July 2022 – Ara Library Blog

This is one of my favorite books in the Library collection. It is entitled What I Eat: Around the world in 80 Diets by Peter Menzel and Faith D’Aluisio

*What I eat: Around the world in 80 Diets* by Peter Menzel and Faith D’Alusio

The book shows all of the items the participants ate on a particular day back in 2010. There is a photo of the food each person ate on that day and a short precise about that person giving details of where they live, what they do, and background information about the area they live in.

One of the individuals who participated in the book

There are also thoughtful essays about aspects of food and its relationship to humans from authors, chefs and social commentators.

The fascinating thing about this book is that people from around the world are united by things we all experience as humans. In this case it is the food we eat. It is surprising how similar food preferences, meal periods and menus are even when people are separated by great distances.

Also people with great religious, cultural and political divides eat similar food…Israeli/Palestinian, Greek/Turkish, Ukrainian/Russian and Indian/Pakistani are just some of the groups. All are joined to some extent by the agricultural and cultural influences that have impacted what people eat in that region of the world.

Many of these items would feature on a Jewish Israeli’s menu as well

This book highlights the huge divide between the “have’s” and the “have not’s” in regards to caloric intake. From the 800 daily calories of a poor Maasai tribesman to the 12300 calories of an middle class English housewife the difference is stark. Greater affluence certainly allows more food intake sometimes to an absurd level.

Back cover of *What I Eat: Around the World in 80 Diets*

I enjoyed this book so much that I actually bought a copy of my own and I like to dip into it every now and then. If you would like to have a look at the Library copy it can be located at TX357MEN upstairs in the Library.

By Emma Blakiston – Student librarian at Timaru Campus

World Chocolate Day is a celebration of everyone’s favorite decadent treats and desserts. As a business student here at Ara Timaru, I thought it would be interesting to mark the day by finding out more about the economics of the chocolate industry in New Zealand.

Research tells us that Kiwis and Aussies are the biggest chocolate eaters in the world, consuming an average of 4.8kg per person/per year!

Being one of the biggest consumers of chocolate, we end up importing more chocolate than we are exporting, with $79m in chocolate exports as of December 2020 and $231m of imports. Although we all love popular brands such as Cadbury and Nestlé for our chocolate treats, it is essential to remember the importance of shopping locally to help support our small Kiwi-owned and operated business.

Chocolate making began in New Zealand in the 1860s with the beginning of well-known brands such as Whitakers, and Hudson’s (eventually Cadbury’s) and there are now over 120 different chocolate manufacturers across NZ.

This year on World Chocolate Day, when you go out to buy your favourite chocolate bars and blocks, try something new from a small local business or a Kiwi owned brand of chocolate – you never know you could find your new favourite chocolate!

For some inspiration on brands plus a closer look at the history and economics of the New Zealand chocolate industry, check out this 2018 report.

Click to access investment-opportunities-nz-chocolate-industry.pdf

If you would like to have a go at making some chocolate, or having a hot chocolate drink to celebrate, have a look these recipes: