Labels Are for Food Products | Teen Ink

Labels Are for Food Products MAG

May 12, 2010
By Allie Oaks BRONZE, Nashotah, Wisconsin
Allie Oaks BRONZE, Nashotah, Wisconsin
3 articles 0 photos 0 comments

Labels are for food products
A can of soup.
A person.
One deserves a label.
The other deserves a chance.

Nutrition Facts.
It starts with the initial judgment.
An overall size up.
Do I want to eat the soup or not?

The number of calories is the first thing you see.
The clothing, hair, and style.
He's in all black. Emo.
She's wearing the most expensive brand. Snob.

Then it goes to the Total Fat.
A judgment of the physical activity.
She's fat. Can't be friends with her.
She's too skinny. Must have an eating disorder.

Moving right along to the grams of sugar.
He's boring and keeps to himself. Not much energy.
She's bouncing off the walls, talking nonstop.
Can't be friends with them.

Now for the percent of daily calcium.
He got an A on his last test. Must be a nerd.
She got a C. Not her best work and she knows it.
But not good enough to be friends with.

You've read the whole label.
Well, at least you think you have.
Only thing you're missing: the ingredients.
The ingredients are the only things that matter.

Take the time to look past the label on the soup.
What's inside of it?
Because what's inside is what really matters.
After all, labels are for food products. Not people.


The author's comments:
This piece is about what matters.

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This article has 5 comments.


on Jul. 19 2011 at 12:07 am
CupcakeSaffy PLATINUM, Cochrane, Other
20 articles 0 photos 28 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away."

This was so great. I loved the whole metaphor and how you related each little piece of the label to a person. The ending rounded a poem off perfectly. Well done!

on Jul. 19 2011 at 12:02 am
CupcakeSaffy PLATINUM, Cochrane, Other
20 articles 0 photos 28 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away."

Wow - that was so brilliant. I loved the way you worked through the label and related each element and the ending rounded it off perfectly. Well done!

purpleink GOLD said...
on Jul. 18 2011 at 10:42 pm
purpleink GOLD, Pendleton, Oregon
17 articles 0 photos 32 comments

Favorite Quote:
The early bird gets the worm but the second rat gets the cheese.<br /> <br /> There is more to life besides increasing its speed.

This is so true!! I love it!

leafy said...
on Apr. 5 2011 at 9:34 am
leafy, City, Other
0 articles 0 photos 682 comments

Favorite Quote:
Gil: I would like you to read my novel and get your opinion.&nbsp;<br /> Ernest Hemingway: I hate it.&nbsp;<br /> Gil: You haven&#039;t even read it yet.&nbsp;<br /> Ernest Hemingway: If it&#039;s bad, I&#039;ll hate it. If it&#039;s good, then I&#039;ll be envious and hate it even more. You don&#039;t want the opinion of another writer.&nbsp;

i love this poem so much! i'm using it for a poetry reading for english class

on Mar. 2 2011 at 1:53 pm
rloveswriting0011, Easley, South Carolina
0 articles 0 photos 8 comments

this poem is so true

i hate it when people judge before finding out about the person , i go to a high school where everyone judges everyone without knowning them , you never know you could mis out on an amazing friendship just because you jumped the gun and judged someone.

great* job !