Rethinking Food...

So, I watched the award winning documentary Food, Inc. last night on PBS (I love that they make these great documentaries and specials available to the public). It was eye opening to say the least. Some background ('cause you know you want to know more about me) to explain my feelings. A little over a year ago, I became a vegetarian. For me, it was more of a health choice (I ate fast food twice a day and my doctor said I should probably wake up). As I progressed in my Women's Studies journey though, it became more apparent that food is very political.

Fresh foods are more expensive, especially when feeding a family on a low budget. Minority groups are more likely to suffer from diabetes and this generation of kids is the first to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (typically seen as an adult disease). It's bad. I've never thought about where my food comes from and after watching the documentary, I am really glad to be a vegetarian. The movie's purpose isn't to gross you out and turn you off meat though, it makes the point that a lot of people can't afford organic meat and that's a problem. Why is it that fast food is cheaper than veggies?

So, I learned to take into consideration where food comes from and the lack of legislation going on to keep it healthy and safe. My personal decision is to now buy organic whenever I can, to support local farmers markets (hello, Yellow Springs!), and to pack my lunch and a bottle of water every day. I chose these changes in my life because I work really hard for my money (3 jobs to be exact) and I don't always have an abundance of it. When I spend it, I want it to work toward keeping me healthy and supporting where I live. I want to be empowered as a single woman working her way through school. Also, I have 3 jobs plus volunteer work and school...I need to be healthy and on the ball (bye french fries). The bible has examples of taking care of ourselves and the world. John Wesley (founder of Methodism) said, "Leave it better than you found it". I don't think we're really doing that these days. The documentary said that as consumers we're more empowered than we think. So for me, you'll see organic across the bar code every week and maybe at the soup kitchens and things I work at we can find organic solutions (when possible). We do a canned food drive every Wednesday yearlong at youth group so it would be awesome for me to donate organic soups or all natural items. Everyone deserves to eat well and future generations deserve a healthy earth. And maybe I'll be brave and start a garden...maybe.