Proccessing the Processed Food Industry

I've always known that healthy food and "healthy" food were two different things. I thought that there was the stuff that is natural and healthy because it came from the earth or from an animal. Then there is the stuff that is processed and "healthy", the low fat and low sugar stuff that helps you eat lower calories. In the past few weeks, my eyes have been opened to a new way of categorizing food - real food and engineered food. I'm not sure I like the revelation, ignorance has been bliss. But now that I know - I feel like I need to make some changes in my behavior.

This issue came to a head when I watched the movie Food Inc over the course of this week. The movie basically told you the story of industrial food and how the food industry has morphed and changed over the years. It's the kind of movie that makes you think a lot because it's about something we all have to have - food. I've also been reading The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan on and off for a few weeks. And I have In Defense of Food on my shelf for my many trips next month to read. And let me tell you, these facts are changing my mind and making me very conscious about some of my decisions.

For starters, not all the facts in the movie or book were new to me. I knew before that meat packing and chicken farms were both kind of gross places. Yes, organic meats are more easily accessible than ever before, but they still aren't plentiful and not in everybody's neighborhood grocery store. I knew high fructose corn syrup wasn't that great for you, but I also knew it was everywhere.

The eye opening facts for me was when the full picture was presented to me about our food and food system. What I knew and what I learned together put together a powerful image of a system that is corrupted and doesn't really allow for consumer choice. The amount of corn products in our food is amazing. It's no wonder I don't like to eat actual corn - I'm eating more of it in my food than I ever knew! It's absolutely amazing when you start to really read about food and realize that you have no idea what the machine is behind the box on the grocery shelf or in that burger from Wendy's.

I've always known fast food was bad for you and so was processed food. But it's not until recently that I can even grasp how bad it is for you. And for our children. The more I read and learn about the chemicals and processes that go into making some of these foods, the more I just feel compelled to make it all at home using better healthier, fresher ingredients. We can do it, even us busy working women. It's worth it for ourselves and for our families. When you actually take the time to read what's in this stuff and learn about the engineering that is done to create food cheaper and faster, I promise you, it makes it very easy to start making better decisions. It's already affecting me and making it very hard for me to imagine going back to all my old food habits.

I'm not being crazy here, I know that avoiding processed and non-organic foods and meats is an impossible task. Anytime you eat outside the house, you don't know what you are eating. This means eating with friends, trips to restaurants, or when traveling. But what I am committing myself to is making smarter, more educated choices like:

I will start using sites like Local Harvest and Happy Cow to try to find better options for restaurants.

I will buy organic food.

I will keep food cooked in the house to minimize the "i-don't-have-anything-to-eat-so-let's-go-to-Wendy's" cravings.

I think those are a good way to start taking myself in a much better direction. I know it's not going to be perfect. Some places I travel (or have lived) are quasi obscure and I know there aren't going to be options for organic foods. I'm not being oblivious to the society I live in. But I can do the best I can when I can, which is the point. Most of us can't quit 100% - but we can do our best.

So what is one easy change you can make to eat better?