Where does our food come from?

We had a fascinating conversation with Anna the other day about animals and the food we eat. She began by asking us if we knew that there are real pet shops. She had apparently just realized that a pet shop was not a place made up by Hasbro for the sake of a toy line. We responded that we do, in fact, know about pet shops. She proceeded to list the kinds of animals one could discover at a pet shop. Among others, these included dogs, cats, cows, and chickens.

Just to tease, her dad told her that this was where we went to get the chickens we eat. I expected her to be upset about this, but she wasn't at all. She was sure this was a joke. After all, she says, those are chicken animals, and we don't eat animals; we eat food! She said, 'See, I'll show you,' and ran off to get her Leapster. She brought up a picture of a chicken, and said, 'See that's a chicken.' I asked whether that chicken was an animal or food; she laughed and said it was an animal. I guess it was supposed to be obvious. In a way she's right...it did not look at all like the chicken we buy in the grocery store!