My regular readers will know that I often bring your attention to the articles of Dr. Andrew Weil, MD. Recently, he mentioned the "Fourth Annual Conference on Science and Nutrition," in San Diego, Calif. (co-sponsored by the Program in Integrative Medicine, which Dr. Weil co-directs).
In attendance at the conference was Michael Pollan, a journalist and author of, "The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals". His book is referred to as "a withering indictment of America's industrialized food system. Overdependent on one crop - corn - and propped up by a disastrous mix of pesticides and long-distance food transportation, American agriculture has scarred the land and left its citizens overweight and undernourished."
During the conference, Pollan sounded an optimistic note. "I do see a lot of hopeful trends in American food," he said. The best way to reform the system, he said, is to support positive movements such as the following: (my comments follow each point in parenthesis)
1. The rise of alternative agriculture. "Organic and local" are becoming powerful words in the American food marketplace, said Pollan. "More and more farmers are deciding to put quality above quantity. So there are choices out there that did not exist 30 years ago. These choices are in supermarkets now, but there are also new choices outside of supermarkets. There are over 4,000 farmers' markets; the number has doubled in 10 years." (Here in BC, we are very familiar with Farmers Markets, as well as with the growth of organic foodstuffs in our larger grocery stores. Don't forget to check out my workshop, "How to Eat Healthy & Organic for $7 a Day" at your local community centre.)
2. The growth of an American food culture. Americans eat badly, Pollan said, largely because we lack a native food culture that anchors us to tried-and-true healthy eating patterns - consequently, we fall prey to fads pushed by processed food marketers. But in the 1970s, forward-thinking restaurateurs such as Alice Waters of Berkeley, California's Chez Panisse restaurant "began to create an American cuisine, one based on fresh, local foods," Pollan said. "Now, there is a restaurant like that in every city in America; one based on quality ingredients rather than fancy technique." (Again, here in BC, we are blessed with numerous restaurants that care about quality over quantity. Be selective when you go out to eat. Although you may want to support the local eatery, you can request fresh and local foods wherever you go. As the consumer raises his standards, the restaurant must follow suit, or lose the customer to the restaurant down the street that actually listens to its customers.)
3. Food is becoming prestigious. "You cannot overlook the importance of glamour in America," Pollan said. When Hollywood stars begin eating only organic food or free-range poultry, "it gets filtered through to the whole economy and the whole culture." One fortunate effect is that farming itself is becoming glamorous. "Now, the farmer's name is on the menu of the restaurant. Suddenly, becoming a farmer is a sort of cool occupation." Pollan added that, "The number of farmers has fallen in America since the turn of the last century, but it is finally ticking up now. The new farmers tend to run small operations, usually servicing farmers' markets" with quality food." (Wow, BC tops them all doesn't it? From Richmond to Abbotsford, you can find local farms. Take the drive this Sunday and visit these farms along our local highways. They need your support. Buy Chiliwack corn, Okanagan fruit and berries, and Valley produce whenever you can.)
4. More Americans are engaged in food politics. "When I speak to large groups of people, I feel a real political energy around this issue." Pollan said. "People are realizing that two major problems come together with this food problem: the health issue and the environment issue. And it is something we can do something about. Every day, we get three votes on what we will eat, called breakfast, lunch and dinner. That's a great power, and people are starting to use it. Voting with your fork is catching on." (Whenever you get a chance to discuss a local food issue, get right in on it. Visit the Farmers Market in your area. Our political system needs change, just as much as the American one does. Don't let Canadian complacency lull you into a false sense of security. Your voice counts. Say NO to MSG, Aspartame, hidden ingredients, and GMO foods. Say YES to more honest food labelling, reducing the prices of organic foods, and leave the manufacture of vitamin supplements to the producers with long histories of high quality; we can't let them label everything a drug, just so the establishment can control it's use. Consumers deserve a say in the products they want to take.)
For more information on the 2007 Farm Bill in the US and how you can help support the growing of nutritious, environmentally responsible food, visit the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy at http://www.iatp.org/.
I hope this was helpful. Please e-mail your questions and comments to me at
wellness-unlimited@hotmail.com. I will gladly feaure your e-mails here on my blog.
Remember...Eat well, exercise, and take my vitamins*...just in case! Billie
* Body Wise products are manufactured with the highest industry standards, in San Diego, CA
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