Food Intake

This morning I skipped breakfast because I slept in. But this afternoon for lunch I had an ICE drink with a avocado, bacon, turkey, cheese, lettuce, wrap with a banana with Nutella. On my way to class I also had a chai tea drink on my way to class. The drinks were purchased but the wrap and banana with Nutella I "put it together" myself. For dinner I had Balsamic Glazed Chicken which was pre-made from BJ's Brewhouse where I work and receive free employee meals. I also had an Arnold Palmer drink which was also from BJ's Brewhouse. 

My food comes from Publix a mass grocery store and my dinner came from a mass distributor of food that supplies the BJ's company. The food I had for lunch was produced in my house but came from different companies. It probably traveled thousands of miles to get to my plate because none of it was organic or local. A lot of energy probably went into producing my food because it involves all of the different food groups. Fed probably went into the pig and turkey and energy was used to slaughter the animals. Trackers were used to plant the crops and pick them. Most of the packaging was plastic and plastic isn't recyclable. My food choices aren't very sustainable but it is hard as a college student on a budget to buy sustainable food because it is more expensive. I try to think about the environment when I make my purchases and try not to have a lot of food waste. I can improve my purchases by buying more cardboard products and trying to go to more campus food markets. 

FGCU Food Forest

I've been to the FGCU Food Forest before but I never took the time to walk around and notice the plants because I was there for a scavenger hunt. I found that the food forest was very confusing and almost like a maze. So I was glad the naturalist was with us, because otherwise I would of been lost. I liked how for this field trip we were able to access the food forest by biking for class, which is what me and my friend did instead of driving. I also found it fascinating that the forest sustained it's self and irrigated itself as well. Permaculture is beneficial in so many ways it made me think why doesn't major food corporations use this method instead?  If all of the plants give nutrients to the soil and provide shade for others it makes the perfect environment to grow different plants all in one area. I learned that there is a wild flower that if you crush it up into a green paste it's a natural benadryl, which is helpful in Florida. That day I also learned that  a pineapple takes 2 years to grow, our food system makes it seem like everyone can have as many pineapples as they want. But back then it wasn't as easy to have a pineapple every season. This made me realize that we take advantage of the food system we have, especially as Americans we assume we have an unlimited supply of everything. I think the food forest is a perfect fit for FGCU's mission in sustainability because it displays the universities dedication to the cause and shows how even the students are involved and care about the cause.