Tuna Macaroni Salad
Ingredients:
4 Brown Organic eggs
2 pouches of Ronzoni Pasta
Portions: elbow
½ cup Miracle Whip Mayonnaise (vary
to preference)
Lawry’s Season Salt (vary to
preference)
Old Bay Seasoning (vary to
preference)
2 cans of Chicken of the Sea Solid
White: Albacore tuna
Procedure:
1.
Boil 2 pouches of pasta in 1 quart of water for
5minutes.
2.
Boil 4 brown eggs for 10 minutes.
3.
Drain and serve pasta into a large bowl
4.
Open, drain and serve 2 cans of tuna into large
bowl with pasta
5.
Apply about ½ a cup of mayonnaise into bowl and
mix contents of the bowl thoroughly.
6.
Add a moderate amount (2 teaspoons each) of
Lawry’s Seasoning Salt and Old Bay seasoning and mix (continue to taste and add
more season as seen fit).
7.
Un-shell and dice eggs into bowl and mix one
last time.
Analysis:
Based on the ingredients used to make my meal, about
60% of my meal is processed being made of processed tuna fish and mayonnaise.
My entire meal totaled in 315mg cholesterol. 3,230mg
sodium, 33g fat, 600mg potassium, 128g carbs, 6g dietary fibers, 6g sugars, 46g
protein, and 1,630mg calories. The amount of sodium in my meal could cause
serious high blood pressure and other health risks and the amount of calories
(1,630mg) in my meal is half of the suggested 2,400-calorie intake for women,
so eating everyday would not be healthy. Also be reminded that this is all only
in one serving.
All ingredients used in my meal were made and packed in
the United States; ranging from Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey California. The
Chicken of the Sea Tuna Fish traveled the furthest being from San Diego,
California. Only my eggs were organically grown.
This meal cost about $15. In comparison to fast
food, my meal may be equal in health risk somewhat, but it is not a meal to be
eaten regularly. Also my meal is a bit more expensive when buy ingredients as a
whole. The USDA regulates these ingredients.
Self Reflection
Being a person who has never once
questioned what is on the back, ingredients and nutrient labeling of her
everyday boxed processed food, this unit in science and society has changed my
view and importance in food in multiple ways. From the identifying of terms and
ingredients, the creation and modification of said ingredients and how these
process of modified and organic foods has drastically effected America
economically and health wise.
The initial assignment of simply
reading what the ingredients were on a meal I had recently eaten was only step
one of opening my eyes to the food I consume. After a discussion in class about
the definition and creditability of certain terms found on the labeling of
boxed/canned foods, I learned that terms like “Low-Fat” and “Natural” are not
USDA regulated meaning; any thing claimed to be any percent less fat (even if
it’s only 1%) than it’s original form can be considered “low fat” without any
higher authority confirmation. It was facts that like and many others that alone
made me more conscious of the ingredients in our foods.
Step two in discovering the truth
behind our food was actually watching the documentary movie, “Food Inc” which
had a range of discussion topics. It talked about the treatments of both
animals and workers, the process of making food, the cost of food and how it
economically effects America, the health causes of genetically modified foods,
the political aspects of the food system and overall how as consumers, we have
a large role in the food system and are capable of changing it. My group in particular took the
chapter, “Shocks to the System” which discussed how an consumers, we are
becoming slightly more conscious of the products/produce we purchase and this
is partially due to the price inflammation and comparison of organic verses
genetically modified. Stores like Wal-Mart have even gone “Green” in order to
comply with costumers and appeal to high-class costumers who have begun to
notice the difference between organic and genetically modified.
Step 3 was taking what I’ve
learned and applying it into my life by creating a meal that was ideally
healthy and free of genetically modified ingredients (homemade being the main
objective). My choice in meal was
Macaroni Tuna Salad, made with whole organic brown eggs. Along with other
classmates who made healthy meals, I found that eating healthy, some organic
foods was just as delicious and simple to make as the usual fast food, boxed,
and processed food that so many of us are used to.