Michael Young

Ms. Claudia Browning

English 105: Advanced First Year Composition

6 November 2012

The World Through the Food

Food is one of the necessities that links every human being together regardless of race,

creed, gender, and socioeconomic status. People must eat to survive. In a world where the food is

predominately purchased rather than hunted and gathered, money and cultural norms play a large

part in determining what a family eats. The husband and wife team of photographer Peter

Menzel and writer Faith D'Aluisio traveled to twenty-four different countries and chronicled the

weekly diets of thirty families. The book that resulted from the travels of Menzel and D’Aluisio,

Hungry Planet: What the World Eats provides powerful insight into the diets, cultures, and

socioeconomic differences in people across the world (Norris).

One of the most affluent families that Menzel and D’Aluiso meet during their travels is

the Melander family from Bargteheide, Germany (See appendix A). This family of four consists

of Jörg, 45, and Susanne, 43, with their two sons Kjell and Finn, ages 10 and 14 respectively.

The Melanders spend 375.39 or $500.07 a week on food, beverages, and other items that are a

part of their diet. They spend $31.98 on grains and starches, $64.33 on dairy; $51.31 on meat,

fish, and eggs; $78.10 on fruits, vegetables, and nuts; $31.83 on condiments, $14.56 on desserts

and snack foods, $66.78 on prepared foods, $70.01 on beverages, and $91.01 on miscellaneous

items that consist primarily of vitamins (Norris, 205). The Melanders clearly are able to afford a

diverse and balanced diet.

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Without looking at the amount of money spent on a weekly basis, the reader can tell that

the Melanders are a somewhat affluent family, which is exemplified by how the food is

displayed and by the family’s home decor (Apendix A). When the reader first sees the

photograph, he or she will immediately notice the volume of the food consumed each week by

this family of four. Not only are they able to afford such a giant spread of food, but their house

also appears to be well maintained and orderly. The furniture is of high quality, and the fixtures

seem to be well made. As the reader glances toward the right side of the photograph, he or she

notices the many books on the family’s shelves. The Melanders definitely are well read, so one

can assume that they are a well-educated family. Jörg and Susanne appear to be college

educated, and they are trying to provide the very best for their two children.

In reference to the family’s body language present in the photograph, the Melanders

appear to be somewhat aloof, which does not create much of an emotional response in the

reader’s mind. The reader notices a quiet confidence present in the faces and body language of

Jörg, Susanne, and their oldest son, Finn. Their noses are almost turned up in a condescending

manner in the photograph. Some of the audience viewing this particular photo might have

difficulty connecting to the Melander family, because they do not seem to exude warmth and

therefore are not the most inviting people. Their facial expressions are somewhat somber.

Perhaps this family exemplifies the old adage that money does not buy happiness. On the

contrary, the Melander family may be more reserved and less expressive by nature. A stoic

personality can be a common German stereotype, so they may be no different than many other

families in the region. Nonetheless, a true emotional connection is hard to establish with the

Melanders due to how they are presented visually.

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Menzel and D’Aluiso chose a family, in the Melanders, that represents the dietary

choices and customs of a modern German family. Breakfast is arguably the staple of the German

diet with meats, cheeses, eggs, and breads being common. Lunch is the second most important

meal of the day, while dinner is the least important. For both lunch and dinner, the German

people often consume large amounts of meat. A diet that is high in fat is not uncommon in

Germany, due to the prevalence of meat in the average diet. (Boxall). The Melanders consume

large amounts of breakfast foods from cold cuts to eggs to croissants. They tend to purchase

many foods that are high in fat, such as beef, pork, and sweets (Norris). The one typical German

food that they do not have, however, is sausage style processed meats (Boxall); (Norris). Perhaps

they are more health conscious than some other German families, because they do not consume

many processed meats; rather they opt for a fresher variety of foods. They have a diet that is rich

in fruits and vegetables, and they even grow their own apples. Additionally, the family spends

nearly twenty percent of their food expenditure for one week on an eclectic mix of vitamins.

Salads are also an integral part of their weekly consumption as they purchase a large amount of

lettuce and other vegetables to add to their dishes. The Melanders seem to enjoy many foods that

originate from other countries, such as Italy for example. They have two types of Barilla pasta,

extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, frozen pizza, tortelloni, and Bertolli pasta sauce. When it

comes to the beverages that they consume, the Melanders are very much in line with Germany’s

alcohol consuming and breakfast oriented culture. The reader immediately notices the large

amount of beer, wine, and juice that the family drinks on a weekly basis. In total, they consume

twenty-eight bottles of beer and four bottles of wine. Even with ten of the bottles of beer being

non-alcoholic, the Melanders drink a substantial amount of alcohol, which is a common

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occurrence amongst German families (Boxall);(Norris). Menzel and D’Aluiso’s choice to

photograph and document the Melander family makes sense, because there diet is very accurate

for a modern German family.

Interestingly enough, The Melander family’s diet and lifestyle is not very similar to that

of the Revis family from Raleigh, North Carolina (see Appendix B). The Revises are a family of

four with two boys as well, but the dietary differences between these two families are quite

distinct. The Revis family also consumes a relatively costly amount of food per week at $341.98,

but the quality of their diet is much lower than that of their German counterparts. The American

family consumes a greater amount of processed foods as well as fast food than the Melanders.

The Revises appear to have a rather average American diet that is relatively unhealthy. Coca-

Cola, McDonalds, and pizza are all dietary staples for this North Carolina middle-class family.

On the positive side, they do consume a large amount of fruits and vegetables much like the

Melander family. The Revises do not appear to be concerned with any health food crazes and do

not consume any vitamin supplements. Surprisingly, the Revises look to be physically fit,

although their diet would indicate otherwise. Both of the Revis children are in arguably better

shape than the Melander boys. The American family spends $158.09 less than the German one

does, yet judging by their facial expressions, the Revises appear to be living a much happier life.

Once again, money and happiness do not seem to correlate. Both families clearly were chosen

for their culturally customary diets (Norris).

Menzel and D’Aluiso’s Hungry Planet: What The World Eats is a powerful book that

reels the reader in as he or she connects with each and every family photographed. From the

truly poverty stricken to the somewhat affluent, the book is aimed to create awareness of the

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world’s cultural similarities and differences. Food is just a small piece of the photographs, as the

families themselves each tell a story. Food is a common unifier amongst the human race, because

eating is essential to survival. How one’s nutrients are consumed is largely dependent on an

individual’s socioeconomic status, nationality, and cultural customs.

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Appendix A

(http://img . timeinc . net/time/photoessays/2007/hungry_planet/15 . jpg )

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Appendix B

(http://img . timeinc . net/time/photoessays/2007/hungry_planet/05 . jpg )

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Works Cited

Boxall, Jane. "Diet & Nutrition in Germany." LIVESTRONG. N.p., 18 Jan. 2011. Web. 27 Oct.

2012. <http://www.livestrong.com/article/359745-diet-nutrition-in-germany/>.

Menzel, Peter. Melander Family. N.d. Photograph. Time. Web. 27 Oct. 2012.

<http://img.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/2007/hungry_planet/15.jpg>.

Menzel, Peter. Revis Family. N.d. Photograph. Time. Web. 27 Oct. 2012.

<http://img.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/2007/hungry_planet/05.jpg>.

Norris, Michele. "Hungry Planet: What The World Eats." NPR. N.p., 09 Nov. 2005. Web. 27 Oct. 2012. <http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5005952>.

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