The answer depends on who you ask, apparently. While a legion of Moms replying, “No!”; armies of kids and the U.S. Senate answers with an emphatic “Yes!”. The government’s legislation to restrict the serving of tater tots, lima beans, fries and other starchy foods more than once a week was defeated in the Senate. The move was led, predictably, by representatives from the potato growing states. This story provides some interesting insights: first, the movement for healthy food is weakened by the internal conflict between producers and consumers, what is good for the plate may prove a challenge for the farmer whose livelihood is affected. Also, consumers can influence the process of policy making too. The fact that a legislation to limit potatoes on school lunches was even introduced is proof of that. We must participate in the process, at whatever level possible in order to bring about a positive transformation.
Tater Tots are Vegetables?
From the Yard to the Pot
Urban farming is not just about fresh herbs and juicy veggies from the backyard, many people are raising small animals too; ike goats, rabbits and chicken. The ultimate destination for these animals , of course, is the pot. Their living moments, it is argued are more humane in these urban backyards than they would be in a factory farm, but what about their end? Is it safe, hygienic, desirable? While approving of the idea in principle, would we actually welcome it in our own neighborhood? Where I live, you cannot paint the outside of the house any color you like, much less raise and kill chickens in the backyard. There is a logic behind this, we have chosen to live in a community, in an organized way so collective opinion is important. My right to raise animals for dinner has to coexist with your sanitary or health concerns. Right now, these issues are being debated in Oakland, CA as new zoning laws for urban farms are being drawn up.
To me, these conflicts are similar to the raw milk or vaccine debates. Yes, we have a right to choose what we eat and decide how to nurture our children. But we have all opted to live in a social framework as well and harmonious coexistence is crucial.
Posted in Food Safety, Green, Living, Urban Farming, Urban Garden
Tagged food safety, Green, Living, Urban Garden
Food Waste and Climate Change
When food is wasted, the impact is two-fold: not only has the process contributed to continuing global hunger but it also impacts climate change. Food products that go bad and are thrown out emit greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. Some products have a larger impact than others, meat is a bigger concern than vegetables. So, what can we do to tackle the issue?
Common sense answer: plan the grocery list so we buy what we need and avoid impulse buying; clean, pack and store leftovers or extras in a way that preserves freshness; consider making meat products a smaller portion of our meals and opt for better options like beans or whole grains.
This article has interesting links and the numbers to convince us of the need to watch what we waste as much as we watch what we eat.
The Origins of Dinner
I came late to the interesting challenge posed by Real Eats: go completely unprocessed for October. In other words, if I take up the challenge I can only eat foods that I could make in my own kitchen, that are unprocessed. What is compelling here is their analysis of what actually goes into what we eat, can anything be actually categorized as “unprocessed” in today’s food system? Coffee, wine and cheese are allowed while bread (and the processing of) requires a whole post to itself.
And while we are reflecting on where food comes from, consider the case of organic strawberries which can, legally, be grown from “starters” that are developed in a conventional nursery. So, the plant starts life in a conventional way but after a year is treated with organic farming practices in an organic farm. Would you consider this “organic” and pay a premium for it? Note that, if these seedlings were to be developed in an “organic” way from the start, the process would be more expensive and the premium on the price of fruit also would be higher. There are no remnants of the chemicals used in the starting stages of the plants in the fruits themselves.
Posted in Farm Technology, Food Safety, Green, Living, Nutrition
Tagged Farming Technology, Green, Living, nutrition
Aeroponic Garden Lands in Chicago’s O’Hare Airport
An aeroponic garden located on the mezzanine level of Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, the second-busiest airport in the world, will provide a source of fresh locally grown produce to travelers
Posted in Uncategorized
Paying for a Healthy School Lunch
The first step in the journey towards improving school lunches was to ensure that nutritious meals are required to be served. The next question, of course, is, how do we pay for it? Fresh produce costs more, schools that are currently equipped only with freezers and steamers have to redesigned so actual cooking can take place.More or better qualified staff may be necessary as well.
Part of the costs of the current system are borne by the government, some of the students receive subsidized meals based on income levels and the rest pay an amount ranging from $ 1.50 to $ 2.75 depending on the location of the school. These prices will have to increase. School authorities fear that some families will then have to opt out of the lunch system which would worsen the situation.
Providing healthy lunches to children , it can be argued, is the parents’ responsibility. Most people would agree that where parents are struggling to make ends meet, the government should come to their aid. Even when times are bad as they are today, fulfilling the nutritional needs of children today to ensure a healthy future population is crucial. Therefore, attempts to control the deficit should not restrict funding to nutritional programs. Better to bear a deficit to ensure healthy children that to bear a deficit for wars that our children have to fight. Countries like France, Germany, Finland all provide healthy food in schools. How do they manage it? I will be posting about this shortly.
As for those who pay the current cost of lunch, here are some issues to think about: if the school provides a nutritionally adequate , freshly prepared meal to our children, might it not be worth paying a little more for that? I pack 2 lunches everyday and I try to cook from scratch. This takes time ,and money as well ,so I might give some thought to my total cost benefit here before I decide to opt out. And I would be the first to admit that on there are hectic mornings on which snack packs or other packaged foods provide a welcome solution to the lunch problem. So, if I knew that my child will get a wholesome lunch, prepared from fresh produce at the school, this might appear to be an alternative worth considering.
Posted in Uncategorized
Take the Slow Food Challenge on 9/17
Slow Food USA has come up with a fun approach to rethinking the way we eat. They are asking us to reclaim the “value meal”, the hallmark of fast food vendors by cooking and eating a meal that costs no more than $5 per person. You could cook for your own family, invite over friends and have a party or attend/organize bigger events. Ideas, recipes and other details available at Slow Food USA’s website. If you do take up the challenge, I would love to hear how it went!
Posted in Uncategorized
White House Lunch Recipe for Kids
White House Chef Chris Comerford offers ideas for packing lunch boxes with good-for-you stuff like vegetables, fruits, hummus as well as meats and cheese.It seems really healthy and hopefully tastes good too! The idea of including a dip with the veggies is great as kids love dips and will get through their veggies better that way.
Food and Nutrition Jargon Buster
Food and nutrition jargon buster | AHN
Ever get confused with all the different terms floating out there? Chronic malnutrition/acute malnutrition/hunger/famine… This jargon buster is the answer to all your questions.
Posted in Uncategorized
Adapting to Climate Change
A new study ,which analyses data on changes in weather and agricultural production in different countries estimates, that the effects of warmer temperatures has lead to a 20% increase in global prices for maize and wheat. The debate on the factors responsible for these changes may continue but the impact of changing climate patterns is already evident to farmers. In the Midwest, farmers are already investing in machinery, seeds and farm practices that will help them deal with the short term variations in weather. More efforts are required to develop crops that can with stand the long term trend of global warming. It is estimated that a 1 degree Celsius rise in temperature causes a 10 percent fall in crop yield. How will the 2012 Farm Bill provide for these challenges? Funds are required for research into creating strains of crops that will be able to withstand excess heat and flooding, for conservation of existing resources and also for providing counter cyclical insurance to farmers as they grapple with uncertain weather conditions. There needs to be a recognition of the problem and also an openness to scientific methods which can help us face this challenge. In the current economic conditions, obstacles are to be expected.
Posted in Climate Change, Food Policy, Food Security, Price Rise
Tagged climate change, food policy, food security, Price Rise
Thought + Food 