working for sodexho makes me feel like im part of the problem sometimes. pre-packaged cookies, pre-packaged drinks (that syrup concentrate ugh!), pre-packaged macaroni, and canned soups and canned na-cho cheese (not my cheese, for sure, so whose is it?) and by god it’s opened my eyes to food chains and restaurants. But the more I think about it and the more times I get hungry just watching my co-workers making the food, it becomes less and less important of where it comes from, and rather this “I’m hungry, so just give me some food” kind of feeling… which is horrible, but naturally animalistic.
Lately too, I’ve been rethinking the whole ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ on the organic foods issue. Before, I just thought organic anything was good for the earth and it didn’t matter whether it cost more to buy because I felt like I was doing a good thing for the planet! Yet, it’s still a double-edged sword, where yes, organic food will still have a place on earth as a viable, sustainable way of living and surviving, but with the population we have today, and the space we cram ourselves into, I begin to think, “do we even have a choice?”
Well I sure hope we do. But with our plugged minds, much of the population is already addicted to fast food.
We’re going the way of the speedy lifestyle. As everything in this world demands faster connections, faster communications, faster living, AOL version googleplex, people need faster food to somehow alleviate their faster lifestyles with cheap, easy food. No time to think where it all comes from because they have no choice, but to live. If we went any slower, we’d probably get fired from our jobs that are already on the brink of destruction because of the economy. Lose your job, leads to not having any money, leading to being stressed and not having the mind nor money to afford normal groceries, so it goes down the economic drain. Falling, falling, and falling to nowhere but a hurt mind and soul and a hardened, less open, less able mental condition. Down a spiral of doubt and financial hurt, where most people don’t know how or where to look for help.
I do have hope, however. I do believe among all the poor choices we succumb to, there are the small things that we all do subconsciously or even by nature that help the planet, and our lives. At work, we even use metal, reusable utensils, and baskets, and plates. We have efficient, cleaning methods that would take much more water if we just washed by hand. We do compost, and we also recycle papers and boxes, as well as plastics in another receptacle. So despite the horrid food I serve and the syrupy crap of coca-cola and whatever else is on the fountains, we do have a positive version of the tragedy of commons going on. We collectively use small steps that in the end, will add up to have saved us a lot of money, and the earth a lot of crap.
Bah, what am I talking about? Work is okay… I get paid, and I recycle.
Yet I still find it disgusting that I’ve replaced the mayonnaise packets more than I’ve replaced the mustard. Also, people need to start taking just enough paper napkins, and just enough ketchup, just because most of it ends up being thrown away. Think before you grab!!!