wearing the uniform of a typical "white-collar" worker! This is not the "dregs of society," folks. These are real human beings, from all walks of life, who are waiting in line for free food, presumably because they are having difficulty making ends meet. Isn't this a story that is becoming all-too-common in our culture, as the rich are constantly and continually rewarded for being rich by given more money and more tax breaks, while the so-called middle-class continues to dissipate?
"The rich get richer, while the poor get poorer."
Yes, it really is happening, folks. Regardless of what Fox News tells you, and regardless of how many politicians flood the airwaves with cries of "fake news," our country is slowly and steadily stratifying even more between the haves and the have-nots. As if the income gap wasn't already at an all time high?
Considering the ever-increasing number of panhandlers I see daily in NYC, it seems like we have a huge problem percolating on the surface of this society. I walked from my apartment to the grocery store last week -- literally 3 1/2 blocks -- and was asked for spare change by 5 different individuals.
Some of these folks are literally "claiming" street corners, and "setting up shop," asking for money. Yes, this is a minor annoyance. But it's also a sign of a major problem -- as ALL of these persons possess darker skin tones. Racism was, is, and always will be present in this society -- and I imagine with our current administration bolstering the business class at the plight of the plebeians, that we will continue to see more of those of "darker hues" out trying to raise enough money to eat.
Hunger is a daily issue that everyone struggles with. But what we have here is a growing class of people unable to resolve that issue. When I get hungry, I simply go out and buy food to eat. However, with the disparity of income increasing, and the continual influx of inflation, a dollar just isn't worth what it used to be.
So, let's talk about those dollars, and the food that they can buy - with an eye towards the main problem I wish to discuss -- FOOD WASTAGE.
Supersize me!
Last week, I stopped into Chipotle to calm my food craving. Now, I'll be the first to admit that I'm a "skinny" guy - so, obviously it doesn't take a ton of food to fill my belly, as I have a small stomach. Whenever I eat at this particular chain, I order 2 crispy tacos (with the usual array of innards), and then crunch it all up to make a small taco salad. It costs a little over $6, and satisfies my hunger. And I appreciate that this option exists, because I simply don't need A THOUSAND CALORIES in one sitting.
But: WHO DOES? We live in a highly capitalistic culture that seems to encourage an ever-expanding waistline. Meanwhile the consumers of that culture fret over calorie counts, diets, cellulose and FAT.
Whenever I get this little "taco salad" at Chipotle, I always include sour cream. Because MMMMM SOUR CREAM NOMNOMNOM™ However, I always tell the employee, with emphasis, "just a TINY bit of sour cream." This yields a pour that looks equal in amount to the small container you can get in the dairy section of any local grocery store.
IF THAT'S A TINY BIT, HOW MUCH ARE YOU SERVING TO THOSE WHO SIMPLY SAY "SOUR CREAM"?????
Nevermind the havoc this can wreak on one's health - no human being should ever ingest that amount in one sitting, period. But this sour cream pour is just the tip of the iceberg, as every ingredient asked for is heaped on with no regards to health, proportionality or even personal preference. The folks behind the counter are part of their own machine: that of the quick service food industry -- the same as fast food, per se, but based more on individual preparation at the immediate time of order. In NYC, think Chipotle, The Little Beet, Dig Inn, Panera Bread, Just Salad, etc: places where the menu involves 5 steps -- pick your base, then your protein, then your sides, then your toppings, then your extras, or something along those lines.
And speaking of lines, the one behind you is long, hence the lack of truly curating to the customer. They are in such a hurry to get you out the door so they can serve the next person that they don't hear "just a little bit of rice, please," or "go easy on the salsa," or "I don't want a lot of cheese." All they hear are the nouns: rice, salsa, cheese. And they pour it on with no filter.
In other words: one size fits all.
As Steely Dan sang, "this is the day of the expanding man!" Who has lately noticed the official statistics regarding obesity in this country? According to the Centers for Disease Control, FORTY PERCENT of Americans are obese. (Well, 39.8%, to be exact. Maybe I'll go out and gorge myself for a week to tip the scales in support of my argument??)
The cost of calories
Here we are, back at square one. It is my guess that this industry is setup -- as are most, seemingly -- with one goal in mind: maximization of profit. It seems like an attitude or approach of "we want to be generous with our portions, so the customer will take notice, feel special, and come back, bringing more bucks to add to our bottom line." Because let's face it: the cost of the ingredients themselves are really next to nothing, compared to the inflated price tag of the meal for which you pay. I mean, how much does it really cost to prepare a bowl of iceberg lettuce with a handful of toppings and dressing, for which they then charge an obscene, inflated amount?
Now, I don't have a problem with this per se. What I do take issue with is the amount of food that ends up going in the trash. Midtown Mike and Debbie Downtown go out to lunch most days. They pay something like, let's say, $12 for a mix of ingredients that cost the restaurant probably $3 when you consider wholesale ingredient costs. (These numbers are completely arbitrary, just to make a point!) If Mike and Debbie eat the entire meal, then all's well, fair and square. But, what percentage of Americans are actually finishing the portions for which they paid? Go and do a cursory glance in the trash cans at any of these establishments. The amount of food wasted is really something worth weeping over, when you consider those folks out on the streets simply looking to satiate their hunger pains. (Not every person begging for change on the streets is an alcoholic or drug addict, folks. There are real people - real families - REAL CHILDREN - that are literally starving. All the while you are gorging yourself to the point of gastric distress.)
The same can also be said for sit-down dining. Now, some folks are very intentional about not wasting food -- hence, the doggy bag or to-go container. But even a high percentage of these leftovers end up languishing in the kitchen refrigerator, only to spoil and be tossed in the trash.
So, what we have created here in this culture is a profit-maximization machine that produces literally tons of wasted food that could daily nourish all the children that are going to bed hungry. Plus, with the middle class shrinking, the dollar is ever more valuable for each and every one of us.
So, here is my solution: simply cut down the overall portion sizes and reduce the prices. Back to Chipotle: I am personally willing to pay a larger amount adjusted to account for the size of a smaller portion. Meaning, instead of paying $10 for 30 oz. of food, let me pay $7 for 15 oz. So, the restaurant gives me half the food, but then I pay $2 extra. I save money, and the restaurant actually maximizes profit per ingredient used. (Note: yes, I realize this is exactly what I did last week. However, these options are rarely if ever on the menu, so most folks don't even realize the options exists. Make the "supersize" option the one that has to be requested, not the other way around!)
Here's another solution, something actually being put into practice to deal with this issue of food wastage. Let's hope this is the wave of the future.
In conclusion, the main thing we need is more power for the consumer dollar, less food wastage, and less children going to sleep with a rumbly tummy. Is this really too difficult to comprehend?
I don't think the greedy corporations will go for this, though, as maybe they end up losing a small margin of their profit by the end of the day. And god(ess) forbid anybody's bottom margin be up for debate. But you know what? It's not all about profit, money, and greed. At least it shouldn't be. If that's all that matters to the powers that be, then more folks will get pushed to the margins, whole swaths of society will no longer be able to afford the exorbitant prices for food, and then what are we left with? A horde of hungry homeless hopeless people with nothing left to do but eat the rich. If that be the coming case, then maybe it is good that we are fattening ourselves up for the feeding frenzy.
;-)
Maybe we can start over then and get it right this time.
Thanks for reading, I'm off to finish the leftover half burrito from dinner last night which was the size of my forearm.
p.s. did you know in some municipalities it is illegal to give away food to homeless people???
p.p.s. I dug into that leftover half of burrito for lunch, and only made it halfway through that!
I'm a procrastinator, sue me!
However, this next topic has ALWAYS been on my mind: how wasteful our country is with food.
Primer: A little side note about wealth disparity
Last week, as I walked down 51st street to buy something at CVS, I noticed that the food line for our community ministry (at the church where I work) is steadily increasing. However, I also noticed that this line doesn't contain the "usual suspects" - this line was multi-racial, multi-generational, and multi-gendered. Hell, some of the folks in line even looked like they were wearing the uniform of a typical "white-collar" worker! This is not the "dregs of society," folks. These are real human beings, from all walks of life, who are waiting in line for free food, presumably because they are having difficulty making ends meet. Isn't this a story that is becoming all-too-common in our culture, as the rich are constantly and continually rewarded for being rich by given more money and more tax breaks, while the so-called middle-class continues to dissipate?
"The rich get richer, while the poor get poorer."
Yes, it really is happening, folks. Regardless of what Fox News tells you, and regardless of how many politicians flood the airwaves with cries of "fake news," our country is slowly and steadily stratifying even more between the haves and the have-nots. As if the income gap wasn't already at an all time high?
Considering the ever-increasing number of panhandlers I see daily in NYC, it seems like we have a huge problem percolating on the surface of this society. I walked from my apartment to the grocery store last week -- literally 3 1/2 blocks -- and was asked for spare change by 5 different individuals.
Some of these folks are literally "claiming" street corners, and "setting up shop," asking for money. Yes, this is a minor annoyance. But it's also a sign of a major problem -- as ALL of these persons possess darker skin tones. Racism was, is, and always will be present in this society -- and I imagine with our current administration bolstering the business class at the plight of the plebeians, that we will continue to see more of those of "darker hues" out trying to raise enough money to eat.
Hunger is a daily issue that everyone struggles with. But what we have here is a growing class of people unable to resolve that issue. When I get hungry, I simply go out and buy food to eat. However, with the disparity of income increasing, and the continual influx of inflation, a dollar just isn't worth what it used to be.
So, let's talk about those dollars, and the food that they can buy - with an eye towards the main problem I wish to discuss -- FOOD WASTAGE.
Supersize me!
Last week, I stopped into Chipotle to calm my food craving. Now, I'll be the first to admit that I'm a "skinny" guy - so, obviously it doesn't take a ton of food to fill my belly, as I have a small stomach. Whenever I eat at this particular chain, I order 2 crispy tacos (with the usual array of innards), and then crunch it all up to make a small taco salad. It costs a little over $6, and satisfies my hunger. And I appreciate that this option exists, because I simply don't need A THOUSAND CALORIES in one sitting.
But: WHO DOES? We live in a highly capitalistic culture that seems to encourage an ever-expanding waistline. Meanwhile the consumers of that culture fret over calorie counts, diets, cellulose and FAT.
Whenever I get this little "taco salad" at Chipotle, I always include sour cream. Because MMMMM SOUR CREAM NOMNOMNOM™ However, I always tell the employee, with emphasis, "just a TINY bit of sour cream." This yields a pour that looks equal in amount to the small container you can get in the dairy section of any local grocery store.
IF THAT'S A TINY BIT, HOW MUCH ARE YOU SERVING TO THOSE WHO SIMPLY SAY "SOUR CREAM"?????
Nevermind the havoc this can wreak on one's health - no human being should ever ingest that amount in one sitting, period. But this sour cream pour is just the tip of the iceberg, as every ingredient asked for is heaped on with no regards to health, proportionality or even personal preference. The folks behind the counter are part of their own machine: that of the quick service food industry -- the same as fast food, per se, but based more on individual preparation at the immediate time of order. In NYC, think Chipotle, The Little Beet, Dig Inn, Panera Bread, Just Salad, etc: places where the menu involves 5 steps -- pick your base, then your protein, then your sides, then your toppings, then your extras, or something along those lines.
And speaking of lines, the one behind you is long, hence the lack of truly curating to the customer. They are in such a hurry to get you out the door so they can serve the next person that they don't hear "just a little bit of rice, please," or "go easy on the salsa," or "I don't want a lot of cheese." All they hear are the nouns: rice, salsa, cheese. And they pour it on with no filter.
In other words: one size fits all.
As Steely Dan sang, "this is the day of the expanding man!" Who has lately noticed the official statistics regarding obesity in this country? According to the Centers for Disease Control, FORTY PERCENT of Americans are obese. (Well, 39.8%, to be exact. Maybe I'll go out and gorge myself for a week to tip the scales in support of my argument??)
The cost of calories
Here we are, back at square one. It is my guess that this industry is setup -- as are most, seemingly -- with one goal in mind: maximization of profit. It seems like an attitude or approach of "we want to be generous with our portions, so the customer will take notice, feel special, and come back, bringing more bucks to add to our bottom line." Because let's face it: the cost of the ingredients themselves are really next to nothing, compared to the inflated price tag of the meal for which you pay. I mean, how much does it really cost to prepare a bowl of iceberg lettuce with a handful of toppings and dressing, for which they then charge an obscene, inflated amount?
Now, I don't have a problem with this per se. What I do take issue with is the amount of food that ends up going in the trash. Midtown Mike and Debbie Downtown go out to lunch most days. They pay something like, let's say, $12 for a mix of ingredients that cost the restaurant probably $3 when you consider wholesale ingredient costs. (These numbers are completely arbitrary, just to make a point!) If Mike and Debbie eat the entire meal, then all's well, fair and square. But, what percentage of Americans are actually finishing the portions for which they paid? Go and do a cursory glance in the trash cans at any of these establishments. The amount of food wasted is really something worth weeping over, when you consider those folks out on the streets simply looking to satiate their hunger pains. (Not every person begging for change on the streets is an alcoholic or drug addict, folks. There are real people - real families - REAL CHILDREN - that are literally starving. All the while you are gorging yourself to the point of gastric distress.)
The same can also be said for sit-down dining. Now, some folks are very intentional about not wasting food -- hence, the doggy bag or to-go container. But even a high percentage of these leftovers end up languishing in the kitchen refrigerator, only to spoil and be tossed in the trash.
So, what we have created here in this culture is a profit-maximization machine that produces literally tons of wasted food that could daily nourish all the children that are going to bed hungry. Plus, with the middle class shrinking, the dollar is ever more valuable for each and every one of us.
So, here is my solution: simply cut down the overall portion sizes and reduce the prices. Back to Chipotle: I am personally willing to pay a larger amount adjusted to account for the size of a smaller portion. Meaning, instead of paying $10 for 30 oz. of food, let me pay $7 for 15 oz. So, the restaurant gives me half the food, but then I pay $2 extra. I save money, and the restaurant actually maximizes profit per ingredient used. (Note: yes, I realize this is exactly what I did last week. However, these options are rarely if ever on the menu, so most folks don't even realize the options exists. Make the "supersize" option the one that has to be requested, not the other way around!)
Here's another solution, something actually being put into practice to deal with this issue of food wastage. Let's hope this is the wave of the future.
In conclusion, the main thing we need is more power for the consumer dollar, less food wastage, and less children going to sleep with a rumbly tummy. Is this really too difficult to comprehend?
I don't think the greedy corporations will go for this, though, as maybe they end up losing a small margin of their profit by the end of the day. And god(ess) forbid anybody's bottom margin be up for debate. But you know what? It's not all about profit, money, and greed. At least it shouldn't be. If that's all that matters to the powers that be, then more folks will get pushed to the margins, whole swaths of society will no longer be able to afford the exorbitant prices for food, and then what are we left with? A horde of hungry homeless hopeless people with nothing left to do but eat the rich. If that be the coming case, then maybe it is good that we are fattening ourselves up for the feeding frenzy.
;-)
Maybe we can start over then and get it right this time.
Thanks for reading, I'm off to finish the leftover half burrito from dinner last night which was the size of my forearm.
p.s. did you know in some municipalities it is illegal to give away food to homeless people???
p.p.s. I dug into that leftover half of burrito for lunch, and only made it halfway through that!
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