{"id":465,"date":"2025-07-02T02:59:36","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T02:59:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/herofortheplanet.org\/ghsc-earth\/?page_id=465"},"modified":"2026-01-20T16:33:56","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T16:33:56","slug":"food-life","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/herofortheplanet.org\/ghsc-earth\/earth\/food-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Food &#038; Life"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h5>\n\t\t\tEARTH\t<\/h5>\n<h1>\n\t\t\tFood &#038; Life\t<\/h1>\n<h2>\n\t\t\tFood &#038; Culture\t<\/h2>\n\t\t<h3>\t\n\tEXPLORATION<\/h3><p>Brainstorm foods your state or city is known for, then choose one dish and research its origins:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">When was this dish created and how?<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">How did it become popular locally?<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">What cultural influences shaped it?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t<p>Every dish you enjoy has a history that relates to a different culture. Some have cultures that are easy to identify, but others feel uniquely American. These videos show three popular foods that can be found in the Southern United States. Each of these have a rich history beginning in different parts of the world before they received an American twist!<\/p>\n<p>Foods such as barbecue, the Cuban sandwich, and sweet tea bring people together. You might enjoy barbeque while at a family reunion, drink sweet tea at a party, or eat a cuban sandwich while having lunch with your friends. The history of the food ties it to an array of different cultures, while the act of eating it brings you closer to your surrounding community. <\/p>\n\t\t<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Columbia Restaurant - History of the Cuban Sandwich\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/QRI88Pq1hu8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\t\n\t\t<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vMcIzlsI45A?si=SIVJQTXbch7y1T6C\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\t\n\t\t<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"A Brief History Of Sweet Tea\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_FdxPf4rOYM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\t\n<h2>\n\t\t\tFood is Fuel\t<\/h2>\n\t\t<h3>\t\n\tEXPLORATION<\/h3><p>Research your favorite snack food&#8217;s ingredients:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">What ingredients are included? Are there ingredients you have never heard of?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/herofortheplanet.org\/ghsc-earth\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2025\/07\/article_291139_the-top-10-healthiest-foods-for-kids_-02-4b745e57928c4786a61b47d8ba920058.jpg\" alt=\"Credit: Diana Chistruga\" itemprop=\"image\" height=\"1001\" width=\"1500\" title=\"Credit: Diana Chistruga\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\n\t<p>Healthy eating is often taught to us at early ages, from those who care for us, our schools, and even educational television shows. The habit of incorporating fruits and vegetables in your meals is instilled at a young age in hopes that you will continue to make such choices as you grow. The reason is that food works like medicine in its own way!<\/p>\n<p>You have probably heard that spinach makes you stronger &#8220;like Popeye&#8221; or that carrots are good for your eyes. Both of these are true. While eating carrots each meal won&#8217;t restore bad vision, the Vitamin A in them can help you maintain your eyesight. Similarly, spinach is nitrate-rich, and has been found to help muscle growth. Eating well not only helps you get stronger, but it also supports your body in fighting off diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and types of cancer.<\/p>\n<h2>\n\t\t\tFood Deserts\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/herofortheplanet.org\/ghsc-earth\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2025\/07\/IMG_F7B9A7D66BDE-1-740x410-1.jpg\" alt=\"Food Desert Cartoon from Chapman University\" itemprop=\"image\" height=\"410\" width=\"740\" title=\"IMG_F7B9A7D66BDE-1-740x410\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\n\t\t<h3>\t\n\tEXPLORATION<\/h3><p>Count how many fast food restaurants and grocery stores are close to your home:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Are there more grocery stores or fast food restaurants?<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">How far must you drive to get to a grocery store?<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Does this change what you eat?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t<p>Think of all the restaurants and food available to you around your home. It may seem like there are endless options to get your next meal! However, for many metro-areas this might not be true. Many cities that <em>seem<\/em> to have plenty of available food options could actually be considered food deserts.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Food Deserts are areas where access to healthy food is scarce.<\/strong> Rather than having local grocery options, which provide fresh fruits and vegetables, these &#8216;deserts&#8217; tend to be far from places that sell local produce; this makes fast food chains and gas stations the only resort for locals. The foods available at these establishments offer little nutritional value, harming customers that rely on them daily.<\/p>\n<p>Health issues such as Type 2 Diabetes and Heart Disease stem in large part due to dietary choices. Media often condemns people suffering from these diseases for &#8220;not making healthier choices&#8221;. But what do you do when you don&#8217;t have a choice in the food options in your community; or do not have the transportation needed to drive to healthier options, which are additionally more expensive than typical fast food.<\/p>\n\t\t<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Trying to Eat Healthy in a Food Desert\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dDbENx9c3Fg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\t\n\t<p><strong>Why is food wasted?<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/herofortheplanet.org\/ghsc-earth\/earth\/food-waste\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLet&#8217;s Find Out\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n<div class=\"resources\">\n\t<div class=\"resources-content\">\n\t\t<a href=\"#page-resources-modal\" class=\"resources-btn js-cf-resources-modal\" title=\"Resources\">\n\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><circle cx=\"30\" cy=\"30\" r=\"30\" fill=\"#33505A\"\/><g fill=\"#FFF\" fill-rule=\"nonzero\"><path d=\"M37.875 30.417L40 31.887V19.113C38.625 19 37.5 19 37.5 19H35v13l2.125-1.47c.25-.226.5-.226.75-.113z\"\/><path d=\"M45.642 20.22l-.659-.22v18.361c0 .66-.438 1.32-.987 1.54-.22.11-.439.11-.658.11-.439 0-.878-.22-1.207-.44-.439-.44-4.608-1.76-6.144-1.76-.329 0-.658 0-.987.11v1.21c0 .33.22.55.439.55L45.313 41h.11c.109 0 .219 0 .328-.11.11-.11.22-.22.22-.44V20.77c.11-.22-.11-.44-.33-.55zM25.971 38.795c-.548-.11-1.097-.11-1.536-.11-1.536 0-4.937.994-5.595 1.768-.33.331-.768.442-1.207.442-.22 0-.439 0-.658-.11-.658-.222-.988-.885-.988-1.548V21l-.658.332c-.22.11-.329.22-.329.442v19.673c0 .11.11.332.22.442.11.111.329.111.438.111l9.875-1.326c.329 0 .548-.332.438-.663v-1.216zM31.371 38.857c-.114.107-.114.107-.228.107s-.114.107-.229.107H29.43h-.115c-.114 0-.114-.107-.228-.107-.115 0-.115-.107-.229-.107h-.114c-.229-.214-1.486-.536-2.743-.75v.75C26 40.143 28.4 41 30 41s4-.857 4-2.143V38c-1.029.107-2.171.429-2.629.857z\"\/><path d=\"M43.025 38.894c.108.106.217.106.433.106h.217a.58.58 0 0 0 .325-.53V20.482c0-.105-.108-.317-.108-.423-.65-.635-2.492-.846-4.225-1.058v13.122a.58.58 0 0 1-.325.529h-.217c-.108 0-.217 0-.325-.106l-2.383-1.905-2.384 1.905c-.216.106-.433.106-.541.106a.58.58 0 0 1-.325-.53V19c-.867.106-1.517.212-2.167.53v18.623c1.083-.846 3.683-1.27 5.308-1.27 1.517 0 6.067 1.27 6.717 2.011zM17.322 40h.215c.108 0 .323-.11.43-.11.967-.995 4.727-2.1 6.231-2.1 1.504 0 4.835.773 5.802 1.326V19.774C27.959 19 23.983 19 23.983 19c-1.396 0-5.479.442-6.876 1.768 0 .11-.107.332-.107.443v18.236a.61.61 0 0 0 .322.553zm3.223-13.705c.108 0 1.505-.774 3.546-.774 2.364 0 3.545.774 3.653.774.215.11.322.442.215.773-.108.221-.323.221-.43.221-.108 0-.215 0-.322-.11 0 0-1.075-.663-3.116-.663-1.827 0-3.116.663-3.116.663-.215.11-.537 0-.752-.221-.107-.221 0-.553.322-.663zm0 3.426c.108 0 1.505-.774 3.546-.774 2.364 0 3.545.774 3.653.774.215.11.322.442.215.774-.108.22-.323.22-.43.22-.108 0-.215 0-.322-.11 0 0-1.075-.663-3.116-.663-1.827 0-3.116.663-3.116.663-.215.11-.537 0-.752-.22-.107-.222 0-.553.322-.664zm0 3.316c.108 0 1.505-.774 3.546-.774 2.364 0 3.545.774 3.653.774.215.11.322.442.215.774-.108.22-.323.22-.43.22-.108 0-.215 0-.322-.11 0 0-1.075-.663-3.116-.663-1.827 0-3.116.663-3.116.663-.215.11-.537 0-.752-.221-.107-.221 0-.553.322-.663z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<span class=\"resources-count\">4<\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"page-resources-modal\"\n\tclass=\"cf-modal cf-hero-society mfp-hide\"\n\ttabindex=\"-1\"\n\trole=\"dialog\"\n\taria-labelledby=\"page-resources-modal-label\"\n\taria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n\t<h1 id=\"page-resources-modal-label\" class=\"cf-hero-society-title mb-5\">\n\t\tPage Resources\t<\/h1>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<ul class=\"list-unstyled col-lg-10 col-xl-8\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"media mb-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img class=\"mr-3\" src=\"https:\/\/herofortheplanet.org\/ghscearth\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2023\/10\/web-50.png\" alt=\"Web Resource\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"media-body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"mt-0 mb-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFood Empowerment Project (F.E.P.) Food Desert\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Food Empowerment Project: Serves to find injustices across the food production chain from unfair conditions for workers and animals to food access.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSource: <a href=\"https:\/\/foodispower.org\/access-health\/food-deserts\/\" target=\"_blank\">Food Empowerment Project (F.E.P.) Food Desert<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"media mb-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img class=\"mr-3\" src=\"https:\/\/herofortheplanet.org\/ghscearth\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2023\/10\/web-50.png\" alt=\"Web Resource\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"media-body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"mt-0 mb-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/World%20Health%20Organization%20-%20Healthy%20Diet\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWorld Health Organization - Healthy Diet\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>World Health Organization (W.H.O.): WHO is an agency within the United Nations that works to promote health.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSource: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/initiatives\/behealthy\/healthy-diet\" target=\"_blank\">World Health Organization - Healthy Diet<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"media mb-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img class=\"mr-3\" src=\"https:\/\/herofortheplanet.org\/ghscearth\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2023\/10\/web-50.png\" alt=\"Web Resource\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"media-body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"mt-0 mb-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/studyfinds.org\/spinach-make-muscles-stronger\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPopeye was right: Spinach really does make your muscles stronger\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This site works to make studies of all categories available to the average reader both through the accessible platform and by ensuring the language is easy to understand for all readers.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSource: <a href=\"https:\/\/studyfinds.org\/spinach-make-muscles-stronger\/\" target=\"_blank\">Popeye was right: Spinach really does make your muscles stronger<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"media mb-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img class=\"mr-3\" src=\"https:\/\/herofortheplanet.org\/ghscearth\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2023\/10\/web-50.png\" alt=\"Web Resource\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"media-body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"mt-0 mb-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dukehealth.org\/blog\/myth-or-fact-eating-carrots-improves-eyesight\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDuke Health Myth or Fact\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Duke Health: Hospital system and medical school focused on health research.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSource: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dukehealth.org\/blog\/myth-or-fact-eating-carrots-improves-eyesight\" target=\"_blank\">Duke Health Myth or Fact<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>EARTH Food &#038; Life Food &#038; Culture EXPLORATION Brainstorm foods your state or city is known for, then choose one dish and research its origins: When was this dish created and how? How did it become popular locally? What cultural influences shaped it? Every dish you enjoy has a history that relates to a different [&#8230;]<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary cf-quest-read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/herofortheplanet.org\/ghsc-earth\/earth\/food-life\/\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1914,"featured_media":0,"parent":176,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-465","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/herofortheplanet.org\/ghsc-earth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/465","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/herofortheplanet.org\/ghsc-earth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/herofortheplanet.org\/ghsc-earth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/herofortheplanet.org\/ghsc-earth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1914"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/herofortheplanet.org\/ghsc-earth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=465"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/herofortheplanet.org\/ghsc-earth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/465\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/herofortheplanet.org\/ghsc-earth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/176"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/herofortheplanet.org\/ghsc-earth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=465"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}