You are what you eat....
ok, so i have been reading Michael Pollan's book titled The Omnivore's Dilemma and it has made me aware of how rapidly the change in the American food system has occurred. there are times when i think i am a "healthy" eater. i am not overweight. i don't abuse drugs or alcohol the way i used to. all good things, right? i don't even do fast food like i used to.
but i have been disturbed to learn that even though i am trying to be better, i am being sold down the river by all those groups you might think have your better interests in mind - governmental regulatory agencies, supermarket chains, food producers...
ah, crap. profit and greed have undermined nearly all aspect of it, especially for those of us living in large metropolitan areas without easy access to locally produced seasonal food.
i made dinner tonight for my daughter and i. grilled salmon. white rice. salad. turns out the salmon was farm raised, which means corn fed. that reduces the amount and quality of the beneficial nutrients in it. the rice was minute rice. heavily processed. and the bag salad was likely grown in CA under what are referred to as "industrial food" conditions - lots of pesticides. lots of diesel fuel used to grow it. inordinate amounts of irrigation. and it traveled hundreds and hundreds of miles to get to my store, all using lots of energy to keep it cool. sigh.
i think i'm going to the Farmer's Market next Saturday. The last pasture raised chicken i ate was fabulous.
but i have been disturbed to learn that even though i am trying to be better, i am being sold down the river by all those groups you might think have your better interests in mind - governmental regulatory agencies, supermarket chains, food producers...
ah, crap. profit and greed have undermined nearly all aspect of it, especially for those of us living in large metropolitan areas without easy access to locally produced seasonal food.
i made dinner tonight for my daughter and i. grilled salmon. white rice. salad. turns out the salmon was farm raised, which means corn fed. that reduces the amount and quality of the beneficial nutrients in it. the rice was minute rice. heavily processed. and the bag salad was likely grown in CA under what are referred to as "industrial food" conditions - lots of pesticides. lots of diesel fuel used to grow it. inordinate amounts of irrigation. and it traveled hundreds and hundreds of miles to get to my store, all using lots of energy to keep it cool. sigh.
i think i'm going to the Farmer's Market next Saturday. The last pasture raised chicken i ate was fabulous.
posted by Kurt at 8:16 PM
2 Comments:
The mistake you made was in using convenience products. The quickie rice and the pre-made salad killed you. As for the fish, we just have to learn to eat what's plentiful and available. But it's hard to imagine sitting down to a wonderful grilled pumpkin seed fillet!
As markets develop more "local" foods will become easily available. And circumstances may re-create some supply options. Pre WWII most produce eaten in the US was produced east of the Mississippi. It wasn't until the logistics were put in place to ship vast quantities long distances that eating California produced veggies out of season became the norm. Now we ship globally. But freight costs will make that no longer viable. And lack of water is going to put a strain on western growers. The result according to some researchers is that the eastern truck farm will be reborn. Which may mean the rebirth of small family farms in the Northeast.
which would be really cool if i still lived there......
there is also some movement here in dallas (at least i seem to have stumbled into it) to be more cognizant of where our food comes from, but i am discovering that lifestyle makes it very difficult. i work during those times when the locally produced is marketed. my recourse is to buy from established retail outlets or try and get orders to those going to market to pick up my stuff.
i am trying to get better. one small step for man...
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