Essay 1, Draft 1

For many Americans, food has become a part of everyday life. Whether that means taking a lunch break to escape the stress of work, a festival for a certain type of food, or going out to eat to catch up with friends, eating has become a social event rather than just eating for survival. Rob Rhinehart, however, does not feel this way about food. For him, food is a “large burden” (Widdicombe). According to Rhinehart, food was becoming an issue. Prices were adding up and it was taking a long time to eat, and as college graduate trying to make a new software program, price and time were very valuable to him. After investigating what vitamins and minerals the human body needs to function, he made a drink that contained these vital nutrients. He named the drink Soylent (Widdicombe). His take on food is very different than the average American. I personally do not know many people who consider eating to be a burden. The people that I encounter use food as a way to socialize. During many days over the summer we would go out to restaurants to eat and talk about how our week was. As someone who is in college, getting food is a nice way to meet up with friends I do not have a lot of classes with or to take a break from doing homework. It seems to be a distresser for me whereas for Rhinehart it is a stressor. I personally do not agree with the idea that Rhinehart presents because food has been an important social event in my life. It has become a way to stay in contact with the people I care about. 

In my personal experiences with food, unlike Rhinehart, I never considered food to be a hardship in my life. I tend to use eating as a break from a busy day, even if it’s only having a quick snack that only takes ten minutes to eat. While living at home, my family and I had a hard time sitting down and eating a meal as a family. With our busy schedules, it became easier to go to a fast food restaurant, or occasionally going out to a restaurant so my mom could avoid the stress that comes with having to cook an actual meal and my brother and I could eat when we had a few minutes to eat something quick. However, every week my mom made a homemade meal and it was a necessity to actual sit at the table and eat together. It was during these times that we would be able to have meaningful conversations with each other. I recently talked to my mom about one dish in particular, Spicy Pot Roast. This is my favorite homemade dishes that my mom makes. She adds pepperoncinis to the dish which fills my house with an aroma that can instantly make stress disappear. While Rhinehart considers getting or cooking food as an inconvenience, this dish makes everyone is my house happier, and it does not take long to cook. This frees up a lot of time for us to get homework or house work done. When I asked my mom what relationship she has with the dish she told me that, “I loved seeing you and your brother smile when you came home. I knew that making the dish would make you happy, and during stressful times in school I tried to make this dish to brighten your day up, even if it was only for an hour” (Parks). She understands that stress can cause people to lose sight of what’s important. As a result, she tries to find something for us to relax, and that happens to be with food. 

Rhinehart did not see food as a way to relax. For him, he had an extremely difficult time both affording food as well as making time for food. He was trying to start a new business which meant that both his money and time was valuable. He began to envision a world where he did not have to eat, which is when he got an idea for a drink that contains everything that is needed for survival. As a result, “he took a break from experimenting with software and studied textbooks on nutritional biochemistry and the Web sites of the F.D.A, and the U.S.D.A., and the Institute of Medicine. Eventually, Rhinehart compiled a list of thirty-five nutrients required for survival”(Widdicombe 1,2). These nutrients began his meal-drink, which he called Soylent. He realized that the drink was cheaper than his grocery bill and saved him a lot of time. Instead of having to go shopping, prepare, and cook a meal, he put a powder in the blender with water in order to get his meals for the day. This became a part of his life. He went completely off food and switched to a Soylent only diet. 

Essay 1, Draft 1 (finished product)

Brooke Parks 

Professor Jesse Miller

English Composition H5

27 September 2019

Title

For many Americans, food has become a part of everyday life. Whether that means taking a lunch break to escape the stress of work, a festival for a certain type of food, or going out to eat to catch up with friends, eating has become a social event rather than just eating for survival. An article called “The End of Food”, author Lizzie Widdicombe discusses a man named Rob Rhinehart, who does not feel this way about food. For him, food is a “large burden” (Widdicombe). According to Rhinehart, food was becoming an issue. Prices were adding up and it was taking a long time to eat, and as college graduate trying to make a new software program, price and time were very valuable to him. After investigating what vitamins and minerals the human body needs to function, he made a drink that contained these vital nutrients. He named the drink Soylent (Widdicombe 2). His take on food is very different than the average American. For many people, food tends to be a way to socialize. At every party or gathering food is always present because people enjoy eating. People typically enjoy food and view it as important in their lives, not a burden. However, as a college student, there are times were getting food can be stressful. Instead of spending time to do homework, thirty minutes are dedicated to leaving my room, going to the dining hall and eating. If there was Soylent, I could just take a few sips then go back to doing homework. While food is an important aspect of my life, Rob Rhinehart’s idea does make sense. It can be understood why food could be a hardship at certain points in one’s life.

When thinking about food, it tends to be an enjoyable experience. One meal in particular comes to mind, Spicy Pot Roast. This is a dish that my mom makes that is absolutely delicious. On tough days, particularly midterms and finals, she’ll make this dish because it makes my brother and I less stressed. In my essay Favorite Food Essay, I explained that this dish was special to my family. Between preparing and making food, a lot of time and work is put into the dish. This makes it difficult during a typical week to have a homemade meal every night. Actually sitting down as a family at least once a week is important to my mom. Making a dish, although it can be stressful, also has benefits according to my mom, “I loved seeing you and your brother smile when you came home. I knew that making the dish would make you happy, and during stressful times in school I tried to make this dish to brighten your day up, even if it was only for an hour”. In making this comment, she gets enjoyment out of making the dish. It makes her happy, rather than stressed. While taking a break during homework can be stressful, food can also be a nice break every once and awhile. It gives a little time to relax compared to working nonstop. During studying and doing homework, there are times when taking a break is necessary. While not taking a break can be beneficial to getting work done or getting a good grade, it can be exhausting and draining. Taking an hour break every day might not be a solution, but every week is understandable. Food is not just about eating, it is about a way to socialize. Sitting down with my family is a way to talk about our day. These are the times that are truly valuable. 

Being a freshman in college has provided some difficulties with food. When hunger strikes, there is a ten minute walk to the dining hall, actually eating, then walking back. This process can be twenty minutes or an hour. While talking to friends can be extremely enjoyable, it can cause issues when there is a paper due at midnight and it’s already eight at night. Prior to college, getting food with friends was a destressor. While that is still true, it can be stressful to balance socialization with homework. There are times when grabbing a quick bit is the easiest solution. The problem with this option is that the food is not healthy. At the dining hall, there are always healthy choices, but at places such as The Pub, the food is tends to contain many carbs and, depending on the food, might be fried. During these times, Soylent seems like a good idea. After drinking Soylent for thirty days Rhinehart comments, “I feel like the six million dollar man. My physique has noticeably improved, my skin is clearer, my teeth whiter, my hair thicker and my dandruff gone.” (Widdicombe 2). This demonstrates the health benefits Rhinehart had. Being a student who is constantly hearing about the dreaded “Freshman Fifteen”, the idea of being able to get the daily nutrients while also staying in shape is appealing. It can be understood why having Soylent could be beneficial. 

Rhinehart did not see food as a way to socialize or take a break. For him, he had an extremely difficult time both affording food as well as making time for food. He was trying to start a new business which meant that both his money and time was valuable. He began to envision a world where he did not have to eat, which is when he got an idea for a drink that contains everything that is needed for survival. As a result, “he took a break from experimenting with software and studied textbooks on nutritional biochemistry and the Web sites of the F.D.A, and the U.S.D.A., and the Institute of Medicine. Eventually, Rhinehart compiled a list of thirty-five nutrients required for survival”(Widdicombe 1,2). These nutrients began his meal-drink, which he called Soylent. He realized that the drink was cheaper than his grocery bill and saved him a lot of time. Instead of having to go shopping, prepare, and cook a meal, he put a powder in the blender with water in order to get his meals for the day. This became a part of his life. He went completely off food and switched to a Soylent only diet. Since he went completely off Soylent, the idea of food being a hardship is clearly seen. He switched his life plan completely because food was truly getting in the way of his day to day life. This shows the frustration that food can cause. If a person does not have time to get food it causes hunger and even a lack of concentration but if a person gets food, it might cause them to fall behind in their work. 

Despite being someone who loves food, the idea of having a drink like Soylent is seen to have some benefits. As a student in college, there have been numerous times where instead of going to the dining hall, I would eat a snack I had in my room instead of going to the dining hall. While being able to eat food may taste better and allow people to socialize, Soylent does save time for people that have busy lives. It is understandable that some people would resort to Soylent to save time. It also has many health benefits, which can be appealing to many people. Although the standard idea of food is the type of culture that humans are used to, Soylent does have certain appeal that may cause people to start drinking their meals instead of eating. 

Works Cited Widdicombe, Lizzie. The End of Food. The New Yorker, May 12 2004.

Essay 1, Draft 2 (After visiting SASC and peer review)

Brooke Parks 

Professor Miller

English Composition 110-H5

27 September 2019

Let’s Taco ‘Bout Food

For many Americans, food has become a part of everyday life. Whether that means taking a lunch break to escape the stress of work, a festival for a certain type of food, or going out to eat to catch up with friends, eating has become a social event rather than just eating for survival.  At every party or gathering food is always present because people enjoy eating. People typically enjoy food and view it as important in their lives, not a burden. However, as a college student, there are times were getting food can be stressful. Instead of spending time to do homework, thirty minutes are dedicated to leaving my room, going to the dining hall and eating. If there was Soylent, I could just take a few sips then go back to doing homework. In an article called “The End of Food”, author Lizzie Widdicombe discusses a man named Rob Rhinehart, who does not feel this way about food. For him, food is a “large burden” (Widdicombe). According to Rhinehart, food was becoming an issue. Prices were adding up and it was taking a long time to eat, and as a college graduate trying to make a new software program, price and time were very valuable to him. After investigating what vitamins and minerals the human body needs to function, he made a drink that contained these vital nutrients. He named the drink Soylent (Widdicombe 2). His take on food is very different than the average American. For many people, food tends to be a way to socialize. While food is an important aspect of my life, Rob Rhinehart’s idea does make sense. It is understood why food could be a hardship at certain points in one’s life.

When thinking about food, it tends to be an enjoyable experience. One meal in particular comes to mind, Spicy Pot Roast. This is a dish that my mom makes that is absolutely delicious. On tough days, particularly midterms and finals, she’ll make this dish because it makes my brother and I less stressed. In my Favorite Food Essay, I explained that this dish was special to my family. Between preparing and making food, a lot of time and work is put into the dish. This makes it difficult during a typical week to have a homemade meal every night. Actually sitting down as a family at least once a week is important to my mom. Making a dish, although it can be stressful, also has benefits according to her, “I loved seeing you and your brother smile when you came home. I knew that making the dish would make you happy, and during stressful times in school I tried to make this dish to brighten your day up, even if it was only for an hour.” In making this comment, she gets enjoyment out of creating the dish. It makes her happy, rather than stressed. While taking a break during homework can be stressful, food can also be a nice break every once and awhile. It gives a little time to relax compared to working nonstop. During studying and doing homework, there are times when taking a break is necessary. While not taking a break can be beneficial to getting work done or getting a good grade, it can be exhausting and draining. Taking an hour break every day might not be a solution, but every week is understandable. Food is not just about eating, it is about a way to socialize. Sitting down with my family is a way to talk about our day. These are the times that are truly valuable. 

Being a freshman in college has provided some difficulties with food, personal health and time management.. When hunger strikes, there is a ten minute walk to the dining hall, actually eating, then walking back. This process can be twenty minutes or an hour. While talking to friends can be extremely enjoyable, it can cause issues when there is a paper due at midnight and it’s already eight at night. Prior to college, getting food with friends was a destressor. While that is still true, it can be stressful to balance socialization with homework. There are times when grabbing a quick bit is the easiest solution. The problem with this option is that the food is not healthy. At the dining hall, there are always healthy choices, but at places such as The Pub, the food tends to contain many carbs and depending on the food, might be fried. During these times, Soylent seems like a good idea. After drinking Soylent for thirty days Rhinehart comments, “I feel like the six million dollar man. My physique has noticeably improved, my skin is clearer, my teeth whiter, my hair thicker and my dandruff gone.” (Widdicombe 2). This demonstrates the health benefits Rhinehart had from using Soylent. Being a student who is constantly hearing about the dreaded “Freshman Fifteen,” the idea of being able to get the daily nutrients while also staying in shape is appealing. It can be understood why having Soylent could be beneficial. 

Rhinehart did not see food as a way to socialize or take a break. For him, he had an extremely difficult time both affording food as well as making time for food. He was trying to start a new business which meant that both his money and time was valuable. He began to envision a world where he did not have to eat, which is when he got an idea for a drink that contains everything that is needed for survival. As a result, “he took a break from experimenting with software and studied textbooks on nutritional biochemistry and the Web sites of the F.D.A, and the U.S.D.A., and the Institute of Medicine. Eventually, Rhinehart compiled a list of thirty-five nutrients required for survival”(Widdicombe 1,2). These nutrients began his meal-drink, which he called Soylent. He realized that the drink was cheaper than his grocery bill and saved him a lot of time. Instead of having to go shopping, prepare, and cook a meal, he put a powder in the blender with water in order to get his meals for the day. This became a part of his life. He went completely off food and switched to a Soylent only diet. Since he went completely off Soylent, the idea of food being a hardship is clearly seen. He switched his life plan completely because food was truly getting in the way of his day to day life. This shows the frustration that food can cause. If a person does not have time to get food it causes hunger and even a lack of concentration but if a person gets food, it might cause them to fall behind in their work. 

Despite being someone who loves food, the idea of having a drink like Soylent does have some benefits. As a student in college, there have been numerous times where instead of going to the dining hall, I would eat a snack I had in my room instead. While being able to eat food may taste better and allow people to socialize, Soylent does save time for people that have busy lives. It is understandable that some people would resort to Soylent to save time. It also has many health benefits, which can be appealing to many people. However, there are times when having a meal can let a person relax a little. During a stressful, my mom would make my favorite meal so I could take a break. Often, breaks can let someone clear their mind and be refreshed.  Although the standard idea of food is the type of culture that humans are used to, Soylent does have certain appeal that could cause people to start drinking their meals instead of eating. In a culture that values food, an overall change from food to drink is hard to imagine this change being successful. While Soylent does save time and result in a better physique, it would not be an enjoyable way to experience life.  

Works Cited Widdicombe, Lizzie. The End of Food. The New Yorker, May 12 2004.