Quest's End

What I did: I kept a good attitude about things even when I was overwhelmed at times.

What I didn’t do: At times I felt like I was behind. That must mean I wasn’t keeping up.

Why its important: This, “adventure of a quest,” has helped me realize that I can do anything in life. Before this quest I told myself I could get through anything, but now that I have completed it, I can do more than just say it. I can believe it.

How it could’ve been different:

There are two major conclusions I got from this challenge. The first one would have to be that, no matter what culture you’re from; there are always ways to be healthy. No matter what kind of lifestyle you have, or the money you make, it’s up to you to get the most out of life. Live it to its fullest extent because we only get one.

The second conclusion I got ties into the first one a little. “A positive approach in life, will get a person so much further than any other approach.” I believed this before, but after having experienced it first hand, I can say, with all my being, that it actually works. Take every occurrence in life and use it to improve it.

Money vs. Will Power In Relation to Health

I believe that a person’s financial status and their will power directly coincide with that person’s health.

If someone is rich, they are more likely to be able to do the things necessary to be healthy. They have the money to go to the gym or eat at healthy places, whereas, a poorer person might be financially strapped and can’t spend that money on being healthy. Yes, if that rich person doesn’t have the will power to be healthy, then it’s a lost cause.

If a poorer person has the will power to want to be healthy, then there are plenty of inexpensive ways to get there. It might be harder but, in the end, I think they will receive greater satisfaction of a job well done.

Before and After Effects

Kyle Mengwasser

Lauren Rice

Composition 105

11/07/10

Before and After Effects

Out of the ordinary experiences are good ways to reflect upon life and change it for the better. Have you ever noticed that when you live life, day by day, just going through the motions, with no real challenge, it gets old and boring? Have you ever experienced something, “life changing?”  Over the past month or so, I have been participating in a quest with my fellow composition one peers. This adventure has definitely challenged me to take a different perspective on my life. When a person is challenged in life, it might seem difficult and annoying, but in reality, it is a wonderful opportunity to uplift and change your life. I would like to discuss myself, before and after this quest.

The goal of my quest was to figure out what attracts people to certain restaurants, more than others. I wanted to figure this out to see what cultures are healthier than others, and why. Each week, and sometimes more often, I would explore different food cultures. I did this by trying restaurants that served these various cultural foods. I made sure the cultures were different enough to get a good look at the broadest horizon of food as possible.

Going into my quest I was a bit skeptical. I didn’t really like the idea of a quest because it was something I thought of as, “I had to do it,” rather than something I get to do. When I was running different topic ideas through my head, I had a hard time finding a topic that would suit me. I concluded that a quest about food would be the best approach. Who doesn’t love food?

Like a lot of society, I don’t want to change anything that I don’t have to, in life. I enjoy the comfort of the, “known.” Going through each day is so easy when you know what is coming and how to do it. I believe I am a knowledgeable person, when it comes to a lot of things, but when there is an, “unknown,” it stresses me out. It’s hard to tell myself that I can do whatever comes up, when It’s unknown.

This, “adventure of a quest,” has helped me realize that I can do anything in life. Before this quest I told myself I could get through anything, but now that I have completed it, I can do more than just say it. I can believe it.

In an effort to change my life by challenging myself to try new and different food cultures, I have also changed the lives of those around me. In my quest, I have been trying different kinds of food. My family has also participated in this quest in ways, as well. My dad is mostly a meat and potatoes kind of guy, but he enjoys trying new places. My mom has to try a new place every time the family goes out. There have been plenty of places that haven’t been satisfactory, and sometimes it’s a wonder how their business survives. If my mom gets a grey hair to try a new place we often give her a hard time if we don’t have confidence in the place of choice, just because of past choices and experiences. My family has gotten some knowledge and well being out of this quest, as well as I have. I can say, with confidence, that as a family we have made healthier choices and learned what cultures out there are healthier than others.

Now, after having gone through this awesome experience of a quest, I look forward to each day and what it brings. I am excited for the unknown, and what I can get out of it. I know people say this all the time but, “life is truly better with a positive attitude.”

There are two major conclusions I got from this challenge. The first one would have to be that, no matter what culture you’re from; there are always ways to be healthy. No matter what kind of lifestyle you have, or the money you make, it’s up to you to get the most out of life. Live it to its fullest extent because we only get one.

The second conclusion I got ties into the first one a little. “A positive approach in life, will get a person so much further than any other approach.” I believed this before, but after having experienced it first hand, I can say, with all my being, that it actually works. Take every occurrence in life and use it to improve it.

Unhealthy Italian

Felix & Oscars is Des Moines' original and only Authentic Chicago Style Deep Pan Pizza. In addition to pizza, we also serve:

• Traditional Thin Crust Pizza
• Italian Specialty Pasta Dinners
• Sandwiches
• Soups
• Salad
• Appetizers

My mouth is watering while writing this blog. The other side of Italian is the, "not so good for you side."
Although, it might taste amazing, it doesn't do amazing things to you body.

For any of you that haven't tried F & O's, I suggest trying it if you're willing to run a couple extra miles.

Soooooooooooo good!

Healthy Italian

3600 Westown Parkway
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 224-0824

I think the category of Italian food culture can be separated into healthy and unhealthy. some of the Italian foods can be quite bad for you.

olive garden is definitely in the healthy category, with all of the foods that they offer.

Olive Garden can get a little more expensive than other places and maybe that has something to do with why some people are healthier than others.

Where's the Beef?

Vegetarianism is the practice of following a plant-based diet including fruits, vegetables, cereal grains, nuts, and seeds, mushrooms, with or without dairy products and eggs. A vegetarian does not eat meat, including red meat, game, poultry, fish, crustacean, and shellfish, and may also abstain from by-products of animal slaughter such as animal-derived rennet and gelatin. As some cheeses containing rennet, and gelatin-derived products, contain unfamiliar animal ingredients, however, these products may unknowingly be eaten by vegetarians.

Vegetarianism is adopted for various reasons: ethical, health, environmental, religious, political, cultural, aesthetic, economic, culinary (some people simply do not enjoy consuming meat) or other reasons, and there are a number of vegetarian diets. A lacto-vegetarian diet includes dairy products but not eggs, an ovo-vegetarian diet includes eggs but not dairy products, and an ovo-lacto vegetarian diet includes both eggs and dairy products. A vegan diet excludes all animal products, such as dairy products, eggs, and honey.

Semi-vegetarian diets consist largely of vegetarian foods, but may include fish or poultry, or other meats on an infrequent basis. Those with diets containing fish or poultry may define "meat" only as mammalian flesh and may identify with vegetarianism. A pescetarian diet, for example, includes "fish but no meat". The common use association between such diets and vegetarianism has led vegetarian groups such as the Vegetarian Society to state diets containing these ingredients are not vegetarian, because fish and birds are animals

 

P.F. Changs

http://www.pfchangs.com/index.aspx

I went to P.F. Changs to try the vegetarian side of culture. Even after having the BUDDHA'S FEAST, 

(Vegetable medley with five-spice tofu served steamed or stir-fried) I still need my meat. 

American Culture/ Wasteful Living

This site explains how wasteful we, as Americans, have gotten. There are tons of cultures in poverty that could really use what we waste.

Healthy Fast Food (Oxymoron?)

I found this site to be interesting. It lists the top healthy fast food joints. I think they only consider them to be healthy because they have something that fits into that category. Overall, there are restaurants that are FAR more healthy than these.

What makes a food healthy?

A food is healthy if it provides your body what it needs, when it needs it WITHOUT adversely affecting your body's functions.

These are the types of foods a body needs in order to function effectively.

Protein, the kind found in lean meat, dairy & nuts. Protein acts as a muscle builder, it repairs tissue, and helps kick-start your metabolism. Protein builds cells, enzymes and hormones and it forms antibodies to combat invading bacteria & viruses. And including protein at each meal makes you feel fuller.

Carbohydrates, the kind found in whole grains, fruit & vegetables. Carbs are absolutely necessary to fuel the brain, muscles and your metabolism. It's also an appetite suppressor. Fiber is an important part of your diet, and it's not found in proteins or fats.

Fiber expands in the stomach, taking up space, slowing the digestive process, and keeping your energy and hunger levels even for several hours. Remove the fiber and there's a rush of blood sugar as the carbs are quickly digested. That creates a burst of energy, and then a sudden drop in energy as the blood and your body crave more.

There are two types of fiber. Soluble is the kind in oatmeal, apples and other fruits and grains. It likes to hangout in the stomach, slows down the digestive process, giving a longer-burning energy throughout the day. A diet without fiber is full of spikes and troughs.

Insoluble fiber doesn't like to hang around. It shoots through your digestive track picking up miscellaneous fats and whatever else happens to be loitering in your system.

Finally, Fats - the monounsaturated and polyunsaturated kind. Our bodies need fat to deliver nutrients throughout our bodies. Polyunsaturated fats, one of the good kind like omega 3's found in fish, flaxseeds and flaxseed oil helps to clear your arteries. Monounsaturated fats like the kind you find in nuts, olives, avocados, coconuts and olive oils reduce cholesterol levels, help burn fat, keep you satiated.

Mexican food

Authentic Mexican food is healthy. It is low in fat, cholesterol and contains many vitamins and nutrients your body needs. No matter whether you choose a vegetarian dish or a meat dish, Mexican cuisine can help you lose weight and remain healthy while giving you appetizing food with a lot of flavor. You do not need to miss out on flavor to eat healthy.

Mexican Culture

El Azteca

1100 N. Hickory Blvd., Suite 203

Pleasant Hill, IA 50327

515-265-2465

Price range: $$ ($9-$15)

El Azteca in Pleasant Hill serves authentic Mexican cuisine. Patrons can choose combinations of favorites such as tacos, enchiladas and tostadas. A full bar is available.

Sharing the Experience

In an effort to change my life by challenging myself to try new and different food cultures, I have also changed the lives of those around me. The main reason I chose to explore different food cultures, was to figure out what makes some cultures healthier than others. In my quest, I have been trying different kinds of food. My family has also participated in this quest in ways, as well.

My dad is mostly a meat and potatoes kind of guy, but he enjoys trying new places. My mom has to try a new place every time the family goes out. There have been plenty of places that haven’t been satisfactory, and sometimes it’s a wonder how their business survives. If my mom gets a grey hair to try a new place we often give her a hard time if we don’t have confidence in the place of choice, just because of past choices and experiences.

My family has gotten some knowledge and well being out of this quest, as well as I have. I can say, with confidence, that as a family we have made healthier choices and learned what cultures out there are healthier than others.

Mongolian culture

Overall, the Mongolian culture is healthy.

One of the reasons is that they put more time and effort into their meals.

Lazy cultures want their food fast, which requires lots of unnecessary  food additives and preservatives.

This site shows and explains some of the Mongolian food culture 

Income and Fitness

This quest is definitely changing my views on cultures out there. A lot of my assumptions about some cultures are coming true and some are being disproven. I feel that I have gained a new-found knowledge about society and culture, that I can share with the world.

 One thing that I can say is true, is that we as Americans tend to be lazy because we live in luxury.  I believe that is one main reason why we aren’t as healthy as we should or could be. When comparing poverty cultures to cultures without poverty, I concluded that generally, if you have a lot of money, then you aren’t perfectly fit. Cultures that are experiencing poverty are underweight and lacking sufficient nutrition. Those cultures or people that are in the middle, tend to be in the middle for fitness also.

I guess what I’m generally stating is that, even though there are exceptions, the amount of money made coincides with their physical fitness. 

Sweet Addictions

I think one of the main reasons fast food is so unhealthy is because its so fast. it's a proven fact that slow-home-made meals are much healthier for you than those that are quick and easy.

http://www.sweetadditions.net/food-drinks/fast-food-statistics-in-united-states-of-america
http://nutrition.mcdonalds.com/nutritionexchange/nutritionfacts.pdf

What attracts people to unhealthy places?
1. very little effort required
2. good for people with limited time
3. all of the bad nutrition that tastes soooooooo good

I know it's hard, but if you want to be healthier, then you must find more efficient use of your time. If you don't have enough time to eat healthy meals you don't have enough time to be healthy.