I watch sports on television frequently. The past Super Bowl I had friends over to watch the game and revel in good company. I do not feel good enough about my cooking skills to prepare something for guests, so I chose to order pizza and wings for delivery. The social norm of watching sports and eating delivered “junk” food is common in America, especially among males. When engaged in any television program, one typically devotes their full attention to it. This is exponentially true with sports if a high value is placed on the outcome, as many do with the Super Bowl. Ordering prepared food to be delivered is much quicker and easier than cooking, and allows for minimal distraction from the action on screen.

A visual representation of the connections between individual choices (at the top) and effects.

I found this module interesting, specifically the bit on Factory Farming compared with sustainable communal farming methods. Prior to reading this module I’d given occasional thought to the question ‘where does my food come from?’ but always in passing, and never with a set terminology to define the answer. I wondered while reading how much of the food I have delivered is sourced from local agriculture, if any of it had been genetically modified, and what changes I could make in my food choice that would make me healthier. I do like Pennsylvania. The state’s agriculture industry seems to have a lot of sustainable practices unlike the methods of the Factory Farms. Never have I driven through a state with more livestock grazing open pastures (though that may be because the list of states I’ve driven through is short) than in Pennsylvania. And though I do eat prepared food often, Penn State gives me enough healthy food options that I can balance my diet and have remained at a healthy weight for most of my life. Yet I wonder if the meat I consume here comes from a factory farm or a local livestock source. And who would I ask to find out? How can I support sustainable agricultural practices at a consumption level? A common practice of communities is to bring local growers to a communal hub to sell their goods. So the answer is to cut down on meat and replace it with green foods.