Maddy Gipe
Dr. Watkins
College English
February 12, 2016
Healthy Food Habits
What is the best way to get Americans to watch what they eat? In the article “Junking Junk Food,” Judith Warner addresses many opinions that the government has set into motion. She explains how the government was going to go about getting Americans to eat healthier. Warner does make valid points; however, I do not agree that offering alternatives to sugar is wrong. I do agree with Glenn Beck when he “mocks” the government’s efforts and their thinking that Americans are helpless on their own. My feelings on the last point are mixed; I believe that society does have an effect on the people’s decisions; however, I do not agree that smoking was the best example or that this method is the only way.
In Warner’s article, she addresses her opinions about the government interjecting into the lives of Americans and trying to control their food choices. Warner brings up Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck and their opinions as examples to further explain her view point. Warner addresses Palin’s point by saying, “. . . her unerring feel for the message that travels straight to the American gut. . .” (401). She talked about how much of a say the government should have in Americans food choices. Warner uses other authors to express her point as well. Warner, also, discusses whether or not she believes that the culture changes the government think Americans need are even possible.
First off, I do not agree that healthy alternatives to sugar have to jeopardize the “American lifestyle” so to speak. Warner refers to cookies as “. . . the pursuit of happiness. . .” which portrays how she feels about this topic (401). However, there are plenty of healthy diets and exercises that can be just as enjoyable as junk food. Warner discusses, “. . . Pennsylvania’s suggestion that schools encourage alternatives to high-sugar sweets became an assault on the American way of life” (401). I do not agree with this because every independent citizen can decide if they want to eat healthier or not, and they can do so on their own if they choose.
Secondly, Warner references Glenn Beck and his opinion on the government trying to regulate our food choices. Beck is surely right in the way that the government trying to control our food is foolish, and we both disagree with the Obama administration in which they say that Americans can not or will not control themselves when around unhealthy food. Beck says, “. . . the ‘choice architects’ of the Obama administration . . . believe ‘you’re incapable of making decisions. . . . Left to your own devices, you’re going to eat too much, you’re going to be a big fat fatty’” (401). This idea is unsound because there are many Americans who have an incredible amount of will-power, and they can make up their mind and decide what they want to eat on their own. In short, the government is trying to control another aspect of our lives, and doing so successfully because they are making us believe that we can not take care of ourselves.
Lastly, I agree and disagree with Warner when she says that culture change is the best way to change the public’s eating habits. I do agree with the fact that changing some of the culture norms could ultimately make a significant amount of difference; however, many American’s can make these changes on their own and be healthy without forcing everyone to change. Kessler explains, “. . . social norms could change: that huge portions, or eating processed foods loaded with sugar, salt and fat, for example, could come to be seen as socially unacceptable” (404). If enough people decide they want to eat healthy and make the change, then that could eventually lead to our culture changing and becoming healthy, but this is not needed for people to make that choice on their own.
In conclusion, Judith Warner delineates her own and others’ views on the government trying to control Americans eating habits in her article “Junking Junk Food.” Warner made a valuable decision bringing in other authors opinions; however, I do not agree with her statements about replacing sugar or that culture changes are the only way to make people eat healthy. My point is not that Americans should not be informed, but that there are many ways to inform Americans of the dangers of junk food and how to watch their diet; although, the government getting involved and regulating what the public can and can not eat is not the right approach.
Works Cited
Judith Warner. "Junking Junk Food." They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 400-405. Print.sequat.
Dr. Watkins
College English
February 12, 2016
Healthy Food Habits
What is the best way to get Americans to watch what they eat? In the article “Junking Junk Food,” Judith Warner addresses many opinions that the government has set into motion. She explains how the government was going to go about getting Americans to eat healthier. Warner does make valid points; however, I do not agree that offering alternatives to sugar is wrong. I do agree with Glenn Beck when he “mocks” the government’s efforts and their thinking that Americans are helpless on their own. My feelings on the last point are mixed; I believe that society does have an effect on the people’s decisions; however, I do not agree that smoking was the best example or that this method is the only way.
In Warner’s article, she addresses her opinions about the government interjecting into the lives of Americans and trying to control their food choices. Warner brings up Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck and their opinions as examples to further explain her view point. Warner addresses Palin’s point by saying, “. . . her unerring feel for the message that travels straight to the American gut. . .” (401). She talked about how much of a say the government should have in Americans food choices. Warner uses other authors to express her point as well. Warner, also, discusses whether or not she believes that the culture changes the government think Americans need are even possible.
First off, I do not agree that healthy alternatives to sugar have to jeopardize the “American lifestyle” so to speak. Warner refers to cookies as “. . . the pursuit of happiness. . .” which portrays how she feels about this topic (401). However, there are plenty of healthy diets and exercises that can be just as enjoyable as junk food. Warner discusses, “. . . Pennsylvania’s suggestion that schools encourage alternatives to high-sugar sweets became an assault on the American way of life” (401). I do not agree with this because every independent citizen can decide if they want to eat healthier or not, and they can do so on their own if they choose.
Secondly, Warner references Glenn Beck and his opinion on the government trying to regulate our food choices. Beck is surely right in the way that the government trying to control our food is foolish, and we both disagree with the Obama administration in which they say that Americans can not or will not control themselves when around unhealthy food. Beck says, “. . . the ‘choice architects’ of the Obama administration . . . believe ‘you’re incapable of making decisions. . . . Left to your own devices, you’re going to eat too much, you’re going to be a big fat fatty’” (401). This idea is unsound because there are many Americans who have an incredible amount of will-power, and they can make up their mind and decide what they want to eat on their own. In short, the government is trying to control another aspect of our lives, and doing so successfully because they are making us believe that we can not take care of ourselves.
Lastly, I agree and disagree with Warner when she says that culture change is the best way to change the public’s eating habits. I do agree with the fact that changing some of the culture norms could ultimately make a significant amount of difference; however, many American’s can make these changes on their own and be healthy without forcing everyone to change. Kessler explains, “. . . social norms could change: that huge portions, or eating processed foods loaded with sugar, salt and fat, for example, could come to be seen as socially unacceptable” (404). If enough people decide they want to eat healthy and make the change, then that could eventually lead to our culture changing and becoming healthy, but this is not needed for people to make that choice on their own.
In conclusion, Judith Warner delineates her own and others’ views on the government trying to control Americans eating habits in her article “Junking Junk Food.” Warner made a valuable decision bringing in other authors opinions; however, I do not agree with her statements about replacing sugar or that culture changes are the only way to make people eat healthy. My point is not that Americans should not be informed, but that there are many ways to inform Americans of the dangers of junk food and how to watch their diet; although, the government getting involved and regulating what the public can and can not eat is not the right approach.
Works Cited
Judith Warner. "Junking Junk Food." They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 400-405. Print.sequat.