Hooray For Answers to Tough Questions!

Q. What do you feel is the most important thing you’ve learned about the Food Industry?

A.


“I feel that the food industry’s secret behind the fast food animal cruelty is that most important thing I’ve learned because I think that animals should live a very happy life in wide open space without being abused before they die so they could at least have a happy beginning to a sad ending.” –Destin Calandra.


“The most important thing I learned was about the restaurants and how filthy they are, what we are eating, what’s in our burgers, like cow manure, etc., how they kill chickens, and where our food comes from and how it’s processed.” –Monique Obule


“I feel that learning about the environment our food is made in and the process the foods go through to get to our plates is very important.” –Stephanie Carson


“The most important things we’ve learned about the food industry were how our meat was treated and that for our veggies to come to our plates they traveled more than 30,000 miles. And how 35% of people from this generation are obese starting at the young age of two.” –Leticia Blanco


“The fast food industry does not care about the customer. They put in harmful ingredients that can get people obese and diabetes and they only want to make money.” –Denzel Samuels


“I feel learning about the restaurants and their dirty secrets was one of the important things I learned about the fast food industry. For example: The dirtiest thing in the restaurants are the ice and the lemon wedges.” – Nontrell Brown


“I learned about the chicken in the fast food industry. They are taking the chickens and throwing them against the wall. When it hits the wall it makes a big ‘bop’ noise. They hang the chickens when their wings are flapping trying to escape. They spit on them and slam them into a cage to bring them back to their work to cut up and kill them. To make chicken nuggets they just put the whole chicken in after taking off the skin so that means all the fat and everything is mixed in. All this is making people fat and sick.” –Nida Nasar


“I feel like the most important thing I learned is how they treat the animals.” Rochelle Panicker

“I think the most important thing I’ve learned about the food industry is that it’s not healthy and it’s hazardous. It’s not healthy because they don’t clean the animals properly, or they have unprofessional people (like untrained, undocumented workers) working with them. And it’s also hazardous because they don’t clean where they cook and there might be feces there from rats. That’s what could be in our food.” –Antonella Jara


"The most important thing I’ve learned about the fast food industry is that fast food is bad for your body. It makes you sick in so may ways: you can get heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.” –Jessica Jones

“Mainly how the workers treat the animals and what they go through. They are tortured, beaten and abused, kept in poor environments and sometimes they are toyed with in inhumane ways.” –Brendan Paul


I think the most important thing I've learned about the food industry is what is in my food. I think it's very important to know what is in my food because I am allergic to a lot of things, but at the same time you ahve to know what's going on in your mouth and what you're digesting. -Freddy Moise


Q. Why are solar cookers important? (Think about the facts from the short film, can you think of any other reasons?) What did you learn by building one? (e.g.: plays well or doesn’t play well with others, discovered new leadership qualities, now wants to get involved in charity work to help developing countries, etc.)

A.


“Solar cookers are important because they are an effective way to cook food without using gas. We can use the biggest natural resource we have. The sun!! By building my own solar cooker I learned to work better with others and to be open minded to others thoughts and opinions.” –Stephanie Carson


“Solar cookers are important because they don’t harm the planet. They require no fuel. By building one I learned that it has to be in the direction of the sun. The sun rises in the east and lands in the west. It also has to be made in a parabola shape so the sun can reflect.” –Monique Obule


“Solar cookers are important mainly because they use natural energy from the sun. What I learned about building one is that it’s easy and efficient.” –Brandon Singh


“Solar cookers are important because we need to learn how to use that un energy for things besides growing fruit and vegetables. Also for when you don’t have a stove, a solar cooker could help you cook your food, but only while the sun is out. I learned that it has to be built with the right measurements and a good amount of shininess for it to work.” –Althea Pieters

“Solar cookers are important because they don’t waste gas and electricity. It uses the sunlight to cook food. The sun will be here forever, well, as long as we live.” –Sukhjinder Singh


Q. What have you learned about the process of cooking?

A.


“I learned that certain foods have to be cooked at a certain temperature in order to cook the right way/cook all the way through. The hot place causes the particles in it to warm up, giving them energy which causes the particles to move about.” –Annette Jackson


“You have to pay attention to what you’re making. On a hot plate food heats up faster than on a stove and when I put the peppers in the oil they needed to be in the pan longer so they can get softer. Also, balancing out the flavors was kind of hard.” –Alexis Gonzales

“I learned that, when cooking, never add too much of something because it could ruin your meal. You can always add little by little to better the taste of your food.” –Monique Obule

“The Blender: When you add the ingredients you want to the blender, you will push the button that starts the blender and the blades will start to spin, blending your ingredients. The blender will create a vortex, spinning and sucking your down, chopping/blending them and spitting them back to the top. Then it will repeat again and again.” –Denzel Samuels

“The thing I used is the microwave. The microwave uses electrical circuits and mechanical devices to produce and control an output of microwave energy for heating and cooking.” –Nida Nasar

“I learned that cooking is really a science. You really have to be precise if you want any of your dishes to taste good.” –John Brodie

“The tool I used to cook my dish, which was the oatmeal, is the microwave. The microwave causes the food molecules to vibrate rapidly creating friction that produces heat, which then cooks the food. The microwave consists of a magnetron tube, which converts electricity into high frequency microwaves. Microwaves are a form of electromagnetic energy."Samantha Ramcharan

“I learned that science, math, and English are used in cooking. There are a lot of proportions. You can also add whatever you like to your taste.” –Supreet Singh

“I learned that heat is an amazing thing. Heat helps to produce things such as flavor and is not just to heat food.” –Tiffany Hairston.

“I have learned patience for cooking a meal. To take the time out to make something to east is easy now.” –Irvel Beaulieu

“I learned that you have to take time when you are cooking.” –Sammie Birks

"I have learned how a blender works. Blenders mix your food by the blades spinning and chopping the food and shooting it up towards the top of the blender. The spinning blades also create a vortex to pull the food back down towards the blades." -Tyshawn Pisani

Q. What have you learned about the ingredients you used?

A.

“I have learned that some of the vegetables we are using are straight from our school’s rooftop and whatever vegetable we have been using is safe and good for you.” –Jaspaul Singh

“I learned that not all yummy meals need meat to have extra flavor. The ingredients we used are natural and healthy!” –Stephanie Carson

“I learned that even healthy ingredients can taste good and it’s not all about fast food. Our foods come from places like our school garden, farms, markets, and homes.” –Raphaelle Jean Baptiste

“I learned that the oats I’m using in my oatmeal are very good for your heart, eyes, and sex life. They come from a field.” –Duke Obule

“I learned that vegetables have cell walls that stop aroma and flavor from leaving the raw vegetable skin.” –Tiffany Hairston

“I learned that sugar isn’t always necessary when cooking. I also learned that most of our fruits aren’t even grown in the U.S. and that fresh is always the best way to go when buying fruits.” –Jessica Rousseau

"I've learned that the ingredients produce flavour by the foods sending off particles that are inhaled into your nose and your tongue picking up taste using your taste buds." -Tyshawm Pisani

Q. What have learned about working with others?

A.

“I learned that you have to be open to other’s thoughts and opinions.” –Annette Jackson

“I learned that you get more stuff done working with others. That’s only if everyone’s on track and trying to be engaged.” –Marvin Legree

“I learned that you have to be open to other’s thoughts and plans.” –Annette Jackson

“This is the only group that I ever had that everyone does something. When working with others things get done faster and you always have someone to help you out when you get stuck. But if your group members don’t help you at all you have to do all the work by yourself causing you to think harder…” –Monique Obule

“When multiple people work together and build up friendship with each other they can definitely accomplish anything.” –Destin Calandra

“Working with others gives you a chance to look at things from different types of views.” –Stephanie Carson“I learned that I work well with others.” –Nontrell Brown

“I have learned that some students can work faster than others, some are better cookers than others (unlike me, I stink at cooking), but we all try our best.” –Jaspaul Singh

“When you work together anything can happen.” –Kareem Prosper

“I learned that if the group is communicating with each other things should move easier.” –Ulysses Coven

“I learned that working with each other gets things done faster and at a good speed and also that we all put effort in a part.” –Geneva Brennan

“When we all work together the food comes out to be better than how you make it yourself. They help you and add more things. Working with others is good so you would be able to work well at different places like work…” –Nida Nasar

“I learned that I am a strong worker but if I’m annoyed by something or people not doing work I will start to become lazy and accomplish less.” –Brandon Jordan

“I learned that each group member contributes ideas which makes our project successful.” –Rochelle Panicker

“Group work is not something I really like unless my group members are really helpful. My group worked together so it was easier to get things done.” –Ann-Marie Grant

“Working with others taught me how to evenly divide work while aiming for one goal.” –Terrance Williams

"I have learned from working with others that fighting doesn't solve anything, it just wastes time." -Freddy Moise

Q. What have you learned about your own work habits?

A.

“I learned that I was very used to working alone and had to apply my same work habits to the group.” –Annette Jackson

“I have learned that I’m not as lazy as I thought.” –Monique Obule

“My work habits have been majorly improved. I’m more focused and engaged in my classes.” –Stephanie Carson“I learned that I work better with others than by myself.” –Nontrell Brown

“I learned that math is easy if I just try.” –Kareem Prosper

”My work habits have improved because whenever I worked with people, I didn’t share at all, but now I’m open and way less shy!” –Antonella Jara

“What I’ve learned about my own work habits is that I rush, but now I will take my time as well.” –Jerena Jones

“I’ve learned that through my most exasperated time, I am still able to work and do what’s needed.” –Jessica Rousseau

Q. What have you learned about your own eating habits? What might you change? Will you change? (Why or why not?)

A.

“I will change my fast food habits even though I don’t want to because I love it, but I have to if I want to be healthy. I won’t eat it so often.” –Shawn Jackson

“I have changed my eating habits. I only had McDonald’s twice in these two weeks. I have been eating more veggies and fish. I feel my change was positive because now my health won’t be as much as a risk as it was before and I could be saving an animal’s life. Baby steps to start with and big changes will come.” –Stephanie Carson

“I learned that in my past of eating unhealthy fast foods, thinking that it was safe was a big mistake for my health and I now know better for my future health.” –Destin Calandra

“I have learned that I eat a lot of fast food. I might stop eating it as much because it’s unhealthy and I know what’s in it now. Yes, I will change by having healthier habits.” –Monique Obule

“The first day of this program I went to McDonald’s but as we moved on to the second week I realized all I snacked on were fruits.” –Saara Hydrali

“I learned that I’ve been eating badly, also at times when I’m not hungry. I started to change, instead of getting chips or soda, I’ll eat fruit instead. I will change because I have to do what’s right for me.” –Annette Jackson“

I learned that I barely eat food that is made at home. In other words I eat a lot of fast food meals from McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Popeye’, etc. I’m going to eat healthier foods that will benefit my body in a positive way.” – Rochelle Panicker

“I have good eating habits, I just eat a little too much junk and I don’t drink a lot of water. I have a warm meal every day. I’ve decided that I’m not eating any more hamburgers, I might drink more water. The food industry has ruined my appetite.” – AnneMarie Grant

"The thing I learned about my own eating habits is that I should cut down on fast food and eat more greens and always think when I buy fast food ‘what am I really eating?’” –Lamont Smart

“I learned that my eating habits were really overboard. I used to eat a lot of junk, but now everything changed because of the videos and the articles we’ve read. It changed because it made me realize that I should cut down on the junk and eat more healthy. I think since summer school started I started to lose weight. I’ve been eating salads a lot and eating smaller portions of everything. I drink three bottles of water a day. Now whenever I’m hungry I eat a yogurt or fresh fruits.” –Antonella Jara

“I learned that I have been eating a lot of sugar and fat but I will cut down on the sweet and try eating more fresh fruits and vegetables.” –Jerena Jones

“I will definitely change my eating habits. Fast food less and slow food more. I will definitely also use better and healthier ingredient substitutes.” –Terrance Williams

“I stopped eating fast food every other day. It’s not good for you and I want to stay healthy.” –Arielle Seepersaud

“I learned that I have bad eating habits because I would rather buy a cheeseburger from McDonald’s than prepare myself a healthy meal. I might change eating fast food everyday.” –Nicolan Lee

Q. What did you learn about the mathematics of cooking?
A.

“I learned to convert things using the metric system, how to add, subtract, multiply and divide fractions, and how fractions could be used in cooking.” –Samantha Ramcharan

“I learned how to convert cups and teaspoon and table spoons into the metric system and now I think I’m getting math!” –Antonella Jara

“I learned how to convert spoons and cup measurements into the metric system.” –Jerena Jones

CREATE YOUR OWN QUESTION!!

Q. Was this experience fun? Why or why not?
A. I found this method to be very fun. It was the most unique method of doing an extended year program where all students put their mind to it. –Samantha Ramcharan

What did you most enjoy about summer school?
“I enjoyed making the food and eating it. Math was cool too!” –Thramain Rodney

Q. “Can I make fliers about saving the chicken and persuade people that McDonald’s is bad and then stand by the McDonald’s and give them out?” –Thramain Rodney