Hannah Ridley
Human Diet
Normally, when someone feels stressed we reach for a bag of Cheetos or a bottle of wine or a bar of chocolate. Or sometimes, someone’s appetite may disappear completely, only returning when stress levels are back to normal. We think nothing of these almost instant and subconscious reflexes to over persistent and perpetual stress; however, in our fast-paced, constant society, it has suddenly become the new normal to burden our bodies with either too many artificial and chemically laden foods or to entirely remove food from our diet when our stress levels become too high. Essentially, our continued levels of high stress wreck havoc on our diet and therefore our gastrointestinal system. Stress and human diet is a topic that is often talked about, but a solution, at least in the United States, has yet to be sought after. Is our diet the reason that Americans are constantly stressed and ill? Or is it the American lifestyle that causes us to be stressed and ill, which affects our choices in food? Or is it a combination of both the American lifestyle and diet that cause so many health problems? During my stay in France, I would like to explore the diet and stress relationship and compare my findings to my experiences in the United States, especially through the perspective of a college student in both countries.
Stress is not the only factor that influences our diet, it’s just one of the many. As a broader topic, I would like to explore the relationship that Americans and the French have with food. In the United States, food is seen almost as a touchy subject, especially in regards to women and food and dieting. Does France have the same issue? There is the stereotype that Frenchwomen do not get fat, but is that truly a reality or just a myth perpetuated by foreigners? Human diet and human relationships with diet differ greatly from country to country, but all humans need the same nutrients. I want to explore the differences in lifestyles that create the differences in relationships and attitudes towards food. Is the French “stress free” way of life the contributing factor to their outlook towards food? Or is it something else? I want to take my experiences with food and my observations to formulate a sort of theory as to why these relationships with food differ so greatly between countries. Also, I would like to look at women’s relationship with diet, especially young women. The French and Americans do differ in cultural attitudes toward food, but I would like to explore if the differences widen or become narrower when analyzing young women’s perspectives on food, stress, and cultural expectations of beauty.
Walk into any American college student’s apartment and look in their fridge. There will be boxed wine, week old pizza, left overs from a mediocre restaurant and maybe, a pre-packaged salad. Numerous studies have been published on the fact that college students don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables. I lived by myself in Austin for three months during the summer and practically lived off street tacos, Kerrey Lane queso and margaritas. While my parents would be dismayed with my food choices, by that time by body had become accustomed to the typical college student diet, which was Ramen and cheap liquor and the occasional carrot or salad.
street tacos
I blamed my poor diet on my budget, but in actuality it was due to laziness and my lack of desire to cook. However, I had an excellent diet when I was home with my family, and I was even cooking for my family and myself.
home-made breakfast courtesy of mom
While it is expected that college students eat poorly, it is also expected that college women maintain their same frame from high school, even while experiencing huge changes in diet. I noticed that when I was in Austin, I exercised constantly in order to make sure I didn’t gain weight. However, when I returned home, I only ran with my dogs for about an hour every morning because I didn’t feel the need to over-exercise seeing as my diet was better. Through this blog, I want to understand not only the cultural differences in attitudes towards diet, but especially concentrate on these differences from a young woman’s perspective.