Foodling

Food Inc comes on in less than an hour and I hope to stay away to watch it. Before then, I want to get back to the first post on why Americans have such a problem with food. I love the comments that were left on that post, they all re-affirmed for me why I want to do this blog and I'm glad you're here with me!
I never put all the pieces together until very recently and saw what's going on in this country. We love going to the grocery store to do our weekly shopping. We love the sales, appreciate the low prices, convenience and speed at which we can prepare a meal.
Food in this country is a business and it is produced so that someone makes a profit.
Leave the US and you will shop several times a week at markets where you will buy seasonal produce in open air markets and you will pay more for food. It will have flavor, will not last indefinitely in the refrigerator and may take some time to prepare. Sugar, sodium and words we cannot pronounce are not used to enhance what we ingest. Ingredients are real. I really believe (and I am not an expert, so please form your own opinions) our bodies have become hypersensitive to sodium, sugars... because of the hydrated, hydrogenated, high fructose stuff that is added to our food. In France, people eat their bagettes daily but the bagettes are made with fresh ingredients. Butter is real. Flavors are authentic. People are truly satisfied at the end of a meal because they've eaten real food that is delicious and tasty.
Cultures often use food to celebrate and I think there are beautiful traditions around the globe of welcoming people, observing holidays or giving thanks with special dishes. In Taiwan, the cakes and cookies are matched to specific holidays and they're not eaten throughout the year. When my children were little, I baked cookies at Christmas time and one of the recipes was the Butterball recipe my mom baked for us. But, we have cookies all the time. Desserts aren't just for special days. I think of all the big heavy dishes I've eaten that in their homeland probably aren't eaten all the time. I would imagine people haven't always eaten meats 3 times a day.

Many of these ideas were also express in Food Rules. I felt vindicated! Of course, Pollen expresses his thoughts in a manner which is much more clear and concise. 
Here's a challenge I have for all of us: find a local bakery that bakes fresh bread. Buy a loaf at least once/week. No more grocery store bread. Report back!

Now, to see what's in Food Inc!