Here is a project I wish I'd done. Photographer Peter Menzel and writer Faith D'Aluisio's new book, Hungry Planet: What the World Eats, examines food and the effects of globalization.
Though the photos themselves speak volumes about hunger and injustice and wealth, I love that the families in them are smiling and welcoming the viewer into their homes. Also interesting to note: the presence of Coca Cola, processed foods, whole grains, the absence of protein and fat, the context of home versus refugee camp, and the size of families.
What does a weeks worth of food look like around the world?
Japan: The Ukita family of Kodaira City
Food expenditure for one week: 37,699 Yen or $317.25
Italy: The Manzo family of Sicily
Food expenditure for one week: 214.36 Euros or $260.11
Germany: The Melander family of Bargteheide
Food expenditure for one week: 375.39 Euros or $500.07
United States: The Revis family of North Carolina
Food expenditure for one week: $341.98
Mexico: The Casales family of Cuernavaca
Food expenditure for one week: 1,862.78 Mexican Pesos or $189.09
Poland: The Sobczynscy family of Konstancin-Jeziorna
Food expenditure for one week: 582.48 Zlotys or $151.27
Egypt: The Ahmed family of Cairo
Food expenditure for one week: 387.85 Egyptian Pounds or $68.53
Ecuador: The Ayme family of Tingo
Food expenditure for one week: $31.55
Bhutan: The Namgay family of Shingkhey Village
Food expenditure for one week: 224.93 ngultrum or $5.03
Chad: The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp
Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23
See here for a few more photos and to read comments.
About Me
- Christine Folch
- I write about sustainability, environment, food, and culture.
2 Responses to A week's worth of food, around the world.
So cool, right? Scary that I actually own another book by the authors: Man Eating Bugs.
And I own their other book, Material World: A Global Family Portrait, where they went around to different countries and photographed families in front of their houses -- with all their possessions removed and arranged in the front yard.
I think there's sort of a photogenic-ness bell curve as the cost of a week's food increases -- first you don't have enough (Chad), then you're able to buy lots of unprocessed/packaged stuff, which looks nicer arrayed (Egypt), and then at the top end (Germany) everything's all super-packaged/processed.
Post a Comment