The due date for our project is quickly approaching and I am feeling a little stress. This project is something completely different than I have ever done before. I have never constructed an interview, let alone tried to create a video that is worth watching. I honestly thought that I was somewhat 'tech savy' until this project came along. Even though this is a collaborative project, I feel as though a lot of the weight is on my shoulders because I want to do the best that I can do. I know that my group mates and I have this project under control, but I want to make sure that I do better than better because their grade is also reflecting on what I put into the group, hence "collaborative project" . The pressures of the last full week of classes along with this project are starting to take its toll on me. I know what my group is capable of and I know it will be a great project by the time we turn it in.
Today after class Kim and I went to Shoprite and walked around the isles looking for foods that have some of the label names that we are talking about in our project. We found ourselves standing in front of granola bars looking at Organic ones to see if they had the USDA sticker on them. For the most part, many of them did, however we were able to pick out the ones that didn't! We started taping a lot of the different food items in the grocery isles and then walked over to the meat section where we began looking at the different labels on chicken and meat. While we were there, a butcher happened to be walking out with fresh cut slices of meet. We decided to ask the butcher a few questions about the meat that he gets. Mr. Butcher informed us that he had "two minutes to spare" but after we began talking to him, our take on two minutes must have been diferrent because before we could get a second question in he slumped his way back into the back room to slice up some more meat. We didn't get a whole lot out of him, but he was cool looking.
Towards the end of class today we were able to get into our groups and discuss our plans for our research project. As our professor came around to talk to us,we began to explain our idea about going to the supermarket and physically record ourselves walking around the market looking at different products. We were told that we have a sort of "sarcastic/funny" attitude that we should put into our recording. I am actually looking forward to going to the supermarket and having a good time with this project. Although its a project that I have to get done before the end of the semester, atlesst its not just a paper; I can actually have fun with this one.
Yesterday in class, we had a great discussion about collaborative work and how sometimes it can be very challenging. Professor Mangini was talking about different forms of collaborative work and if they are really considered to be collaborative. Thinking back on how my group is working together, I would definitely say that our group is taking the hierarchical approach to collaborative work. Because of the fact that the three of us have such demanding schedules between work and school, it is hard for everyone to meet up all the time and actually sit down and work on our project together. Although we do message one another through facebook or texting, we are not physically writing it together. What we decided to do was split up our research into parts and then once those parts are complete, come back together as a group and tie it all together. This way seems to work best for most people and I think that most of the times that I have had to do collaborative projects, it has worked out this way.
Interpreting food labels isn't always easy by Roxie Dinstel / Pinching Pennies Fairbanks Daily News Miner Mar 27, 2011
FAIRBANKS — Read the label. That is the advice from experts when grocery shopping. But what do you do when labels are confusing, confounding or misleading?
Grocery store shelves are stocked with items with different labels and claims. “natural,” “organic,” “local” and “free range” are a few labels seen on products, often with a higher price tag than its traditional counterpart. With all these terms, shopping can get confusing.
One-third of all new food and beverage products launched in 2009 made “natural” claims, according to the Mintel Global New Products Database. This increase in “natural” foods has people believing these products are health foods and even has some believing it has magical powers.
Though a product may look, sound and taste healthy, that does not mean it is. In fact, the term “natural” has no real definition. The USDA allows food to be labeled natural if it contains no artificial ingredients or added colors, and is minimally processed.
With this rule, many products can be labeled “natural.” For instance, products that contain high fructose corn syrup or partially hydrogenated oils could be labeled “natural.” Yet, many of us know added sugars and fats are not exactly healthy. It is important to note that natural does not mean organic.
If you are confused about the natural claims, be sure to read other food labels. Foods are labeled with ingredients and nutritional information. Learning how to interpret these labels will help you sort out unfamiliar terms.
Ingredients are listed in descending order of predominance by weight. The ingredient list can help you identify hidden ingredients, like added sugars, whole grains and transfats. Watch for different types of sugars, such as brown sugar, honey, corn sweetner and dextrose. Words that end in “ose” mean a sugar, such as dextrose, sucrose and lactose.
Whole grains are healthier, so watch for these words: whole wheat, brown rice, oatmeal and whole oats. Though trans fats are listed on the nutrition label as a percentage, watch for the words “partially hydrogenated vegetable oil” in the ingredients.
The nutrition label lists the size of the serving, number of servings per container, total calories and calories from fat. The nutrition label is based on serving size. If there are two servings in the package and you eat the whole package, you need to double the calories and nutritional values listed.
Reading the nutrition label can help you increase the healthy nutrients you want your family to eat, like calcium and fiber, and limit nutrients that can be unhealthy, like fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium.
Reading food labels allows you to compare and choose foods that are healthier.
From the amount of calories, fiber and total fat grams to the food’s ingredients, the food label is your key to nutritional information of the foods you provide your family.
The best thing to do while shopping is read labels carefully. Look at the ingredients as well as nutritional information to help decide if the product is right for you. Ignore unsupported claims such as “natural” and “local.”
http://newsminer.com/bookmark/12524464-Interpreting-food-labels-isn-t-always-easy
FAIRBANKS — Read the label. That is the advice from experts when grocery shopping. But what do you do when labels are confusing, confounding or misleading?
Grocery store shelves are stocked with items with different labels and claims. “natural,” “organic,” “local” and “free range” are a few labels seen on products, often with a higher price tag than its traditional counterpart. With all these terms, shopping can get confusing.
One-third of all new food and beverage products launched in 2009 made “natural” claims, according to the Mintel Global New Products Database. This increase in “natural” foods has people believing these products are health foods and even has some believing it has magical powers.
Though a product may look, sound and taste healthy, that does not mean it is. In fact, the term “natural” has no real definition. The USDA allows food to be labeled natural if it contains no artificial ingredients or added colors, and is minimally processed.
With this rule, many products can be labeled “natural.” For instance, products that contain high fructose corn syrup or partially hydrogenated oils could be labeled “natural.” Yet, many of us know added sugars and fats are not exactly healthy. It is important to note that natural does not mean organic.
If you are confused about the natural claims, be sure to read other food labels. Foods are labeled with ingredients and nutritional information. Learning how to interpret these labels will help you sort out unfamiliar terms.
Ingredients are listed in descending order of predominance by weight. The ingredient list can help you identify hidden ingredients, like added sugars, whole grains and transfats. Watch for different types of sugars, such as brown sugar, honey, corn sweetner and dextrose. Words that end in “ose” mean a sugar, such as dextrose, sucrose and lactose.
Whole grains are healthier, so watch for these words: whole wheat, brown rice, oatmeal and whole oats. Though trans fats are listed on the nutrition label as a percentage, watch for the words “partially hydrogenated vegetable oil” in the ingredients.
The nutrition label lists the size of the serving, number of servings per container, total calories and calories from fat. The nutrition label is based on serving size. If there are two servings in the package and you eat the whole package, you need to double the calories and nutritional values listed.
Reading the nutrition label can help you increase the healthy nutrients you want your family to eat, like calcium and fiber, and limit nutrients that can be unhealthy, like fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium.
Reading food labels allows you to compare and choose foods that are healthier.
From the amount of calories, fiber and total fat grams to the food’s ingredients, the food label is your key to nutritional information of the foods you provide your family.
The best thing to do while shopping is read labels carefully. Look at the ingredients as well as nutritional information to help decide if the product is right for you. Ignore unsupported claims such as “natural” and “local.”
http://newsminer.com/bookmark/12524464-Interpreting-food-labels-isn-t-always-easy
Although we did not have time in class to get together with our groups, I was able to make a reference back to the information that I am researching for my groups project. For my group, it is my job to research labels and find out what exactly certain terms mean that are posted on labels. I have learned that "all natural" doesn't really have a set standard for farmers or companies. As far as the food business goes, there is so standard that a farmer has to meet or anything specific that they have to do with their cattle to make it all natural. Any company can pretty much just put "all natural" on their products.
The reason i was able to relate this to our class discussion today was because we were talking about Wendell Berry and his article. Berry mentioned how we should be more cautious of how our food is processed and that we shouldn't turn a blind eye to what is going on. Something else from today that stuck in my mind long after we left class was about the difference between reflexive and reflective. Not only do these terms apply to our writing and our projects, but it also applies to me while I am researching about food labels. Although I am not physically talking to somoene, I am taking in all of the terms and information on labels plus what I know (or though I knew) and then in turn r
The reason i was able to relate this to our class discussion today was because we were talking about Wendell Berry and his article. Berry mentioned how we should be more cautious of how our food is processed and that we shouldn't turn a blind eye to what is going on. Something else from today that stuck in my mind long after we left class was about the difference between reflexive and reflective. Not only do these terms apply to our writing and our projects, but it also applies to me while I am researching about food labels. Although I am not physically talking to somoene, I am taking in all of the terms and information on labels plus what I know (or though I knew) and then in turn r
I met up with Ashley and Kim in the library where we discussed our oral history project more in depth. We came up with questions which we are going to ask our interviewees and how we are going to incorporate the idea of food labels into our questions. It is my job to look up certain terms such as "all natural" and "organic" and then find pictures of labels throughout the supermarket. Although we have a lot to do, I feel like our project will turn out great in the end.
- What are some pros and cons of eating organic?
- Is eating organic REALLY that good for you?
- What is really in the food that we eat?
- How do you convince families to eat healthier on a low budget when unhealthy foods are cheaper.?
- How many people actually read the labels on food before they buy them?
- How many people actually understand the labels or ingredients that go into their food?
- How/ are fast food companies trying to become healthier?
- If so many people are becoming more aware about the dangers of food, how can we stop companies?
- Are stores like Walmart really out to help people or are they just becoming organic to keep up with what people want?
- Is it better to become a ve
“Like it was” is a book geared towards, high school students and above, teachers who want to teach about oral history, and any person who picks up the book can learn how to record the right way. For a while, oral history was not something taught in schools because of the expense of having a recorder. By the 60’s tape recorders had become accessible and allowed many people to record historical events that we can listen to or remember today. Before World War II, most of the stories that were recorded were from those who were wealthy and not from the average person. After the war, “history is now open to everyone.” People’s whose voices have never been heard (prisoners, young children, slaves, immigrants, workers) were able to tell those who were not present at that time, how life was for them.
Although we can try our best, we can never completely write an accurate account because each person has a different view or was in a different situation than the next. Not only would oral history benefit our class and us as students, it affects those around us and those who we are questioning.
The following are a few reasons as to why we should want to write oral history which are taken from the book:
Although we can try our best, we can never completely write an accurate account because each person has a different view or was in a different situation than the next. Not only would oral history benefit our class and us as students, it affects those around us and those who we are questioning.
The following are a few reasons as to why we should want to write oral history which are taken from the book:
- You would be helping to put the people into history who belong there. You would be learning the history that is not available anywhere or any other way.
- You would be serving the people you chose to interview and record.
- You would be explaining and celebrating your community’s values, presenting its history as seen from the inside.
- You would be learning about the moral decisions that people have to make.
- You would be meeting special, wonderful people with whom you might form a deep human bond.
- You would be honing your skills as a writer, which will enable you as an adult to play a more powerful role in creating history of your community and the world.