Saturday, June 19, 2010

How the World Eats

As I go through my weekly menu I'm cognizant of the kinds of food we're eating. For example, the amount of red meat and the frequency of having it during the week, the amount of salt, bad/good fat, the amount of vegetables in a meal, and overall the ratios of each food group of each meal. It's a lot to take in and think about but for the sake of the health of my family (and pocketbook) it's worth it. I'm having a lot of fun along the way.

These first two week's of weekly menu planning has come to remind me of an interesting article published in Time magazine, which featured gorgeous and personal photo's by Henry Mendel, of what families across the world eat each week and what their weekly expenditure bought them.

Not all families are equal nor are the total amounts the same but looking at the photos below I'm amazed at the kind of food purchased for each particular family. The main aspect that shines through in some pictures are the amount or lack of fresh produce. Additionally, I am boggled at all the processed food.
Interesting isn't it?

Italy: The Manzo family of Sicily
Food expenditure for one week: 214.36 Euros or $260.11

© Peter Menzel www.menzelphoto.com from the book Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

Germany: The Melander family of Bargteheide
Food expenditure for one week: 375.39 Euros or $500.07


Mexico: The Casales family of Cuernavaca
Food expenditure for one week: 1,862.78 Mexican Pesos or $189.09

© Peter Menzel www.menzelphoto.com from the book Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

Poland: The Sobczynscy family of Konstancin-Jeziorna
Food expenditure for one week: 582.48 Zlotys or $151.27

© Peter Menzel www.menzelphoto.com from the book Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

Egypt: The Ahmed family of Cairo
Food expenditure for one week: 387.85 Egyptian Pounds or $68.53

© Peter Menzel www.menzelphoto.com from the book Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

Ecuador: The Ayme family of Tingo
Food expenditure for one week: $31.55

© Peter Menzel www.menzelphoto.com from the book Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

Bhutan: The Namgay family of Shingkhey Village
Food expenditure for one week: 224.93 ngultrum or $5.03

© Peter Menzel www.menzelphoto.com from the book Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

Chad: The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp
Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23

© Peter Menzel www.menzelphoto.com from the book Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

United States: The Revis family of North Carolina
Food expenditure for one week $341.98

© Peter Menzel www.menzelphoto.com from the book Hungry Planet: What the World Eats


xoxo

3 comments:

SinoSoul said...

the more "developed" the country, the more processed food appears. Truly sad. I'm thinking the Egyptians and Bhutanese are eating extremely well for the dollar!

Unknown said...

Cairo has a nice table. North Carolina needs help!

QR said...

Love this inside peek at what other families from other cultures are eating. Again, thanks for sharing Novy!