Hungry Planet - PP Notes

Editor's Notes

• #2: The food people eat and the ways in which they serve and celebrate this food reveal a great deal about their culture, the local environment, and their relations with other places. For example, one family’s kitchen cupboards may store American brand-name processed foods alongside foods that have been grown on local farms for centuries. This combination indicates a crossroads between old and new, local and global. In recent years, globalization of food production and consumption, rising levels of affluence, and immigration have had a significant impact on eating habits and food acquisition around the world. The Hungry Planet team had dinner with 30 families in 24 countries with the intention of “explor[ing] humankind’s oldest social activity: eating.” They documented families farming, shopping, cooking, and sharing meals. At the end of each visit, they took a photograph of the family surrounded by a week’s worth of food. This presentation introduces you to 12 of these families. As you look at the photographs, pay careful attention to the details. What food items do you recognize? What do you find unfamiliar? What surprises you? What are the differences and similarities between what you see in these photographs and what you’re used to in your own life? What do these families’ methods of acquiring and preparing food tell you about their overall lifestyles and cultures? What does their diet reveal about their level of affluence and health?
• #3: This presentation features families from these countries.
• #5: Most residents of this small mountainous country in the Himalayas practice subsistence agriculture. The Namgay family of Shingkhey Village is no exception. They grow most of their own fruits and vegetables and try to avoid having to purchase these items at the market. On the occasions when they do need to buy food at the market, they feel a financial pinch. In this way, they typify subsistence farmers around the world. During the Hungry Planet team’s visit, Shingkhey Village was finally connected to Bhutan’s electrical grid. This electrification will likely bring change to the villagers’ lives, possibly affecting the ways in which they preserve and prepare food. The next slides introduce you to the Namgays’ lifestyle, as seen through the family’s weekly food supply.
• #8: We see mainly vegetables, with few meat and dairy products. Most people in Bhutan are Buddhist and don’t kill animals for food. The Namgays only eat meat when an animal dies naturally or accidentally, or during the puja—a special cleansing of evil spirits that monks lead in the village about 12 times a year. There are about 12 houses in the village, and each house has one puja per year. During the puja, villagers share a pig that has been killed by a special butcher. The family also purchases dried meat or fish about once a month. The fish in the right-center portion of the photograph represents the amount of dried fish or meat the family will eat in about three months.
• #9: We see mainly vegetables, with few meat and dairy products. Most people in Bhutan are Buddhist and don’t kill animals for food. The Namgays only eat meat when an animal dies naturally or accidentally, or during the puja—a special cleansing of evil spirits that monks lead in the village about 12 times a year. There are about 12 houses in the village, and each house has one puja per year. During the puja, villagers share a pig that has been killed by a special butcher. The family also purchases dried meat or fish about once a month. The fish in the right-center portion of the photograph represents the amount of dried fish or meat the family will eat in about three months.
• #13: This is a sack of red rice. Since rice is easy to store in dried form, they can keep it in these large sacks for an extended period of time. They go through this amount quickly, however, eating almost 70 pounds of rice per week. They must also keep a substantial amount on hand to serve to visitors.
• #15: Ecuador is a small, mountainous country on the west coast of South America. Although located at the equator (hence the country’s name), many areas of Ecuador are at high altitudes and have a very cold, arid climate where few crops grow well. As you will see, the Ayme family of Tingo must put in a lot of effort to keep itself well fed. The family’s farm sits 11,000 feet above sea level. It is very windy on the side of the mountain where their farm is located.
• #18: This kitchen is clearly very different from most kitchens in the West. The walls have turned black from years of exposure to smoke from the wood fire. The kitchen has no electricity or gas supply, so it has no modern appliances such as refrigerators, ovens, or dishwashers. The lack of refrigeration means that the family must dry its food in order to preserve it. Although we can’t see any in this photo, the family also keeps guinea pigs (cuy) for meat to be eaten on special occasions. The guinea pigs are shy and tend to stay in the shadows. Much like chickens in some other countries, the guinea pigs run free around the family’s home, eating scraps from the kitchen floor. The family has no kitchen table, and they sit on the floor or small wooden benches while eating. We can also see hay on the floor; the family keeps some hay for its sheep, but usually does not spread it on the floor of their home. The floor of the house is made of dirt, and the walls are adobe mud bricks.
• #19: We actually see both yellow bananas and plantains, which are similar but not the same. Both fruits grow plentifully in tropical regions and form particularly important parts of a healthy diet in Latin American and Caribbean countries. They grow in the lowlands rather than the highlands where the Aymes live, so the family must buy them at the market.
• #20: The Ayme family cooks their food over a wood fire. This implies that they have access to firewood. They gather the wood from a scraggly forest area above the village. Over the years, the village residents have planted trees so that they will have a steady source of firewood.
• #23: This wheel of brown sugar, called panela, serves as both candy and a sweetener for drinks and food recipes. Family members chip off chunks as a special treat during the week, but they run out before the next market day. Like the bananas and plantains, the panela comes from the lowland tropical area of Ecuador, near the coast where sugar cane is raised.
• #24: The family rarely eats meat. They raise sheep, but they sell them at a market in order to purchase the other items we see in the picture. This money goes much farther toward providing nutrition than would sheep alone, if the family were to simply eat the sheep they raise. They also raise guinea pigs (cuy), who scamper around the kitchen, and chickens, but they save these meat animals for special occasions, such as Easter.
• #30: Although their nation is rapidly urbanizing, the Chinese population remains largely agricultural. However, many Chinese villagers enjoy some modern luxuries, including electricity and refrigeration. Rural and small-town Chinese increasingly rely on markets to provide a significant portion of their food. This is the case with the Cui family, which you will meet in the following slides.
• #33: They grow corn, barley, wheat, soybeans, and peanuts on their farm. They also grow grapes on a trellis and tomatoes, cabbage, squash, and cucumbers in the courtyard kitchen. They also raise a few sheep in their courtyard.
• #34: It's not hard to recognize these bottles of Coke and Sprite, even though the labels are in Chinese. The Chinese have access to many Western products, although some of these products cost too much for poor and rural families. The Cui grandparents do not care for modern foods and beverages, but the younger family members like them.
• #35: They grow corn, barley, wheat, soybeans, and peanuts on their farm. They also grow grapes on a trellis and tomatoes, cabbage, squash, and cucumbers in the courtyard kitchen. They also raise a few sheep in their courtyard.
• #36: They grow corn, barley, wheat, soybeans, and peanuts on their farm. They also grow grapes on a trellis and tomatoes, cabbage, squash, and cucumbers in the courtyard kitchen. They also raise a few sheep in their courtyard.
• #37: They grow corn, barley, wheat, soybeans, and peanuts on their farm. They also grow grapes on a trellis and tomatoes, cabbage, squash, and cucumbers in the courtyard kitchen. They also raise a few sheep in their courtyard.
• #38: They grow corn, barley, wheat, soybeans, and peanuts on their farm. They also grow grapes on a trellis and tomatoes, cabbage, squash, and cucumbers in the courtyard kitchen. They also raise a few sheep in their courtyard.
• #40: The Darfur region of Sudan has witnessed a tremendous amount of tragedy and violence in recent years. In 2003, after decades of war, the Sudanese government joined Arab Muslims against non-Arab black African Muslims in a brutal conflict in this western section of Sudan. The pro-government Arab militia, called Janjawiid (“man with a horse and a gun” in Arabic), struck back against non-Arab rebel groups by plundering villages and killing thousands of people across the region. This devastation led to a refugee crisis, as thousands of Sudanese fled into neighboring Chad. These refugees have settled in sprawling camps such as Breidjing, where the Aboubakar family lives.
• #43: The Aboubakar family has noticeably less to eat than the other families we’ve seen so far. As residents of a refugee camp, they must rely on rations provided by relief agencies. The total number of calories allocated for each person per day is 2100—less than the recommended daily minimum for an active 16-year-old, but more than enough for a toddler still nursing. Family members always feel hungry.
• #44: The landscape is a barren desert. It is very difficult to grow anything here because there is so little water. Instead, the refugees must depend on rations delivered by international aid agencies.
• #45: The landscape is a barren desert. It is very difficult to grow anything here because there is so little water. Instead, the refugees must depend on rations delivered by international aid agencies.
• #46: The landscape is a barren desert. It is very difficult to grow anything here because there is so little water. Instead, the refugees must depend on rations delivered by international aid agencies.
• #47: There are five limes in the foreground, but no other fresh fruits or vegetables. The sacks in the foreground contain various dried vegetables, including garlic, okra, tomatoes, and red peppers. D’jimia, the mother, uses some of these ingredients in aiysh (congealed porridge).
• #48: These containers contain a week’s supply of water, used for washing and bathing as well as for drinking and cooking. Water is scarce in this hot desert environment, and the family must make its water rations go a long way. Acha, the 12-year-old daughter, is responsible for fetching water from distribution points. The family also obtains extra water by digging pits in nearby wadis (seasonal riverbeds). This process creates shallow pools that provide some water, particularly during the rainy season.
• #49: The landscape is a barren desert. It is very difficult to grow anything here because there is so little water. Instead, the refugees must depend on rations delivered by international aid agencies.
• #50: The landscape is a barren desert. It is very difficult to grow anything here because there is so little water. Instead, the refugees must depend on rations delivered by international aid agencies.
• #52: Germans enjoy a high standard of living—particularly those who live in the western part of the country. From the years immediately following World War II until 1990, what we today call Germany was actually two countries: East Germany (under communist control) and West Germany (a democratic republic). The end of this partition has united both sides under one leadership, but economic disparities remain. The family you will meet, the Melanders of Bargteheide, live in what used to be West Germany.
• #55: This family has much more food than the refugee family, even though the German family only has four members. They have plenty of fresh produce, meat, and dairy products, as well as packaged food and bottled beverages. The contrast between this photograph and the last one you saw is obvious and underscores the radical difference in wealth and stability not only between Germany and Chad, but between industrialized Western countries and most African countries in general.
• #56: “Die Ofenfrische,” the brand name of the pizza, means “the oven fresh.” The containers of fruit juice toward the right are labeled with the word frucht, or fruit. A cookie or candy in the foreground is called “Knusper milch snack,” meaning “milk snack.” You might also notice the words “golden” and “sandwich” on two loaves of bread and the word “butter” on what appear to be packages of frozen vegetables on the right.
• #57: This family has much more food than the refugee family, even though the German family only has four members. They have plenty of fresh produce, meat, and dairy products, as well as packaged food and bottled beverages. The contrast between this photograph and the last one you saw is obvious and underscores the radical difference in wealth and stability not only between Germany and Chad, but between industrialized Western countries and most African countries in general.
• #58: This family has much more food than the refugee family, even though the German family only has four members. They have plenty of fresh produce, meat, and dairy products, as well as packaged food and bottled beverages. The contrast between this photograph and the last one you saw is obvious and underscores the radical difference in wealth and stability not only between Germany and Chad, but between industrialized Western countries and most African countries in general.
• #59: The Merlanders drink beer (some alcohol-free and some regular), wine, bottled water, tea, espresso (in the package labeled “Lavazza”), and juice. We also see some containers of milk in the background. These beverages are similar to those found in many American kitchens, although there is a noticeable absence of soft drinks in the Merlander home. The boys drink the alcohol-free beer.
• #61: About 66% of this Central American country’s population is indigenous, meaning that they descended from the Mayan people who lived here before Europeans arrived. The family you will meet in the following slides, the Mendozas, live in a Mayan town in the northwestern part of Guatemala. Despite their Mayan heritage, most people in this region are Catholic, with a significant Protestant minority. The Hungry Planet team visited the village of Todos Santos Cuchumatán (“All Saints”) during the important Christian festival of All Saints Day, which commemorates all the saints of the church.
• #64: The photograph shows an abundance of healthy looking fresh vegetables and fruits. The carrots and green beans in the foreground are huge, as is the 13.2-pound green squash on the back table. This warm, fertile region has proven an excellent place to grow a variety of robust crops.
• #65: We can see a basket of dried black beans in the background and a basket of tortillas in the foreground. Like many Guatemalans, the Mendoza family eats a combination of beans, tortillas, rice, potatoes, and/or eggs three times a day.
• #66: Although it’s difficult to tell what’s in the packages on the back table, there are no candies or other sweets in the photograph. Instead, the children eat bananas for dessert. They have very healthy teeth.
• #67: Although it’s difficult to tell what’s in the packages on the back table, there are no candies or other sweets in the photograph. Instead, the children eat bananas for dessert. They have very healthy teeth.
• #68: Although it’s difficult to tell what’s in the packages on the back table, there are no candies or other sweets in the photograph. Instead, the children eat bananas for dessert. They have very healthy teeth.
• #70: With more than one billion people occupying an entire subcontinent, India encompasses vast cultural and culinary diversity. Although about 40% of Indians live in extreme poverty, the country has a rapidly growing middle class. The Patkar family of Ujjain, in central India, represent part of this middle class.
• #73: Like most Hindus, the Patkar family is vegetarian. They never serve meat in their house. Nevertheless, 15-year-old Akshay has tried and enjoyed chicken outside of his home.
• #74: Like most Hindus, the Patkar family is vegetarian. They never serve meat in their house. Nevertheless, 15-year-old Akshay has tried and enjoyed chicken outside of his home.
• #79: This container holds water. The family has a water filter in their kitchen in order to purify the tap water.
• #80: These bowls contain a variety of spices and condiments. These include cumin seed, garlic chutney, red chili powder, turmeric powder, mustard seed, and cloves—all staples of Indian cooking. Indians usually include at least some of these ingredients in recipes.
• #82: The island country of Japan is home to unique culinary delights. Although some cultural differences exist between various parts of the country, Japan is a relatively homogeneous nation where culture and food remain relatively consistent throughout the regions. The Ukita family, featured on the next slides, lives near Tokyo in Kodaira City
• #85: The abundance of seafood on the Ukita family’s table illustrates the fact that the Japanese have easy access to extremely fresh seafood. This makes sense, considering that Japan is comprised of several narrow islands, and no Japanese live very far from the sea. Seafood represents a huge part of the Japanese diet—in fact, Japanese people eat more fish than meat.
• #86: The abundance of seafood on the Ukita family’s table illustrates the fact that the Japanese have easy access to extremely fresh seafood. This makes sense, considering that Japan is comprised of several narrow islands, and no Japanese live very far from the sea. Seafood represents a huge part of the Japanese diet—in fact, Japanese people eat more fish than meat.
• #87: Both. She bought the fish on ice from a local fish shop. She bought the other fish at a small neighborhood supermarket.
• #88: The abundance of seafood on the Ukita family’s table illustrates the fact that the Japanese have easy access to extremely fresh seafood. This makes sense, considering that Japan is comprised of several narrow islands, and no Japanese live very far from the sea. Seafood represents a huge part of the Japanese diet—in fact, Japanese people eat more fish than meat.
• #89: On one hand, commercials may influence them to purchase certain brands. On the other hand, for many years Sayo has done most of her shopping at a local market and likely has certain favorite brands that she sticks with. Small vendors at the market almost certainly do not advertise on TV, although the larger supermarkets very well might. In the Tokyo area, all family members will be exposed to many commercial messages, so they will invariably pick up information about food brands from sources other than the television. The Ukitas’ television stays on almost all day and is always on when the family eats. Note: The commercial on the television in this photo is for an insecticide.
• #91: Citizens of this tiny, oil-rich country in the Middle East enjoy a very high standard of living. Many people in Kuwait, however, have traveled there from other countries in order to find work. These migrant workers often help Kuwaiti families in their homes and also work in other service and industry positions. The following slides introduce you to the Al Haggan family of Kuwait City.
• #94: Kuwait must import 98% of its food because the country has poor soil and scarce water, making it largely unsuitable for agriculture. The country’s oil-related affluence allows it to import a wide variety of foreign food items. We can see many brands commonly found in American supermarkets, including Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, Ritz crackers, Pringles, Heinz ketchup, Lipton tea, and Carnation powdered milk.
• #95: Kuwait must import 98% of its food because the country has poor soil and scarce water, making it largely unsuitable for agriculture. The country’s oil-related affluence allows it to import a wide variety of foreign food items. We can see many brands commonly found in American supermarkets, including Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, Ritz crackers, Pringles, Heinz ketchup, Lipton tea, and Carnation powdered milk.
• #96: Kuwait must import 98% of its food because the country has poor soil and scarce water, making it largely unsuitable for agriculture. The country’s oil-related affluence allows it to import a wide variety of foreign food items. We can see many brands commonly found in American supermarkets, including Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, Ritz crackers, Pringles, Heinz ketchup, Lipton tea, and Carnation powdered milk.
• #98: These are two servants from Nepal, named Andera and Daki. Foreign guest workers outnumber Kuwaitis. Andera and Daki help with a variety of household duties, including shopping and meal preparation. They probably also helped shine up this immaculate kitchen and set out the food for the photograph. They do laundry too. Both parents work, although in Kuwait many jobs are sinecures (that is, they pay a steady wage and require little work) provided by the government.
• #99: This suggests that the mother and children lead a sedentary lifestyle, at least at home. Indeed, Wafaa drives almost everywhere rather than walking, since Kuwait City is very sprawling and few of Wafaa’s usual destinations lie within walking distance. We can infer that Wafaa and her children, and probably many other Kuwaitis, have the potential to become overweight and to develop related health problems.
• #102: Most residents of this arid West African country live in rural villages, as does the Natomo family, whom you will meet in the following slides. They have almost no modern conveniences and must do a lot of work that Westerners never have to do, such as carrying water from a well and washing dishes in the river. Housework (including food preparation and cleanup) is the domain of women and children—never men. At least one woman in the household (a man may have up to four wives, according to Muslim tradition) gets up before dawn to begin cooking breakfast in a courtyard that doubles as a kitchen.
• #105: The main things we see here are various types of grains and dried vegetables. The three white sacks on the right contain corn, millet, and smoked rice. The two light-colored bowls in the back are made from halves of a large dried gourd. They contain dried tamarind (on the left) and dried okra and onions (on the right). These items come from local farms, and the Natomo family buys them at the market.
• #106: The main things we see here are various types of grains and dried vegetables. The three white sacks on the right contain corn, millet, and smoked rice. The two light-colored bowls in the back are made from halves of a large dried gourd. They contain dried tamarind (on the left) and dried okra and onions (on the right). These items come from local farms, and the Natomo family buys them at the market.
• #107: The main things we see here are various types of grains and dried vegetables. The three white sacks on the right contain corn, millet, and smoked rice. The two light-colored bowls in the back are made from halves of a large dried gourd. They contain dried tamarind (on the left) and dried okra and onions (on the right). These items come from local farms, and the Natomo family buys them at the market.
• #108: No electricity means no refrigeration. Therefore, the family needs to eat all of its fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats very soon after purchasing them. They have no electric stove or oven and must cook everything over a wood fire. You can see some of the firewood in the background of the photo.
• #111: There is no flour in this picture, but it is a necessary ingredient in ngome. In order to make flour, the women and children must pound grains (millet or dried corn) using a mortar and pestle—a very time-consuming task.
• #112: Food does not appear to be a part of the Natomo family’s hospitality. This may be an economic consideration, since the family hardly has enough food to feed itself. It may also be that Malian culture does not deem it important for hosts to serve food to guests. In most other parts of the world, hosts customarily aim to be generous and make a point of offering food to guests.
• #114: Mexico has a population of over 100 million and a vibrant traditional culture. Times are changing, however, as Mexico continues to become increasingly “Americanized.” This trend can be seen in such cities as Cuernavaca, which now has American “big box” stores, including Costco and Walmex (as Wal-Mart’s Mexican stores are called). Many Mexican families also have a connection with the United States because of immigration. The Casales family of Cuernavaca is no exception. Marco Antonio, the father, has left his home to work in the United States, although he does appear in this photograph of the family.
• #117: In addition to Coca-Cola, we can see Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, Yoplait yogurt, Gatorade, and Carnation evaporated milk. These brands have probably been available in Cuernavaca for some time, although they have become even more abundant with the arrival of American chain stores such as Costco and Walmex.
• #118: The Casaleses drink as much as 12 quarts of Coca-Cola each week. Since Coke has a lot of sugar and calories, it’s likely that family members will experience problems with their weight and their dental health. Mexicans drink more Coke per capita than the residents of any other country.
• #119: In addition to Coca-Cola, we can see Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, Yoplait yogurt, Gatorade, and Carnation evaporated milk. These brands have probably been available in Cuernavaca for some time, although they have become even more abundant with the arrival of American chain stores such as Costco and Walmex.
• #120: She never keeps a whole week’s supply of bread or tortillas in the house because it would start to become stale after a day or so. She only bought this much bread for the sake of the photograph. Like many Mexican woman, Alma buys fresh tortillas each day from the local tortillería (tortilla maker).
• #121: In addition to Coca-Cola, we can see Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, Yoplait yogurt, Gatorade, and Carnation evaporated milk. These brands have probably been available in Cuernavaca for some time, although they have become even more abundant with the arrival of American chain stores such as Costco and Walmex.
• #122: In addition to Coca-Cola, we can see Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, Yoplait yogurt, Gatorade, and Carnation evaporated milk. These brands have probably been available in Cuernavaca for some time, although they have become even more abundant with the arrival of American chain stores such as Costco and Walmex.
• #123: In addition to Coca-Cola, we can see Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, Yoplait yogurt, Gatorade, and Carnation evaporated milk. These brands have probably been available in Cuernavaca for some time, although they have become even more abundant with the arrival of American chain stores such as Costco and Walmex.
• #124: Like children almost everywhere, the boys appear very fond of candy. Emmanuel has candy in his hand, and they are both leaning over the table with the candy treats.
• #126: In many ways, the United States sets global trends for food and beverage consumption. You have noticed familiar American brands in many of the previous photographs. These brands invariably include a good deal of “junk food,” such as soft drinks, potato chips, and candy. Many American families who have become highly accustomed to eating this type of food are now trying to find healthier alternatives. This is the case for the Revis family of North Carolina.
• #129: We can see soda cups and food items from McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, and KFC. The fact that the Revis family eats fast-food meals suggests that they are very busy and find fast food convenient. The two pizzas, while not technically considered fast food, also indicate an attempt to make mealtime as convenient as possible.
• #130: We can see a good deal of processed and high-fat food, including chips, soda, fast food (from Mexican, chicken, and burger joints), pizza, Pop-Tarts, and Hot Pockets. On the other hand, we can see some healthy options, including grapes, tomatoes, some lean-looking meat, tuna, canned vegetables, and fruit juice. Overall, the family does not appear to make the healthiest food selections. This poses a common problem for busy American families, since fast food is very convenient, and it takes longer to shop for and cook healthy meals.
• #131: We can see a good deal of processed and high-fat food, including chips, soda, fast food (from Mexican, chicken, and burger joints), pizza, Pop-Tarts, and Hot Pockets. On the other hand, we can see some healthy options, including grapes, tomatoes, some lean-looking meat, tuna, canned vegetables, and fruit juice. Overall, the family does not appear to make the healthiest food selections. This poses a common problem for busy American families, since fast food is very convenient, and it takes longer to shop for and cook healthy meals.
• #133: We can see a good deal of processed and high-fat food, including chips, soda, fast food (from Mexican, chicken, and burger joints), pizza, Pop-Tarts, and Hot Pockets. On the other hand, we can see some healthy options, including grapes, tomatoes, some lean-looking meat, tuna, canned vegetables, and fruit juice. Overall, the family does not appear to make the healthiest food selections. This poses a common problem for busy American families, since fast food is very convenient, and it takes longer to shop for and cook healthy meals.
• #134: We can see a good deal of processed and high-fat food, including chips, soda, fast food (from Mexican, chicken, and burger joints), pizza, Pop-Tarts, and Hot Pockets. On the other hand, we can see some healthy options, including grapes, tomatoes, some lean-looking meat, tuna, canned vegetables, and fruit juice. Overall, the family does not appear to make the healthiest food selections. This poses a common problem for busy American families, since fast food is very convenient, and it takes longer to shop for and cook healthy meals.
• #135: We can see a good deal of processed and high-fat food, including chips, soda, fast food (from Mexican, chicken, and burger joints), pizza, Pop-Tarts, and Hot Pockets. On the other hand, we can see some healthy options, including grapes, tomatoes, some lean-looking meat, tuna, canned vegetables, and fruit juice. Overall, the family does not appear to make the healthiest food selections. This poses a common problem for busy American families, since fast food is very convenient, and it takes longer to shop for and cook healthy meals.