Important Things I've Been Learning About Food

Hello Readers- My apologies for being absent so long. It's been quite a busy week for me but I'm here again! :)

To comment on the vegetarian project, I really haven't been keeping it up. The main purpose was to give me insight to help develop recipes for healthy eating and vegetarian contests. However, I've been working so much lately that I haven't been doing much cooking at home. But I did learn a lot during my brief project. And although the vegetarian idea didn't stick permanently, I will be paying much more attention to my nutrition and the food I eat. What I learned about the mass-produced food we all eat on a regular basis is alarming.

If you haven't seen Food, Inc. yet you should. It's a documentary film that came out about 2 years ago that exposes a lot of what lies behind the veil separating us from the food industry. Everyone needs to know this. I'll warn you though, some scenes in the film are graphic and flat out hard to watch. And when you see it, you can decide what to believe as true. Regardless, it will change your life one way or another. It sheds light on some questions I've always had, like why it's so much more affordable to buy crap like fast food burgers, processed foods and soda than fresh vegetables and organic meats. The film addresses this, as well as explaining the government's role in the production of food over the last 50 years or so and how the industry has evolved into what it is today.

What's also alarming is what advertisers are allowed to claim on the food products they promote. You know, I understand that we are responsible for the decisions we make for ourselves and our families, but there is a lot of bull-crap out there. Just for fun, one day go the the grocery store and see how many boxes of cookies and sugary cereals make claims like "promotes a healthy heart" or something about developing a stronger immune system in children.

Basically, what I'm saying is that you should pay attention to your food. Do a little research, read labels and make sensible purchases. Buy fruits and vegetables in season and locally grown if possible.