Eating Better in the Neighborhood

Everything old is new again!

For years, as we moved from agriculture to industry, from being servants to be service workers, our diets have moved away from our roots and gone to the quick and the processed.

It was a change, adjusting to a different pace of life, with more and more people need to do something besides spend their entire day growing and raising their own food, and trying to have enough excess to sell to others.  As our economy diversified, more and more of our agriculture was handled by fewer and fewer people.  We were letting large agribusinesses do what the family farmer used to.

Oh, it was fun!  Buckets of fried chicken, hamburgers galore, TV dinners  -everything was done on the go and in a rush.  Of course, the foods had to be more highly processed - preservatives to keep the food lasting longer, more salt and sugar to keep us craving more, fields sprayed with chemicals to protect against pests and increase the yield, antibiotics and growth hormones to  maximize meat production, with animals living in crowded, inhumane conditions.  Many foods, in an attempt to improve and standardize them, are becoming genetically modified.

The less money you had, the cheaper foods were often filled with starches and fats - the dollar menu at fast food places became your best friend.  Many economically depressed urban areas had no grocery stores that sold fresh produce.

Consequently, our health worsened.  Obesity became more common, as did diabetes.  Cancer, heart attacks, strokes - all had links to our diets.

The good news is that we have begun to recognize this and are starting to fight back.  There are more and more local markets selling fresh, locally grown produce - fruits, vegetables, sprouts and grains, grass fed beef, free range chicken.  Organics are becoming more common in the grocery stores (yes, there are bureaucratic hassles as to what "organic" means, but at least the fight is engaged).  Many school nutrition programs are making greater efforts to help students eat better and use more and more local sources.

 Urban gardens are becoming more popular, and are helping transform some blighted areas.  There is a greater movement now then there has been in decades towards home gardening.

The idea of labeling foods as GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) or non-GMO is gaining traction.  The major stumbling block, as it is with much of what we do in this country, is the vast political power possessed by large corporations and wealthy individuals.  You can agree or disagree about the effect of GMOs in our food supply, but I find it hard to believe that you can disagree that it is a bad thing for people to know what it is they're getting.  It is not over-regulation to insist on the detailed labeling of what we eat.  It is essential information that every consumer should have.

This weekend we are going to celebrate Alison's  birthday by going to one of her favorite farm-to-table restaurants, another part of the new and needed trend to improving our food sources.

Little Debbie Snack Cakes can be a lot of fun, but sometimes it can be just as tasty and fun to return to our food roots.

Yes, everything old is new again.  And really, has there been a better, more nourishing trend?  Enjoys the fruits of the local harvest.  Oh, yes, and some fruit, grains, honey and meats as well.

Bon appetit!