Horwitz’s article “Eating on the Edge” discusses how people’s eating habits have changed pretty drastically over time. He develops his argument by mentioning two products that have changed how people eat today. He mentions Swanson’s TV dinners, which were introduced around the 1950s, when televisions were still a luxury to have in the home. Swanson’s uses the term “TV dinner” as a way to “associate their product with something that was cool and modern”(Horwitz, 44), hoping that people would buy the product, which they did. Today, TV dinners are still widely consumed by many families in a hurry or too tired to cook an elaborate meal for the whole family where everyone would sit at the table and discuss their day, any exciting news they had to share, etc. Horwitz also discusses Campbell’s Soup at Hand, which made it very easy for someone on the go to heat up the easily-held container in the microwave, screw on the coffee-type lid, and go on with their busy day. This is not only much easier, but also much faster than it used to be to have a lunch break. Rather than having to open the aluminum can of soup, pour it in a bowl or pot, adding milk or water to it and heating it up, either in the microwave or on the stove, a person does not have to sit down to consume their soup any more. Spoons are not required, nor do you have to worry about taking the time to clean up.
Both of these products are excellent examples of how more people are eating on the edge, though toward the end of his essay, Horwitz mentions how college students eat on the edge quite often, with lots of snaking and having virtually unlimited access to their dining halls. I would have to personally disagree with him. Based on my own life, I usually only eat three meals a day with no snacks. Being a broke college student, my budget does not really include money for snacking. While I do have the occasional Lunchable at the C-Store, I find that the only times I really eat are around 8:30 AM, 11:30-12, and around 5:30, 6 PM for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I realize that I am probably one of the few students in the country (or around the world for that matter) who don’t snack often, however I don’t really find myself “eating on the edge.”
I like how detailed you are when comparing the soup at hand to actual soup. It really paints a picture of how much easier the soup at hand can make life and eating. I agree with your disagreement of Hortwiz's analysis of college students. I too do not snack that often through out the day but eat three solid meals.
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