Jon and I recently watched the movie Food, Inc on Neflix instant. It was so heavy (i.e. informative, disturbing in a good way) that I had to start watching Confessions of a Shopaholic so I could sleep that night!
I've also just finished Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food so we've been making some changes in the way we eat around here. I highly recommend EVERYONE watching Food, Inc. and reading Pollan's books. I think the movie should be shown in high schools and be mandatory for everyone so that we can change the way the next generations of Americans eat. We can't change culture and industry without everyone being informed!
Here are the changes we have made in the past few months:
We eat meat once or twice a week instead of every night. When we do eat meat it is wild caught fish or organic, pastured chicken and beef. No more factory raised/slaughtered meat. Blech. When we can afford to buy meat all at once we will visit local farms and find naturally raised, pastured meat. I pretty much want to find a version of Joel Salatin's farm. To find out where you can find a farm like this, go here.
We eat as many organic, local fruits and veggies as possible. Luckily, we have a PCC nearby. It's a lovely grocery store that sells local and organic produce, meat, etc. Also, the kids get to pick out a fruit when we arrive (mine always go for the raspberries or blueberries!) and the produce people wash it and put it in a cup for the kids to munch on while I shop. Seriously!
We are spending LESS on food, even though what I buy is more expensive. By trading out eating so much meat and buying boxed food for produce, brown rice, etc. we are saving money. I can get by on roughly $600 a month for groceries for a family of 5.
If a food claims it is healthy, nutricious or enriched it's most likely not! That includes protein bars, slimfast shakes, vegetarian frozen pizza...Things like produce and things that aren't packaged don't make these claims but they are the most healthy for us. My only downfall in this category is cereal. My kids really love Trader Joe's honey O's. And I really love the convenience. We don't, however, buy goldfish and other packaged things to eat.
Have you read these books and/or seen this movie? What are your thoughts and what changes have you made?
PS I just noticed a kids' version of The Omnivore's Dilemma! I think this will be a great science/health unit for my kiddies.
12 comments:
I am a huge Pollan fan and would highly recommend one of his earlier books, The Botany of Desire, too. It's not quite as epic in relation to what you're putting in your mouth, but fascinating and well written. He's also got a new book coming, or maybe it was just published, called Food Rules. Looking forward to picking that up.
After reading Omnivore's Dilemma I switched to buying local grass-fed meat, and after watching Food Inc. we have cut back our fast food eating, practically only going to Chipotle where I can get naturally raised chicken and pork.
Jessica, I just barely saw all of the other books he's written and I'm going to put them on my wishlist or check at the library. I really loved his style of writing, entertaining and so informative.
I can't even stomach fast food or even some restaurant food now. I'd rather eat at home! I am a huge fan of chipotle and that is really the only place I eat out as well!
Ah Chipotle...love it! Anyway, I have a copy of "In Defense of Food" and have not read it it yet. Thanks for the nudge. We could really improve our eating habits around here.
I haven't had a chance to read these yet, but his Botany of Desire book was made into a documentary, and it's available on the Netflix instant queue. I can't wait to watch it.
I'm so jealous that you live in Seattle where people actually care about stuff like this so it's readily available. I'm surrounded my Sonic's and BBQ here and have searched high and low for a local farmers market that is decent, the good ones are like an hour or more away. And you have to share what kind of menus, recipes or foods you guys eat that makes it so you only spend 600 bones a month. And we miss everyone at Christmas this year, don't have too much fun without us!
Okay, I definitely think you (in your abundant free time) ought to do us readers a service and post regularly about this topic: tips, ideas, menus, etc.. I for one would love it.
I read In Defense of Food and saw Food, Inc. and was haunted for weeks by that movie. We are seriously considering getting chickens for the eggs, however the more books I read on the topic, the more I wonder that I'm up to the task. What most interests me about food purchasing is doing it for a large family. I know you're only one shy of us, but I'm a slave to the meat dept. at Costco because I buy all my meat in bulk at the beginning of the month, separate it and freeze it, and never buy it again until the next month. Whenever I've seen pastured meat it seems to come in these itty-bitty portions for quadruple the price; I guess that's the point - eat it less, need less of it, but I still am flustered.
Stayed up late, wrapping presents, and watching Food, Inc. last night...White Christmas wasn't available on "watch instantly" :) I became light-headed and sick to my stomach watching it. Re-watched a few parts when it ended even. I'm re-thinking many aspects of what we eat. Ben could't even finish it, he was so grossed out.
I'm a Pollen fan as well, we've tried to follow his philosophy for a few years now, it is a bit more difficult in northern Utah county where NPR is a bad word and educating yourself about what you consume beyond thrift is the devil. I've learned to keep my mouth shut and my "liberal" agenda to myself, but I will share it with you:)
You're amazing Cher! I would love for your to email some recipes you use with you family and sample shopping list. We need to eat more healthy.
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