Sunday, July 27, 2008

Supermarket Mural

I saw this interesting mural on the side of a small supermarket on 16th Street between Park and 3rd Avenue a couple weeks ago. I thought it was interesting and especially appropriate since New York City is considering a proposal to increase the number of licences for fresh fruits and vegetable vendors in the city in an effort to combat the epidemic of obesity among inner city residents.

In addition, a University of Washington study reported in the New York Times found that a 2,000-calorie diet costs $3.52/day if it consisted of only junk food, while a similar caloric diet of fresh vegetables and fruits costs $36.32 a day, which is 10 times as expensive.

So are you eating your vegetables and fresh fruits?

23 comments:

Diederick Wijmans said...

A very nice composition and the "Vespa" rings youth-memories bells!

Obesity is already a rapidly spreading problem around the world, where diabetes is affecting millions of people, also in Italy where I live.
It is so important to eat fresh fruit, vegetables, meat (mainly white)and fish, when possible.
It is so important that we teach our children how they should invest in their future health-situation, with consistent involvement of our Governments!!
Thanks for sharing!

Isadora said...

This is a very appealing advert for the store - no wonder they are sporting it. As for the diet comparison - living in the country now the fresh fruits and veggies are not as expensive, but do tell me where I can eat a day's worth of junk food for $3 and change??? Oh, never mind - you did say 2,000 calories - that should be the french fries, right? Give me a double Whopper with everything, PLEASE! Stop that calorie counter, look away if you must, I need both hands and a tissue to wipe my drooling face right now.

Nice to see you again. :)

Hilda said...

Thank goodness that's still not true here in the Philippines! Cooking your own vegetable and fish dishes is still less expensive than buying junk food.

Mandy said...

It is a shame if junk food is so cheap and fresh fruit so expensive.

Virginia said...

I too like the little scooter in this photo. Very nice to see these kinds of murals in an urban setting. I need to eat more fruits and veggies. I promise to do better.

Anonymous said...

I like this post. Is that your scooter?

The cost of health is more expensive. Junk food makers and sellers understand the economics of junk food. Nobody would pay 10 times more for junk food. I know I wouldn't.

NormanTheDoxie said...

everyday :-)

USelaine said...

I subscribe to a Community Sustained Agriculture farm, that delivers all the fruits and vegetables I can possibly eat each week, for approximately $25 a week. I hate to waste food, so it forces me to eat all the biodynamic, organic goodies without leaving much room for junk. I still manage to get ice cream and chocolate once in a while. 8^) Today, I'll be attacking the green beans, and maybe some of the carrots!

Anonymous said...

I like the mural a lot. Very nice.

Paz (who likes to eat her veggies and fruits)

Jen Laceda | Milk Guides said...

what a curious piece of food trivia. but more interesting is your beautiful photo of the vespa & farm mural. love it! like Rome-meets-Ohio. i will keep an eye on your blog, that's for sure.

• Eliane • said...

And somehow, all I can see is that cute scooter... :)

Isn't it ironic that eating simple healthy food costs more than eating crap. I stumbled on a blog of someone who was doing a sort of frugal challenge, for fun and to save some money. The rule they established was that they would, for a month, only shop at a 99cents store. In a month, they saved tons but they also gained weight, were more fatigued and moody. Quite the same as what Morgan Spurlock experienced in Super Size Me.
As they say: "In poor countries, rich people are fat. And in rich countries poor people are fat."

Anonymous said...

Interesting mural; great advertisement for a more healthy approach to food selection! Beautiful photo, too.

Doris

Knoxville Girl said...

I like the mural. And I'm lucky to have multiple farmers markets all close to where I live - I'm loading up on fresh Grainger County tomatoes and white corn (along with organic free range chicken) - it's what's for dinner tonight.
Unfortunately, the rest of Tennessee is eating junk, and it shows - TN is in the top 5 states for obesity. We have a high rate of rural poverty in the state, so guess what many folks can't afford...

Jane Hards Photography said...

Well as veggie, it's a good job I do eat my fruit and veg. Obesity is fast rising in the UK, and yes we blame the rise in establishmnets like McDonalds, but people just love cheap junk food. Well that's not Chuck's vespa, but it really balances that shot against the bright mural.

GMG said...

Hi Ming!
Sorry for the absence these last weeks, but unfortunately it wasn’t due to some summer holidays… ;))
Thanks for your comments on Blogtrotter, now at the MoMA for Art and New York lovers! Hope you enjoy and wish you a great week! I’ll try to get back here to enjoy your posts with some more time during the week!

Dorothy said...

You know Ming...we are trying to eat more fruit and veggies.....when my children were small we always had a vegetable garden, or went to the country and bought directly from farmers and filled our freezer with veggies, enough for the winter...I'm quite sure that would be out of the question in the city ....oh well...stay healthy my friend.

Kate said...

Colourful mural. Great looking scooter. I'm astounded at the figures for fresh fruit and vegetables!

Unknown said...

i try to eat my veg and fruits daily. :-)

Olivier said...

superbe peinture murale.

beautiful mural.

Chuck Pefley said...

If that Vespa was red, I'd think you'd made a photo of me this past weekend. I was riding around country like this in Bellingham, 90 miles north of Seattle. :)

Yes ... I eat my vegetables. Grown some, too. Yum!

NormanTheDoxie said...

one more thing.... that mural is around the block from where I live.... you should have phoned and we could have met for coffee.

Bergson said...

Too much attracting, I return to buy in this store

Chuckeroon said...

Bingo.....another food item! I scrolled down 3 or 4 and was getting worried....but then you rescued me!

Greetings, Ming. Happy days.