Food Crisis Adverted

Food Crisis Adverted!

Well, that’s what I hope the headline reads. I went and saw Food, Inc, a documentary about our modern state of affairs with food. It is one of those movies that is disturbing, while simultaneously empowering and educating the consumer. It’s the type of information that recharges my commitment to buying locally from farmers who espouse sustainable and ethical farming practices and, better yet, to grow and produce my own food.

The movie came at the perfect time because we are clearing out our diet. As part of our 21 Day Experiment, Koala and I are on a personalized elimination diet. Koala has been having a recurring rash around his mouth and on his chin, a constantly clear running nose and a grumpier than usual disposition. I find myself to be sensitive to certain foods and I have a hunch he is too. I let it be for a few weeks and just watched. My first course of action is to always let the body realign itself on its own. I was hoping the symptoms would pass, but its persistence insisted we make a change. Since we are nursing all dietary changes include me and in all honesty, I’m absolutely thankful for the experience. I hadn’t noticed how much prepared and processed food had crept into my life. We live downtown and it’s very easy to stop into cafes for a snack or order take-out on a regular basis. Convenient, yes, but it puts you at a severe disadvantage for consciously choosing the quality and type of food you are consuming on a daily basis.

I’m on Day 8 of no dairy, eggs, corn, soy, wheat or any flour based product and I feel great. I already knew that wheat and flour foods were not optimum for my system, but since they are so prevalent in our society they always manage to sneak themselves back into my diet. Koala is asking me to take our health more seriously and I’m up for the challenge. Our diet this past week has been simple, yet satisfying. We are eating brown rice, lentils, fruits, legumes, vegetables, pastured chicken, free-range meats, and some nuts. Koala’s nose has stopped running and the rash has lessened. It takes a full two to three weeks for the problematic food to leave his system (and mine) and it’s my hope the rash will completely disappear so we can continue to narrow down which exact foods are causing the problem.

In the meantime, watching the movie affirmed so much about the way we live, the place we live and the consumer choices we make. Mainstream food production is spiraling out of control and like a friend asked after the movie, “How bad does it have to get until we change our ways?”

I’d like to think we’ve already turned the corner. Food quality is in the headlines almost constantly and people are beginning to see the value of local food economies. The word organic is becoming common in American households and consumers are learning to read labels and ask questions.

These are all important steps we need to take to in order for the headline to read “Food Crisis Adverted”, but beyond it all we need a rapid awareness of consciousness. We need to start thinking outside of the Shake -N- Bake box and asking the Who, What, Where, & When’s about our food.

Someone Twittered last week in an agricultural chat that they only hear about grandparents gardening and that the new generation is clueless about what food really is, but I dare to differ. We’re out there and the movement is strong. Power to the people; long live the consumer: WE HAVE A CHOICE!

Grow your veggies, buy them locally, make sure your meat is grass-fed, pastured and treated humanely. Saying no to big business factory farming means saying yes to healthy, sustainable and safe food.

Your children will thank you.

Tagged as: agriculture, elimination diet, food, local economy, locavore, organic, permaculture, sustainability