Dr. Heidi Cornfield, a professor of food sciences, is being interviewed about her new book, What's For Dinner? Read the interview and find out: What does she think is wrong with the American diet?
Interviewer: You have some very strong ideas about what Americans eat. Professor Cornfield. Could you tell our audience about some of them?
Cornfield: I'd be delighted. First, I think that Americans eat too much meat. We can get protein from other types of food, not just meat. For example, tofu is rich in protein. We really don't need to eat meat to live.
Interviewer: Maybe, but some of our listeners really like nice thick juicy hamburgers. They might not need them, but they sure like them.
Cornfield: I agree with you. But there are health reasons to stop eating meat.
Interviewer: What do you mean, Professor?
Cornfield: Eating meat, especially beef, can cause heart disease. Thousands of Americans die from heart disease every year.
Interviewer: That's interesting. Are there other reasons why we should stop eating meat?
Cornfield: Yes, Did you know that eating meat hurts, even destroys, the environment?
Interviewer: I don't understand. How?
Cornfield: It is a fact that rain forests in Central America are being destroyed to produce cheap beef to export to other countries, including the United States. And that hamburger you like so much- well, it takes 20 square meters of rain forest for each burger!
Interviewer: Oh, no. But I don't like to eat tofu.
Cornfield: That's OK. There are other good foods to eat.
Interviewer: Well, we're almost out of time. Do you have any final comments?
Cornfield: There are many more interesting facts in my book. Think about this one before you order your next burger: In the last 300 years, Americans have to cut down over half of their trees to get land to grow food to feed cattle-all because people think they need meat.
About you:
1. If you had to give up food made with animal products, which ones would you give up? What are your reasons?
2. Are you concerned about your daily calorie intake when choosing something to eat?
3. Do you like to eat American foods?
4. Do you prefer fish or meat?
5. Do you think a vegetarian diet is better than a diet that includes meat?
6. What are some foods that are considered unhealthy?
7. What do you like to eat for your dinner?
8. What food do you hate? Why do you hate it?
9. What foods have you tasted which you will never forget for the rest of your life?
10. Do you have any food allergies?
