Project 1 Draft 1
In a world with different cultures, values, and lifestyles, food is seen in many different perspectives. In some cases, food may be a burden, or may be a passion. Many people have contrasting views on how significant food is in our daily lives and Rob Rhinehart and I are a perfect example of that. We have opposing views on the topic, but that doesn’t mean either opinion is wrong. We live under different conditions so with that being said different things work better with our lives.
In my favorite meal essay, I wrote about the value of a family dinner and taking time out of our busy, chaotic lives to catch up. A turkey dinner means a lot more than just that, it is a way to connect with the people you care about, cherishing what you have, and preparing a dish that everyone enjoys. Of course, it is delicious and the food quality is exceptional but that is not what makes this meal so significant in my life. On the other hand, The End of Food by Lizzie Widdiecombe is a look into the life of Rob Rhinehart and his product Soylent. In the midst of working on a technology startup he realized how large the burden of food was. After experimenting and researching, Rhinehart had come up with a formula of a drink, that was theorized you could live on. This drink has become his life and reflects in other aspects of his life. With his creation, he no longer needed to waste time or money, and there was no more hassle. As you can see, in this society that has a variety of lifestyles, food and meals don’t hold the same value for everyone. I believe that food is useful in relieving stress, working efficiently, and developing strong relationships. While on the other hand, Rhinehart doesn’t need meals to feel connected and take a step back from the workload.
Time is an essential resource and doesn’t wait up for anyone. In my favorite meal essay, I show the significance of taking time out of our busy lives to eat a meal. I stated, “ Sitting at the dining room table, no phones, no worries, and just conversing about how our lives have been recently means everything. In a busy world, with lack of face to face communication it’s a surreal feeling that I look forward to. All of us sitting on the couch after are practically stuffed like a turkey, almost dozing off, and just enjoying each other’s presence. It doesn’t get much better than this.” According to my work, we take time out to sit down and have a meal, despite all of the other distractions. It is significant to make time for meals. In contrast, time is valuable and if you don’t use it efficiently things can get difficult at times. Rhinehart believes that he needs to make the most of every second. He doesn’t like to waste any time preparing, cooking, or eating food. Rhinehart argues, “Living on Soylent has its benefits, though. As Rhinehart puts it, you “cruise” through the day. If you’re in a groove at your computer, and feel a hunger pang, you don’t have to stop for lunch. Your energy levels stay consistent: “There’s no afternoon crash, no post-burrito coma.” Afternoons can be just as productive as mornings” (Widdiecombe 14). Rhinehart doesn’t see the importance in taking time out for meals.
The use of time holds different priorities in different peoples lives. I believe that taking time out is a way to relieve stress and gives my brain time to rejuvenate. Work will start getting sloppy and the loss of focus essential to completing whatever it is I am doing will occur. On the other hand, Rhinehart stated that you will get things done throughout the entire day and will not need breaks. While this may work for some people, such as Rhinehart, it doesn’t fit in with my lifestyle and there is no way I’d be that productive. Breaks are incorporated into my day to reduce stress levels, and keep my work clean cut and completed efficiently. Time is important to all of us, but how we use it varies with our perspectives.
As a college student, at the University of New England, there is never enough time in the day. As a student time is crucial, with hours of homework, studying, and extracurriculars. There is hardly time to eat most days it feels like. For my friends and I here, we always take breaks to get meals throughout the day, especially dinner. Most professors tell you it is necessary to take breaks and we are all always hungry. It can be difficult at times, and sometimes we cannot always make it but there is always effort. Food is incorporated in our time management, because to us a meal is where we get to pause time. Seeing each other just for thirty minutes to a hour is all we need sometimes. Time and food can clash but it’s all about finding time for your priorities.
Food is a lot more than a material thing. Rhinehart doesn’t see a bigger picture behind materials, such as food, clothes, and room decor. In Rhinehart’s view, “In an effort to optimize the dressing process, he alternates between two pairs of jeans, and orders nylon or polyester T-shirts from Amazon, wearing them for a few weeks before donating him” (Widdiecombe 7). This is referring to how much clothes mean to him, and he goes on to argue, “ Food was such a large burden (Widdiecombe 1). Food was nothing more to him than “time” and “ hassle.” I went on to write in my essay about all the advantages to food in my life. I disagreed with Rhinehart when I wrote, ““For my mom, it means just as much to her as it does for me. She exclaims, “Turkey reminds me of Thanksgiving and it is an official dinner at the dining room table with family, and reminds me of the good old days when you were home from school. It also means I can cook for my family and make them all happy!”” Food and material things are impactful on the lives of many people, and specifically mine.
Project 1 Draft 2
In a world with different cultures, values, and lifestyles, food is seen in many different perspectives. In some cases, food may be a burden, or may be a passion. Many people have contrasting views on how significant food is in our daily lives and Rob Rhinehart and I are a perfect example of that. We have opposing views on the topic, but that doesn’t mean either opinion is wrong. We live under different conditions so with that being said different things work better with our lives.
In my favorite meal essay, I wrote about the value of a family dinner and taking time out of our busy, chaotic lives to catch up. A turkey dinner means a lot more than just that, it is a way to connect with the people you care about, cherishing what you have, and preparing a dish that everyone enjoys. Of course, it is delicious and the food quality is exceptional but that is not what makes this meal so significant in my life. On the other hand, The End of Food by Lizzie Widdiecombe is a look into the life of Rob Rhinehart and his product Soylent. In the midst of working on a technology startup he realized how large the burden of food was. After experimenting and researching, Rhinehart had come up with a formula of a drink, that was theorized you could live on. This drink has become his life and reflects in other aspects of his life. With his creation, he no longer needed to waste time or money, and there was no more hassle. As you can see, in this society that has a variety of lifestyles, food and meals don’t hold the same value for everyone. I believe that food is useful in relieving stress, working efficiently, and developing strong relationships. While on the other hand, Rhinehart doesn’t need meals to feel connected and take a step back from the workload.
Time is an essential resource and doesn’t wait up for anyone. In my favorite meal essay, I show the significance of taking time out of our busy lives to eat a meal. I stated, “ Sitting at the dining room table, no phones, no worries, and just conversing about how our lives have been recently means everything. In a busy world, with lack of face to face communication it’s a surreal feeling that I look forward to. All of us sitting on the couch after are practically stuffed like a turkey, almost dozing off, and just enjoying each other’s presence. It doesn’t get much better than this.” According to my work, we take time out to sit down and have a meal, despite all of the other distractions. It is significant to make time for meals. In contrast, time is valuable and if you don’t use it efficiently things can get difficult at times. Rhinehart believes that he needs to make the most of every second. He doesn’t like to waste any time preparing, cooking, or eating food. Rhinehart argues, “Living on Soylent has its benefits, though. As Rhinehart puts it, you “cruise” through the day. If you’re in a groove at your computer, and feel a hunger pang, you don’t have to stop for lunch. Your energy levels stay consistent: “There’s no afternoon crash, no post-burrito coma.” Afternoons can be just as productive as mornings” (Widdiecombe 14). Rhinehart doesn’t see the importance in taking time out for meals.
The use of time holds different priorities in different peoples lives. I believe that taking time out is a way to relieve stress and gives my brain time to rejuvenate. Work will start getting sloppy and the loss of focus essential to completing whatever it is I am doing will occur. On the other hand, Rhinehart stated that you will get things done throughout the entire day and will not need breaks. While this may work for some people, such as Rhinehart, it doesn’t fit in with my lifestyle and there is no way I’d be that productive. Breaks are incorporated into my day to reduce stress levels, and keep my work clean cut and completed efficiently. Time is important to all of us, but how we use it varies with our perspectives.
As a college student, at the University of New England, there is never enough time in the day. As a student time is crucial, with hours of homework, studying, and extracurriculars. There is hardly time to eat most days it feels like. For my friends and I here, we always take breaks to get meals throughout the day, especially dinner. Most professors tell you it is necessary to take breaks and we are all always hungry. It can be difficult at times, and sometimes we cannot always make it but there is always effort. Food is incorporated in our time management, because to us a meal is where we get to pause time. Seeing each other just for thirty minutes to a hour is all we need sometimes. Time and food can clash but it’s all about finding time for your priorities.
Food is a lot more than a material thing. Rhinehart doesn’t see a bigger picture behind materials, such as food, clothes, and room decor. In Rhinehart’s view, “In an effort to optimize the dressing process, he alternates between two pairs of jeans, and orders nylon or polyester T-shirts from Amazon, wearing them for a few weeks before donating him” (Widdiecombe 7). This is referring to how much clothes mean to him, and he goes on to argue, “ Food was such a large burden (Widdiecombe 1). Food was nothing more to him than “time” and “ hassle.” I went on to write in my essay about all the advantages to food in my life. I disagreed with Rhinehart when I wrote, “For my mom, it means just as much to her as it does for me. She exclaims, “Turkey reminds me of Thanksgiving and it is an official dinner at the dining room table with family, and reminds me of the good old days when you were home from school. It also means I can cook for my family and make them all happy!”” Food and material things are impactful on the lives of many people, and specifically mine.
Food has a strong impact on the lives of some, and little to no meaning to others. In this case, from my favorite meal essay, it shows that food has a deeper value than simply eating and using up time. It is about family and getting to share a happy time that we will remember for time to come. It is about escaping responsibilities and sitting around a table, forgetting everything else exists. For Rhinehart, this doesn’t deem true. Food is nothing more than a waste of time and effort. He would rather use this time eating the same drink, Soylent, wearing the same clothes, and doing the same work he has been doing the entire day without distractions. He saw material things as simply that. Things. While this is how he thrives and is successful in how he lives, this lifestyle wouldn’t work for everyone, including me. I would feel empty if I buried my life in tasks that I have and not taking the time to cherish what I have. We cannot all be that fortunate. I can see where Rhinehart is coming from in his argument and perspective though. I think this could be a great solution for those who are not as fortunate. They may also see food as a burden and I could totally understand why because food is expensive, and added work to our daily lives. I think material things, specifically food, and for me specifically turkey dinner, have a value that isn’t replaceable in my life.
Food impacts all people in its own way. For some, food is the best thing on this planet, and on the other spectrum, food is just an added weight on their back. It is important to find out where you stand in regards to food and its value in your life. With that being said, it is important to acknowledge that some people may not feel the same way as you. That is perfectly okay, not everyone is going to see things through the same lens, considering we all have our own background.
Project 1 Draft 3
