Salt, Sugar, Fat

Michael Moss did a great job on the research of “Salt, Sugar, Fat”. There is a lot to learn, when it comes to writing my own research. He had much information on the companies that produces products with many of the salt, sugar and fat ingredients. Moss gathers much information, like what products that have the most sugar ingredient and what this country consumes the most. The numbers he provides amazes me, because one had to interview other researchers and get company permission to get those information. Moss not only talks about in the book about what is marketed, but he talks about the marketing geniuses. How they target the consumers wants and desires. In the beginning of the book he wrote how our bodies and mind acknowledge these ingredients as if we were originally born this way, especially how we respond to sugar. Being a type two diabetic myself, it is hard for me to resist the sweets. My mind tells me I should avoid the sugary products, but my body tells me different. Many of these companies have done human research to see how people respond to the taste of their products, so they know how to better produce and market it to the public. I am also glad that he also wrote that there are concerns of how the products are affecting the consumers and obesity and diabetes has been a big concern. In the food industry, they have to think about how to make money and how to make their business grow. It is also nice to know that these same companies are aware of what the consumers is concern about and they do try to adjust many of these main ingredients to the food they produce. This is there way of showing the public that they acknowledge their concern. These companies also try not to take away too much, so that the products do not change too much to where the taste is compromised. What I got out of this book, is a lot of information and to think about what I eat.

My Memories of Jesse

I have not seen or heard from him for way too long, but it’s not his fault. Every time I think of him, I could almost see his face so clearly. He stood 5 foot and 9 inches tall and had big brown eyes that blinked a lot due to a nervous habit, and he had a smile that can be seen from a distance. His hair was always groomed well, but then with a ton of moose on his hair, I doubt a strand of hair would come out of place. When I would describe him to others, I would tell them that he looked like a smaller version of “the Rock”. Jesse was always a great dresser. Even when he went to the pier to go fishing, he always looks like he was ready to go out for a casual luncheon. Maybe that is what he was trying to tell the fish, that they would join him for lunch. He was the youngest of seven children and had the most positive and outgoing personality. Jesse has always been active since he was little, I can remember how hyper he was. Always on the go and couldn’t stand to be still. He loved exercising and lifting weights to keep in shape, and I think that’s what kept him from being to hyper. Jesse didn’t wear a lot of jewelry, but he did wear a necklace, watch and his wedding ring. He was a very sociable person and he had many friends. If someone needed help, he would offer a hand. When our family would have a bar-b-q, he was there helping, joking around and having fun with everyone. I remembered when I would call him, the first thing he would say is yellow and I would say blue? It was a running joke between the both of us. It’s funny how I have four other brothers and they call me sis, but Jesse called me shissy. I do miss him calling me shissy, in that even tone voice of his. Sometimes while driving, a Prince Song would play on the radio. I would remember how he and I would imitate a dance he did from a video called “Kiss”, and we would do a “spoof” dance as a joke. Many of my memories of him were always dancing. He did a little dance number during one of my Halloween parties I had. My husband had built a cardboard coffin, and he came out of it and did a dance from “Thriller”, wearing a monster mask. It was great and everyone loved it. It’s funny that our relationship started with me being like a mother to him. All three of my older siblings left and I was left behind to help take care of my three younger brothers. I was the middle child, but when the three older siblings left home, I became the oldest. My three younger brothers always thought they had to protect their 14 year old sister. It was funny and yet I felt proud to see a 9, 7 and a 6 year old, surrounding me as if they were my guards. As Jesse got older, we got closer. If he saw me sad, he would find time to make me laugh, even if he had a bad day. We played around a lot. Like, when I would play punch him on his arms, he would say he was going to tattle on me. He would say he was a paid tattle tale, because he used to work part time with Dial Security. Besides remembering what an optimistic and playful person he was. What really made me proud of him was that he achieved his Associates Degree. Even with all the obstacles that he came across, he kept trying to achieve a better life for himself and his family. Jesse showed me that, if you keep trying, you can achieve your goals and this is why I decided to go back to school. We go through life thinking that, the older sibling is supposed to teach and guide the younger ones, and yet he ended up doing the opposite. I just wished that I could have been there more for him at the end, just like he was there for me, when I needed him. All I can do now is honor his memory, by making him proud of me. So I am trying to achieve my Associates Degree for my future, my family and in memory of Jesse. He has been gone now for five years and I miss him so. Rest in peace little brother, I love you.

Family

The word “family” is a strong word and should have a meaning for everyone, but unfortunately that is not always the case. A family comes in all kinds of sizes and origin. Some are a small family of two, “a husband and a wife”, or a couple with a child, or a couple with many children. Then there are those who do not want to have children and considers their pets as family. How ever anyone perceives family, it should have meaning. I myself have been curious about the people who approach me for money, or the ones I see living in the streets. I often wonder where their families are and do they know that person is living in the streets. I know most of the people who live on the street choose the life they lead and some have been put in a position or something, but never the less, my curiosity is do their families know or care that they are in these situations. I myself come from a family of seven and have four children of my own and I would not like to see any of my family members in that same situation. Every time I come across someone begging for money, food or see someone holding a sign that they are hungry. I sometimes wonder, if they are living in the streets or do they have families that know that they are sleeping in an ally or beach side. I have come across places that you can tell a transient has been sleeping in that area and again I wonder where their families are and do they care. I know that all of us who have families that care about us or those of us who looks out for family members are very fortunate and bless. Whether I am in good terms with my family members or not, I still would not want to see them living in the streets. I know the saying goes, “you can’t help those who does not want to be helped”, but I would feel really bad if I did not try to do something for any of my family members in that situation. If someone who has a family in that situation, I often think about if they even tried to look for help for that person or even suggest program or church they could talk to. There are so many programs and churches out there that are available. So my point and question is, how does these homeless people end up existing the way they do and do they not have someone in their life to care about them, doesn’t the word family have meaning anymore. I guess that is something that I will never really know, but I am glad that my family and I have each other.