Why is our food quality so bad? Blame the consumer, not the system. The American food system is simply supplying what the American consumer is demanding. If you don’t want it or like it, don’t buy it. There are always alternatives – maybe not as cheap or convenient, but they are there…be aggravated enough to search. ~Safdy The Consequences of Fast Food Today, everything seems to feed off corn and soy: fish farms, animal feed, and packaged food for humans. That is because corn and soy crops are efficient and cheap to produce. Corn and soy are efficient transformers of sunlight, […]
Food 301
26 posts
Capitalism abounds when you eat mass-produced processed food brands It is no surprise that in a capitalistic society our food system has devoted its energies to increasing production yields so it can sell food as cheaply as possible. Clearly, making a profit is necessary to sustain a business — as is creating efficiencies to maximize profit. But, advantages can also be realized when food is grown sensibility and responsibly. Organically produced and minimally processed food have paved the way. Unfortunately, the more responsible option is the more expensive option — until it becomes normalized. Drugged up Have you ever considered who profits […]
The more people believe in something, the more accepted it becomes. The more we think something to be “wrong” the less acceptable it becomes. We eat the way our parent’s taught us, what tastes good, what is convenient, and hope that we stay healthy. We don’t know why we practice a specific behavior if we never stop to question it. Most people do not pause to question their dietary choices until they become sick. Meat and Milk The meat and dairy industries, fast food restaurants, the government – even your medical doctor – would like you to believe that consuming […]
It is a good idea to get into the habit of asking yourself these questions about your backpacking food: Where did it come from? How was it produced? Does it contain genetically engineered ingredients? It it Organic? Conventional? Natural? We’ll explore what some of these terms mean here. The “Natural” phenomena Food manufacturers know consumers will pay a premium for minimally processed, wholegrain products. And to many of us, the word natural implies wholesome earth grown ingredients. Yet, nothing could be further from the truth. Regrettably, many food manufactures stamp the natural label on products containing the most unnatural of […]
“Fresh” Strawberries in January? I’ll pass. But, a preserved strawberry? As long as it was grown organically and preserved without sulfites, color enhancers, or preservatives. Few people may be that fussy even though these concerns are valid. Choosy eating is not pompous. Following a careful diet requires discipline and knowledge. Patronizing only in-season, locally harvested food is challenging depending on where you live. A January winter might leave you with only squash and carrots as fresh crop choices. This is why preservation, such as freezing and drying are important. The supermarket knows no seasons, as coined in the movie ‘Food, […]