Heather Choi's portfolios
Alpha Lambda Sigma
Eat Healthy. Be Healthy.
Marketing
Farmers' Market
Pleasantville Farmers' Market!
I, Heather Choi, am usually a pro-supermarket kind of gal. As a thriving advertising student, I love being around the creative advertisements, variety of brand names, strategic product placement, and even all the bright colors and lights of a supermarket.
After going to a farmers’ market, I realized how underappreciated farmers’ markets actually are! You get the full effect. Your five senses are going through a different experience when you’re at a famers’ market compared to a supermarket. The aroma of freshly baked goods came from the local bakery selling pies and pastries. And the smell of fish oozing coming from the tent of a local fisherman. As soon as I walked over to the crowd of tents, I heard the different vendor owners selling all the variety of products from lobsters and fish to jam and butter. Also in the background, there was a live performance from a local band playing music the whole entire time.
I then realized that unlike the supermarkets that strategically do sales through marketing research and statistics, farmers’ markets let their products and the sellers do the work. If you’re at a supermarket questioning where the fish was fished out from and processed and can’t find out an answer, you would be able to find out when and where and by whom the fish was fished by when shopping at a farmer’s market. It’s pleasing to know that I can buy my food and know where it came from. And the food is definitely fresh and most of it was organic. So though the marketing and advertising of a supermarket hold a special place in my heart, I would have to say that I greatly enjoyed my, first and definitely not last, time at a farmers’ market! Before this journal comes to an end, I can’t end it without mentioning the best part of a farmers’ market. I basically walked circles around the whole market taking samples from each tent. Free food? Who can resist that?
Eating Animals
Page 209 “Does anyone really doubt that the corporations that control the vast majority of animal agriculture in America are in it for the profit? In most industries, that’s a perfectly good driving force. But when the commodities are animals, the factories are the earth itself, and the products are physically consumed, the stakes are not the same, and the thinking can’t be the same.”
I usually walk in a deli, order a grilled chicken sandwich, pay roughly around $7, and feel satisfied with the quality, price, and generally everything about the sandwich. But is $7 really worth it?
I’m not a tree-hugger, nor am I a vegetarian. I don’t like watching commercials from PETA or about abused animals. I love eating meat. I also watched Food Inc. and was able to enjoy a Big Mac and chicken nuggets from McDonald’s right after. So from these few facts about me, one wouldn’t conclude that I would be against factory farming. After reading a chapter in Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran, it changed my perception on a few things in the animal and meat industry. I’m not going to say, “I vow to be a vegetarian and never eat meat again.” But what I can say is that we, as heavy consumers of factory farming, need to rethink and or change our views on this food production based on factory farming.
Factory farming is an avoidable situation. They don’t have to give animals chemicals so that they grow unnaturally big thus they can’t even walk, mate, or even take care of their young ones. There are alternative such as animal husbandry and pasture-based animal-raising. Safran wrote, “… animals have entered into an arrangement with human, an exchange of sorts. When animal husbandry is done as it should be, humans can provide animals a better life than they could hope for in the wild and almost certainly a better death.”
Is the meat industry completely at fault on how they produce meat and go through animals the way that they do? Yes and no.
Yes, I believe it is somewhat their fault for their economically concentrated view on food production. According to Eating Animals, “Factory farming wasn’t born or advanced out of a need to produce more food – to ‘feed the hungry’- but to produce it in a way that is profitable for agribusiness companies.” Page 209 of Eating Animals shows how profit is the driving force for these factories. Safran wrote, “Factory farming is the last system you’d create if you cared about sustainably feeding people over the long term.”
But no I don’t think I can put all the blame on these agribusiness companies. We eat the meat. We buy it. Therefore, we support it. I feel that we need to educate ourselves on what we put in our mouths. We can’t put all the blame on the “leaders”. We, as “followers” should’ve had knowledge on how this whole production worked before we consume it.
So overall $7 supporting factory farming definitely isn’t worth taking the simple life pleasures away from an innocent animal.
One Straw Revolution
'Let us say that the key to peace lies close to the earth.' (177)
One Straw Revolution by Masanobu Fukuoka
Though I have never grew rice in Japan and probably never will, the lessons learned while reading One-Straw Revolution are life lessons that can be used outside of the farming world.
Masanobu Fukuoka was trained as a scientist specializing in plant pathology. He followed this conclusion by dedicating his life to farming with nature, in a natural way and came to the conclusion that humans know nothing and nature knows everything.
Fukuoka’s approach to farming and to life is to seek non-action and avoid tasks, rather than taking them on. Fukuoka advocates a gentle calm way of life and farming practice with four principles. No cultivation, no chemical fertilizer of prepared compost, no weeding or herbicides, and no dependence on chemicals. Fukuoka shows that his “do nothing” method leads a lighthearted and casual approach to life.
I can’t use this book for my everyday life but I will be able to take Fukuoka’s thinking and apply to my everyday schedule. We make things too complicated. Eat well, simple, whole foods from foods close to us. What he describes is not just agriculture but a way of living. Adaption of his philosophies may not be possible for many people but the attempt of could make many lives richer.
Hurricane Sandy Volunteer Work
Sorority girls helping out Sandy victims one can at a time? For the second part of my volunteer hours, I spent my time in Lindenhurst, NY at a food bank helping out families affected by Hurricane Sandy.
While we were safe and sound due to Pace University’s generators, many families all around the northeastern coast lost power, food, heat, homes, and even loved ones. Feeling helpless, the sisters of Alpha Lambda Sigma went down to one of the areas that were most affected by the storm.
We spent all day collecting and distributing canned goods, blankets, clothes, and batteries for families in need of help around the neighborhood. Not only were there a lot of victims but also there were many volunteers. It was a humbling experience to see how many people wanted to help. So many were without heat for weeks and had damage done to their house yet they wanted to help those who still were in trouble. Some male volunteers were going around the neighborhood moving trees or debris off the streets.
Volunteering was actually enjoyable and a fun time with my sisters. Though everyone complained on our way to the volunteer site, we all left with a warm feeling after helping out those in need. We were lucky that minimal damage was afflicted at Pace University. Being thankful for our luck, it felt good to go out and make a change in those that weren’t so lucky.
Powerpoint Final
Journal #2
Being miles away from home, I tend to forget about my obvious Korean heritage. Dorming and having a new life in Pleasantville, NY, which is a mostly white dominant suburban neighborhood, kept me off track in practicing my traditional Korean ways. Eating cheeseburgers and pizza everyday didn’t help either. While living at home, I was constantly reminded of my ethnicity due to my family, who has a very strong sense of Korean pride. From dancing along to the new hit song, Gangnam style, which is actually sung by a famous Korean pop star, to helping my grandma study for her US citizen test, being home promptly reminds me that I am a first generation Korean-American.
The thing that will always be a part of my Korean heritage is the food. I went home this past weekend just to go out in the city but was surprised to arrive to a feast prepared by my grandma. Trying to see if I forgot a family member’s birthday, I looked at the calendar and saw that it was Choosuk. Choosuk is Korean Thanksgiving. Being one of the biggest national holidays in Korea, this holiday is supposed to be celebrated by visiting your hometown, sharing food, and giving thanks to your ancestors. By living the life of typical Americans, my whole family tends to forget to practice this important Korean holiday. My grandma did a great job of keeping the holiday apparent by making all the traditional Korean food. As soon as I walked in the front door, I smelled the Korean savory pancake (Pahjeon), which has seafood, onions, and scallions mixed in. I saw in the living room that my 2 year-old cousin was enjoying homemade rice cakes. In a typical Korean household during the eve of Choosuk, a special type of rice cake called Songpyeon is prepared. They are usually ball-shaped typically the size of a chicken nugget stuffed either with a red bean paste or a sweetened sesame paste. I helped prepare the Songpyeon with my grandma and aunts while they shared stories on how Choosuk was usually celebrated back in the day when they were younger. It was surprising to see how much has changed throughout the years. Though I would never be able to celebrate this holiday the way my older family members spent it, I have my own stories and memories of it.
The food that was prepared by my grandma for this holiday is definitely unlike the food I was used to eating at school. Forget the fries and pizza! If I can eat like its Choosuk every day, I would be one happy girl. The feast made by my grandma took all day, made with fresh ingredients with a recipe that was passed down from my grandma’s grandma. Obviously, care and love is a very important part apparent in all the different dishes. Preparing, eating, and sharing this food with my family members was definitely a humbling experience. By eating all this traditional food, it reminded myself that I am Korean and that will never change no matter how many burgers I eat or how many non-Korean friends I have. A United States passport was never going to change that either. I celebrate Choosuk, eat rice cakes, and am proud of my Korean heritage!
Hilltop Hanover Farm
Never would I ever have expected myself to be volunteering at a farm until this class. As part of the Area of Knowledge I component for the class, I spent my day at Hilltop Hanover Farm in Yorktown Heights, NY.
So what would a girl from New York City expect to do at a farm? Well, for starters, I gathered carrots, bunches of carrots. Not just picked carrots from the floor, but I dug through, grabbed, and pulled them from the earth. To be to able to see and experience the freshness of the carrots made me want to eat them, though I normally despise carrots.
Two fellow classmates and I met at 7:30 AM for morning coffees so we would be able to stay awake volunteering. When we got there, the chickens were the first to greet us. They were eating seeds near the building entrance.
I don’t think I’ve ever even gotten that close to a live chicken before. I was used to dirty pigeons flying around everywhere, not roosters. It felt sort of like a culture shock when I was working at the farm. I was not used to working this hard for my food. Weeding, composting, gathering, and watering were not in my list of daily activities.
Though it was hard work, I’m really glad I got the chance to volunteer at Hilltop. After I left, I felt a sense of accomplishment and productivity. One of the farmers who were working on the farm with us told us that he went into farming because he enjoyed that feeling. I understood what he was saying when I was about to end my volunteer hours. Who knows? Maybe I’ll be back to Hilltop Hanover to feel that productive sensation again.
Freshmen Weight Gain?
So most college students probably heard of or experienced the dangers society likes to call Freshmen 15. So what is Freshmen 15? Freshman fifteen refers to an amount of weight often gained during a student's first year at a college. Its also a phenomenon of how college students gain weight their first semester attending a college or university. The expression is commonly used in the United States and Canada. In Australia and New Zealand it is sometimes referred to as First Year Fatties, Fresher spread, or Fresher Five.
What causes freshmen 15? The biggest reason is lack of exericise and bad food choices. But who can blame us? If you had 2 hours to exercise or take a nap, what’s a more obvious choice? Napping.. but that’s the mindset of a freshmen, thus why there is such a thing as freshmen 15. So many food options in college cafeterias are high in calories, fat, and carbohydrates. Some colleges even have fast food chains in their cafeteria. Imagine having the choice of eating McDonalds or Taco Bell everyday. Lack of sleep may cause overeating and bingeing. Also lack of sleep may cause students to eat late at night causing weight-gain.
Also freshmen are more likely to gain weight because we now don’t have parents or guardians telling us what or when to eat. We have the choice to eat whatever or whenever we wanted. We could eat pizza and fried chicken everyday if we wanted.
Why does freshmen 15 affect girls more than guys? Girls seems to be more vulnerable to the weight gain. College females tend to consume more junk food on average then their male counterparts. Females that were active in sports throughout high school, but are now no longer active need to be extra careful because without having daily physical activity, calories are not being burned like they used to.
All this weight gain can be avoided! Exercising and having a healthy balanced diet help you keep away from freshmen 15. Avoid unhealthy cafeteria food. Avoid drinking excessive amount of alcohol. Avoid beer! It’s a carbs and will get you fat! Avoid keeping junk food in your room. Try buying healthy snacks like fruits or vegetables or yogurt. Eating snacks and mini-meals can help control over-eating.
Many students have the tendency to fall into the dangers of freshmen 15 but all of this can be avoided. With the information and awareness of this, people will start to exercise and eat healthier. Be determined and live a healthy lifestyle in college!
Bringing to the Table
Page 232- “Participate in food production to the extent that you can. If you have a yard or even just a porch box or a pot in a sunny window, grow something to eat in it….You will appreciate it fully having known it all its life.”
When reading ‘The Pleasures of Eating’, an essay out of the book Bringing to the Table by Wendell Berry, it brought out my memories of living at home.
Ever since my family moved to a house with a big side and backyard, fruit trees and plants have surrounded my house. My grandpa developed a love for planting vegetables. Eggplant, pepper, cucumber, and tomato plants are placed all over the yard. We also had apple, peach and cherry trees and even a grape vine! It was clear to say, my grandpa was obsessed.
As a middle school student, I didn’t understand why my family couldn’t just go walk a block over to the supermarket, instead of doing this work all year preparing and taking care of these plants. It was so much easier to go pick out and eat fruits and vegetables that were ripe and ready-to-go after that swipe on your credit card. I was also embarrassed to have all these plants growing in my yard. When friends came over, I avoided the yard. I always thought my friends would think that my family was too poor to buy our vegetables, which is why we grew them.
Now as a college student, I still think it’s easier to go to a supermarket. What has changed is I am now not embarrassed, but thankful. I am thankful for the fact that my grandpa cares about what our family consumes. And I am thankful for the memories I shared planting vegetables with my family.
College Student Problems
As the semester comes to an end, the whispers of students gossiping about who gained “Freshman Fifteen” comes to a roar. Freshman fifteen refers to the amount of weight often gained by first year college students.
Though that is merely a witty term and most college students usually don’t gain 15 pounds, studies have shown that college students do pack on six to nine pounds. The key reason for weight gain is the increase in unhealthy food and beer drinking and a decrease in physical activity.
When college starts, students start forgetting about home-cooked meals and getting used to junk food, fast food, and basically different forms of unhealthy food. According to students, most of them have at least a couple bags of chips, instant noodles, and microwavable dishes in their refrigerator. All of which contain saturated fat and sodium.
Many college students come to college having played sport(s) in high school where they most likely played and practiced the sport almost daily for a full season. Because most of them don’t end up playing on athletic teams due to their focus on academics, it causes a lack of exercise for the students who were actually in shape before college.
According to researched data from Tufts University, studies show that of the students who did gain weight, they put on an average of six pounds their first year and an average of ten pounds total during their college careers.
The transition to college life is a critical period of risk for weight gain. It’s the lifestyle that many college students live that causes the weight gain. Weight gain not only affects students physically, but also academically and psychologically. As one gains weight, he or she is more likely to feel less confident about the way they look. Also due to many students’ poor eating habits, students are more likely to feel tired and sluggish throughout the day.
By sticking through a well-balanced diet and going for a jog every once in while, students can live a healthier lifestyle. They can avoid the weight gain that the majority of college students face.