Food Journal

The following is a list of the meals and snacks I had on 24 hours on April 28 to 29, 2009.

April 28, 2009

8:45pm: Beef salad
Beverage: Pineapple water
Consists of beef, lettuce, mashed beans, onion, sower cream, bread, cilantro.
These ingredients came from the supermarket and from a small conventionally store.
This meal was really delicious. My father and I cooked it, and it took us around 1 hour.
We were said thank you before eating and watched the movie Kizuna while eating. We usually watch T.V and comment about what we are watching. I used a fork and a knife to eat this meal.
After eating it we just finished watching the movie and washed the dishes. I personally think the beef salad was somewhat healthy because it the right amount of vitamins and almost no oil.
beverage: Pineapple water

April 29, 2009

12:30pm: Chicken, bread, and peaches in sweet sauce.
Beverage: Low fat milk
I do not know where these edible solids came from. I simply bought them. I ate with my friends and we played Chinese poker while eating. I ate very slowly because I was winning. I used a knife and fork to eat the chicken and a spoon to eat the peaches. I felt that the food was not very healthy because the chicken was flavored with too many spices. After eating we cleaned after us and went to class. I did not enjoy my food much because I was not hungry, but I still finished most of it. I ate it because It was my time to eat and I do not want to disturb my eating schedule.

4:30pm: Snack time
Grapes, Oranges, Chips, Babaroa (Strawberry bavarian cream)
Beverage: Green tea
I usually snack at this hour because I stay at my friends house. These came from the supermarket. I was studying while snacking. I ate so many grapes and two oranges. I barely ate the chips. I used a fork to eat the fruit and the Babaroa. I think these were very healthy because they are natural food, except for the chips. I felt very good after eating them because I was a little hungry. I drank only one cup of tea

8:30: Bowl of white rice
Beverage: green tea
I wasn't very hungry so I just ate rice. I used chopsticks to eat because I am very used to them. I think it was healthy because I cooked it with nothing but water. I ate it alone while talking to some friends on the phone. It was enough for the rest of my night. After eating it I washed the dishes. I drank two cups of tea because It helps me relax and concentrate. I felt alright after this meal.

Food Cultures - Home & Corporate

The traditional food consumed in America is worldwide known as to be hamburgers and hot dogs. This fattening food has been consumed for so many years in the history of America. Branches such as McDonald's or Burger Kings, have impacted the daily life of thousands of Americans. These offer fast food and it is very convenient for the American way of life.

Focusing more in how American families eat at home, It is usually the housewife cooking for the rest of the family and the children setting the table. Lately, for some families there is no gender role for cooking for the family. The children or the father can also contribute or do the entire cooking. While eating, they watch T.V while eating or talk to one another. The often consume meals consist of beef, pasta, ham sandwiches, hamburgers, vegetables, potatoes, fried chicken, salmon, etc. These are often cooked with many spices or artificial ingredients to falvor the food. This way of life is often seen on T.V shows and movies, which mostly communicate a better if not the perfect way of living, so therefore many families unconsciously attempt to imitate that way of life.


Through time it has been more important for the food to taste good rather that it being healthy. As a society we have been blinded by this ideal and therefore do not consider how healthy is the food we consume on a day to day bases. Media communicates that eating greens is good for you. So families add some greens in the meals with another substances to flavor it. Nowadays because most foods are too modify it is complicated to say what is healthy food and what is not. People choose to trade their own health for 30 minutes of consuming unhealthy but delicious food.

In my original culture families tend to mostly eat at home instead of going to restaurants. Usually it is a female who cooks for the rest of the family. It could be either the housewife or the housekeeper. I n this culture, it is also expected for the food to taste good however, my family does not have as high expectations as other families. The meals consist of rice, steak, soup, pork, beans, chicken, fish, vegetables, legumes, etc. It is very important to spend time together as a family during meals. Therefore families do not watch T.V. or listen to music while eating.

In my own family we assimilated with the variety of cultures that surround us in New York, in terms of food. New York being so cosmopolitan I cannot say we blended in with the American culture. During my first year I ate everyday at home. My father and step mom used to cook. Our meals consisted of mainly white rice, fish, pasta, beef, bread, fruit, legumes, etc. We did not watch T.V. or do anything else that could distract us from eating and spending time together. Manners were also very important. My step mom would always correct our way of eating and teach us the importance of learning it. According to her it would help us in society, which is her own cultural ideal.


After that as a family we went separated ways in terms of culture. I personally spent more time with the Japanese culture that any other culture. They have raised me into their way of life ever since I was 14 years old. At home we eat fish, gohan, vegetables, fruit, green tea, dango, etc. Before eating we give our thanks for the food and do not watch T.V. or distract ourselves with something else. Mostly we eat and sometimes we talk. Manners are very important in this culture. A person should be able to porperly use the chopsticks to eat different things. Cutting meat with these is also included on how educated you are in terms of eating. I think they way Japanese cook is very healthy because they always use natural ingredients and do not use flavorings for most meals. I feel very good physically and emotionally after eating Japanese food. I personally consider that this is the best way of eating, so therefore I will pass on this culture to my own future generation.


Currently I only eat dinner with my family and we watch T.V while eating. I cook must of the time, and it is mostly Japanese food. When my father cooks, he cooks beef, pasta, salad, etc. We also eat separately sometimes due to the time we dedicate eating that day. Comparing my ways of eating to the ones we see on TV it is not similar. However after sharing with my class, it seems that most students eat separately and they vary what they eat. My way of eating is similar to this, but i would not say is the American way because of what I previously mentioned.

I personally think that the way we eat is irrelevant from what we are actually eating. Healthy food or non healthy food, for most people it is not important as soon as it tastes good. When these people experience consequences, such as their liver not functioning, then they begin to worry. That is the usual lesson to bring people to eat more healthy. What concerns me is the amount of food resources remaining in the world. It is a worldwide problem and so far no much is being done. Some culture consuming more than others is irrelevant to the consequences we are currently experiencing. At some point the country that finishes their resources would buy off food from other country at a very high price. That country would not be able to trade and therefore, stabilize it's economy. This is an important matter that must people do not think about. The only think in their mind is a good and tasty dinner enough to satisfy them. The leftovers are thrown away and at the same time thousands of kids starve in other parts of the world.

Refrigerator Assignment

List of the food in my refrigerator:

Lettuce
Tomato
Onion
Mentsuyu
Rice
Spinach
Eggs
Mustard
Ketchup
Lime
Oyakodon
Milk
Strawberry jelly
Mayonnaise
Fish
Pineapple
BBQ sauce
Ham
Cheese

The previous list shows the edible substances in my refrigerator. My family and I eat these very often. We consider them as healthy food because they are cooked with a very low amount of oil and spices. We do not behold any relationship with the food we buy. We are just grateful we are able to have food in our refrigerator and when we eat these we appreciate them. I personally love eating and cooking. Cooking exclusive dinners in one of my hobbies.

In my culture, a family is supposed to eat together without any distractions, such as TV. We talk to one another and enjoy the food by saying thank you before eating it. Also the housekeeper or the housewife are the ones who are supposed to cook for the rest of the family.
Meals such rice with meat or fish are very traditional. Sometimes it is "normal" to consume different types of food such as American food or Italian food. The food we eat is not ate at home 21 times a week.

In American culture people usually consume fast food. Most families are too busy to dedicate time to cook a complete dinner for the rest of the family every night. If so Families usually eat beef, pasta, rice, vegetables, etc. However, they still use too much oil and spices to en taste their food. Which causes the food to be less healthy for them.

Health Project

Before studying this unit I do not recall even spending time on exploring or even thinking about what IS health. Like most people I followed the ideal of: If a person has a disease or doesn't have an adequate physical and/or emotional balance then that person is not healthy. This way of thinking keeps the world rotating. This is because in our culture we are not taught to question the general definitions on which are used to entitle our way of life.
Some of the aspects of health we covered in Life doesn't Have to be meaningless class are:
The social and general definition of health, moral health, impacts of counseling or therapy, etc. These construct a general idea on which we are expected to follow and identify as what health is and as methods to be healthy.

The five aspects of health and also recognized as the requirements to be considered healthy are the following: Social health, Spiritual health, Emotional health, Physical health and Mental health.
By simply stating these different aspects I automatically realize that no one is entirely healthy under this culture. In my opinion, covering these five aspects in a day to day basis is practically impossible as a human being with a monotonous life. However, studying these separately could provide an insight into our own lives and even lead us to apply one of them or even a few of them into our daily lives.
From the previous post of "Health Research Questions" I have posted some of the answers regarding social and spiritual aspects of health, which were the least explored in this unit.


Social health
Social health is defined as the concerns with the sense of having support available from family and friends. To be considered healthy as a human being it is required to have an adequate social life with other people. If the person spends his or her time isolated from other people, that person is considered to have depression or insecurity. Without a social health there cannot be an emotional stability. Exercising is a method to gain confidence and self-esteem and therefore socialize.

Spiritual health
Being spiritually healthy is having meaning and a direction in life. There are methods to exercise spiritual health. For example, exploring our artistic side, contribute to the community, or work towards a personal goal to make it happen. The purpose of these exercises is to demonstrate love, hope, and a sense of caring for yourself and others, by being spiritually healthy. This is because "It involves development of positive morals, ethics & values."



As for physical, emotional and mental aspects of health, these take great notice into the definition and recognition of health. Ironically being emotionally stabled in considered as being healthy, however, most people do not consider their own personal emotions or feelings. An example would be at times of failure or depression. It commonly happens that no one insults us or hurts us as much as we do ourselves. To feel emotionally better a person would take counseling or therapy, which are known as methods to be released from struggle.

The most outstanding aspect of health is Physical health for being the one who originates and links all the remaining aspects of health. As discussed in the previous post: Being physically active contributes positively to our mood and self-esteem, mental health. And by doing so and feeling more confidence a person automatically becomes more social and contributes to the community, and this would cause that person to socially healthy. Performing these helps develop the feelings of live and caring for one self and others. We explore our sensitive and creative side of ourselves and create meaning in our lives that will lead us to a specific direction, and this would be being spiritually healthy. The emotional aspect of health would be a consequence of the previous aspects. A person would be much happier if he or she is more active in different aspects and is more in touch with the emotional side of himself/ herself. Respecting ourselves and considering our emotions helps us be happier. And in order to do this we would have to feel healthy. Because of this it is highly recommended to do exercise and have a healthy diet to positively contribute to our way of life.

There are many advertisements of women and men in shape and how effective is to exercise. However, most people do not exercise. Exercise is also known as work out it is very hard for people to do, because often people do not like work. They do not like obligation, and this way being physically healthy could be easily interpreted as an obligation in order to be "happy" by the unquestionable definition of society. As a consequence people tend to rely more in other aspects of health such as spiritual, exploring their artistic side,etc. and/or emotional, assisting to therapy, etc. Which most of the times will not work because as mentioned in the previous paragraph, physical health or total meditation, peace with inner self, are needed to be healthy balanced under this culture.

In life doesnt have to be meaningless class, we practiced and explored different types of emotional approaches that would help a person feel better. For example, one of these would be Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) also known as simply 'solution focused therapy' or 'brief therapy'. It is an approach that does not focus on the past, but instead, focuses on the present and future. Assistance such as these are for people to rely on them and find some type of comfort that cannot be found in a popular culture place/organization.


We also explored the different moral dilemas on which the health of a human being is determined. Depending on the culture on which a person is living the definition of a sane person varies. I think that a person adopts all the values and ideals from the culture he lives under. If for this culture is alright to sacrifice other human beings in exchange of food or possesion then the person who offers the sacrifice is considered as a mentally healthy person by his own people.
Stating this, it is clear that there is no right or wrong definition of health. It comes down when a person considers himself or herself as healthy and how that person copes with that "reality".

These investigations have led me to reconsider my definition of health. Based on what it stands out from these investigations, which is the great impact of physical health in our lives, I realize that society gives more importance on looking good not only physically but socially than actually being healthy. For example, obsessed exercise and excessive consumption of vitamins and/or steroids are actually mentally, spiritually, and physically unhealthy. However, because of the massive messages communicated bu our culture we do not consider the negative consequences of the instructions we are following on our own body and mind. By giving a good image of ourselves we think that things become much more easier, socially speaking.

In order to deepen my own health and the health of the people around me I will stop concerning much about searching for different methods to become healthy and actually begin taking care of myself without chasing an ideal or believing a lie as the truth. I would be much healthy if I eat right and do excersice oftenly, as doctors suggest. As for the remaining aspects of health which is mostly concerning the mental health I would have to become more tolerant and patient. This personal feelings would impact my life and the life of those around me.By communicating this idea to others I could be like any other advertisments offering solutions to live a better life. If this methos works out and my health improves then others would follow that example. It is human nature to be attracted to whatever is convenient for themselves. However, most people do not remember the fact that It does not matter how healthy or happily we live our lives we are going to die one day. So, because not thinking about this people spend their entire lives or most part of it "trying to improve" physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and socially and do not enjoy their lives because their attempst are never enough.

Break Assigment

This spring break I felt emotionally healthy. This is due to the vast conversations I had with family and old friends. I base my emotional health on "social health" because I think that people's happiness and/or emotional stability depends on other people the most.

I am currently happy for this spring break. I made good of this free time and spent it with my friends. As usual there were ups and downs, but these did not disrupted my emotional balance like they do in other days. For example, I do not feel at easy when I feel obligated to do something. Like going to school or completing assignments. It causes me to feel frustrated and therefore not emotionally healthy.

"Is emotionally healthy the same thing as "constantly happy"?"
Although it might no be constant happiness, I do think that being emotionally healthy is mostly a psychological aspect, therefore if a person feels happy then that persona would consider himself or herself as healthy. It does not take to have rich knowledge on what being healthy is for a person to state that his or her happiness bring automatic emotional health.



Most of the time I considered myself as being healthy, this might not actually apply to the well known concept of what being healthy is. For example, I did not feel physically healthy because I did not do much exercise during this break, nor ate much healthy food like I usually do. However, This did not cause me to feel emotionally unhealthy because as previously mentioned: I did feel very socially healthy and had a lot of fun, therefore I did not even think about covering any other aspects of health when i myself feel happy.

In my opinion when a person considers himself healthy is when that person looks in shape and is somewhat happy/ satisfied. If a person is depressed or overweight that person is considered not healthy in any aspect. Also that persona does not allow himself or herself to discover any other aspects that would bring him/ her to feel more comfortable about her own life.
Feeling healthy depends on different things for each person. In my opinion there is no such thing as being completely healthy. However a persona can succeed in fooling himself and others and be happy.

Research a strategy of emotional health

Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) also known as simply 'solution focused therapy' or 'brief therapy', is a psychological approach based on social contrsuctionist philosophy.This philosophy suggests the consideration of "how social phenomena develop in social contexts".
Social constructs are generally understood as often unintended or unconscious human choices rather than following "laws resulting from divine will or nature." Social constructionism is usually opposed to essentialism, a philosophy "which states that, for any given kind of entity, there are no specific traits which entities of that kind must possess." In other words which defines specific phenomena instead in terms of human history retaining his or her own identity. This could also be interpreted as the independence of "conscious beings that determine the categorical structure of reality".

The SFBT is an approach that "does not focus on the past, but instead, focuses on the present and future. The therapist/counselor uses respectful curiosity to invite the client to envision their preferred future and then therapist and client start attending to any moves towards it whether these are small increments or large changes. To support this, questions are asked about the client’s story, strengths and resources, and about exceptions to the problem," with the purpose of exploring it and identifying reality with the current knowledge given by this psychology approach. This also represents the Social constructs by focusing on reality rather than the interpretation of the human history.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solution_focused_brief_therapy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_constructionist

I chose this emotional approach because I am very familiar with this therapy. By studying it and analyzing it, I gained a better understanding of what has been communicated to me and my family. I am aware of what is real and what is not. By not interpreting the past but just accepting it the way it was, I am able to move forward and life differently from yesterday. I would say that my life is partly a result of this therapy, and it is not for me to recommend it or enforce it anyone. Nor to say if it has helped me to live a better life or not. It is a very personal benefit.
I think these different kinds of approaches to emotional health should be independently explored once they have been taught. By receiving counseling, someone else could enforce an ideal or opinion in what reality is, and that would be the same as living under any other idealism but your own. This is a very empty and realistic therapy that could negatively affect the lives of many people if it is misunderstood. In my opinion it contradicts the current way of life and the strong culture we live under.

Considering that these different emotional approaches are recommended to live emotionally healthy and therefore live more happily, then these are conveniently interpreted or understood. Once these have been labeled or recognized as a solution then people would rely on them. Which is no different from relying on any other education or religion that would make us feel better about ourselves and the course of our lives.

Health internet Research

1.What is the general definition of health?

The state of well being in mind and body. The "mind" term breaks up in different aspects. There are: emotional, spiritual, social, and mental health. The "body" term in the definition is also known as physical health. If someone covers these different aspects "responsibly" then that person is considered as healthy.
Health is also known as the term used in video games implying the value and the remaining life spam of the character. This could be easily connected to a real human being, his remaining lifespan and his value as a person could depend on the health condition he is in.
Additionally to be healthy also means to be free from disease.

http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=health
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_(game_mechanic)

2.What are some of a doctor's recommendations to be healthy?

Doctors recommend to drink sufficient water everyday in order to "improve energy levels, aid in weight loss, reduce headaches and increase physical and mental performance" The ideal amount is 8 glasses of water a day. This leads to one of the primarily recommendations from the doctors, which is having an ideal weight. Each person "should" be in a specific weight in order to be healthy.
It is also recommended to take Nutritional Supplements if a person has a poor diet. Consuming these or other types of vitamins help have a good food nutrition and therefore be able to fight diseases and remain physically healthy.

http://www.nutrasanus.com/doctor-recommended-products.html
http://www.goh20.co.uk/health.htm


3.What should be a teenagers diet in order to be healthy?

"Teenagers should be eating a healthy balanced diet that matches their energy needs" In other words teenagers' diet should be rich in fruit, vegetables, foods in rich protein, milk and dairy foods. Eating healthy and being physically active would improve the health of teenagers.


http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/agesandstages/children/yourteen/

4.Does exercising affects for our emotional stability?

Yes, exercising has a positive impact in our mood and self-esteem. As it is well known in our society "A positive, healthy emotional outlook is key to success in all aspects of life." The result of this outlook that a person would experience positive emotions such as happiness, pride, confidence and great self-esteem. This is because exercise can train and condition the mind to feel less stressed and think more clearly. With the assistance of an exercise therapist a person can manage the constant exercise without having negative emotions towards it. It is highly recommended to begin exercising and to enlist the help of other supportive people.

http://life.familyeducation.com/mental-health/health/35875.html

5.What is the definition of social health?

Social health is defined as the concerns with the sense of having support available from family and friends. To be considered healthy as a human being it is required to have an adequate social life with other people. If the person spends his or her time isolated from other people, that person is considered to have depression or insecurity. Without a social health there cannot be an emotional stability. Exercising is a method to gain confidence and self-esteem and therefore socialize.

www.geocities.com/jtiongco_99_2000/NCM101CM/cm_lec2_concept_of_health_and_illness.doc

6.What is the definition of spiritual health?

Being spiritually healthy is having meaning and a direction in life. There are methods to exercise spiritual health. For example, exploring our artistic side, contribute to the community, or work towards a personal goal to make it happen. The purpose of these exercises is to demonstrate love, hope, and a sense of caring for yourself and others, by being spiritually healthy. This is because "It involves development of positive morals, ethics & values."

http://www.district6.nbed.nb.ca/districthealth/definitions/spiritual.aspx

7.What is required to do to be mentally healthy?

Being mentally healthy has a positive impact on a person and those around him or her. This is due to the psychology that impacts the community. According to Amanda Gordon, Sydney-based practicing psychologist and president of the Australian Psychological Society (APS), there are different ways to become or remain mentally healthy. Some of these are the following:

-Balance work, rest and play — this is really important, because we need some of all these things. You need to keep your body healthy, so sleep and good nutrition also help your mind.
-Give your brain a workout with crosswords and other puzzles, or by reading.
-Research shows that being grateful makes us happier. Take the time to reflect at the end of the day on everything that's been good.
-Connect with people. Make the effort to mix regularly. Joining in with your community is great for your mental health.
-Smile! This makes you feel good … as well as the person you've just smiled at.
-If you're lonely, research shows that having a pet can help make a difference … especially for older people living alone.
-Take responsibility for something — another person, a pet or your garden.
-Keep a healthy balance of exercise and sensible eating. If your body is cared for, then your mind is free to work well.

Most of these methods involve being more social and active. Having fun is elementary to mental health, so is doing exercise and participating in the community.

http://womansday.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=159854

8.Are there any other aspect of health? If so what are they?

Other than emotional, mental, physical, spiritual, and social health there are no other aspects commonly known in society. Physical health is considered as the most important aspect out of the five aspects of health. This is because by exercising a person can also train mentally and emotionally, as previously shown in the answers above.

http://www.embracinghealthblog.com/2007/11/30/five-aspects-of-health/http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/5884/5healths.html

9.Is being healthy necessary to live happily? why?

Yes. Being healthy involves having a sense of balance in the five aspects of health. Mostly by doing exercise a person can "easily" cover the remaining aspects of health. Being physically active contributes positively to our mood and self-esteem, mental health. And by doing so and feeling more confidence a person automatically becomes more social and contributes to the community, and this would cause that person to socially healthy. Performing these helps develop the feelings of live and caring for one self and others. We explore our sensitive and creative side of ourselves and create meaning in our lives that will lead us to a specific direction, and this would be being spiritually healthy. The emotional aspect of health would be a consequence of the previous aspects. A person would be much happier if he or she is more active in different aspects and is more in touch with the emotional side of himself/ herself. Respecting ourselves and considering our emotions helps us be happier. And in order to do this we would have to feel healthy.

However, this could not apply to everyone due to the fact that this ideal way of living is very complicated to constantly practice or even being practicing it. There are different level of health, and people base according to these level rather than any completion. If a person is considered healthy by the rest of the people, then sociably speaking there is nothing to concern about. However, no one is truly happy because we convince ourselves with these different methods and exceptions of hypocrisy.

http://www.healthoma.com/health-and-happiness-formula/

10.How does being healthy prolongs our lives?

Living a healthy life assures a longer life spam for a human being. Being healthy since an early age has a great effect on our lives. Avoiding excesses and respecting out physical capabilities, or eating healthy food instead of fast food are measures of prevention. Usually in America people "get used to eating fatty foods, sleeping late, drinking booze and having utter disregard for their health until such time when they start to feel aches and pains. By the time they reach 40, their sugar and cholesterol levels are so high, their weight is over the top, and their cardiovascular health is poor." Once again another method to avoid this from happening is by doing exercise and having a healthy diet in order to be fit and healthy, to live a long and prosperous life.

http://www.articlesbase.com/anti-aging-articles/effective-ways-to-prolong-a-healthy-life-414240.html