Getting Greener, Part 4: Greener Eating
Food consumption is something that greatly effects our health and the environment. Farming practices can destroy soil fertility, cause harmful chemicals to drain into waterways, affecting the health of people drinking the water and wildlife dependent on it. How far did your food travel before reaching your plate? From South America? China? California? All that travel results in pollution, especially if it is going that far for every meal.
Changing our eating habits has come gradually for us, and the more I learn, the more I want to change. Food and diet is something that is so vast and complicated that it is beyond me to address it completely in a short blog post. Therefore, I recommend several books that have greatly helped me, if you are really interested in learning more:
-The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan (you can read a quick synopsis here)
-Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser
-Real Food: What to Eat and Why by Naomi Plank (Note: this book is a little long and very detailed, but I gleaned a lot of great information.)
-Eating in the Dark: America’s Experiment with Genetically Modified Foods by Kathleen Hart
-Next up on my food reading list is Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon
You might be thinking that all of this doesn’t matter, but if you start researching and reading, you will be shocked at the things you learn. For your health and the health of your family, start reading! Be careful though, it is a slippery slope and you probably won’t be able to eat the same as you did before reading.
If you are interested in changing your eating habits in the meantime, you can start by eating less processed foods. Generally, the longer the ingredient list, the more processing involved, and the greater likelihood of it containing unnatural chemicals. My general rules are:
-If it has high fructose corn syrup in it, don’t get it or look for one without it;
-If there is an ingredient in it I can’t pronounce or I don’t know what it is, I look for something similar that doesn’t have it (generally, the organic brand might be better);
-Try to buy produce in season as it is less likely to have traveled from South America to get here;
-Buy local produce (farmer’s market when in season);
-Grow your own!
-Avoid artificial preservatives (BHT especially, in many cereals and prepackaged foods);
-Avoid artificial colors and flavors (though natural flavors aren’t much better, but difficult to avoid);
-Basically, if it isn’t real or from something that people have eaten for a long time, I try to avoid it. This isn’t always possible, but I use sugar instead of Splenda, butter, not margarine, and so on.
Things we are trying to improve, pending the purchase of a freezer for the garage:
-Buy grass-fed, local beef;
-Purchase local, organically grown chickens;
-Buy local milk.
Sorry I don’t have more on this topic, it was really daunting to figure out where to even begin here! Some of you are real experts on this, so consider this an intro for food-change beginners.
Rachel–
Thanks–love reading your greener ideas.
It’s so interesting because I joined weight watchers 5 months ago and began a process of changing the way I eat. At first I tried to find all the food I ate before, just the low-fat or low-calorie version. But over time, I’ve begun to realize that I feel better and have more energy when my daily diet is high in fruit vegetables, and natural fiber and protein. (I know, this is a “duh” moment.) Even though my mind still thinks it wants fetticine alfredo, my body says different.
Although this in and of itself does not help with the issue of locally grown food, in many of the other things you mention, it seems that intuitively eating what is better for your body (unprocessed produce, whole grains that aren’t manufactured, etc.) just happens to be better for the enviroment. At least it seems to be the first step in that direction.
Keep sharing your ideas–you have good ones!
Linds
I’m with you girlfriend!
We have eliminated all of this and then some from our eating habits. We not only have lost a few pounds (20 in Jason’s case), but we FEEL so much better. After researching this same stuff a few years back, we were so convicted about the food we were consuming every single day without the knowledge that it was terrible for our bodies.
We keep it simple. If it isn’t in its natural state (non-processed) we don’t eat it. Needless to say, we eat LOTS of fruits, veggies, whole grains, and meat.
I’ve enjoyed all of the greener posts! That is the goal of Yonder Way Farm. Jason is even researching to make his own diesel. Crazy isn’t it??
Thanks for the tips. I’ve yet to try the baking soda deodorant. I’ve been using some organic deodorant, but it just doesn’t cut it for this breastfeeding mother! I need to switch.
Oh, I have a question. Where do you purchase your essential oils? Just curious if you’ve found a place you like.
Thanks so much!
Lyns
http://www.dieselsecret.com/
This is my husband’s cousins’ business. As soon as one of our cars dies, we’ll get something with a diesel engine so we can use this.
Rachel, as usual, this is so helpful!
Aimee
So… you are inspiring and challenging me, Rachel, which is a very good thing. Jeremy bought me 40 peaches from a farm in Colorado, so I have to learn how to can (unless I just freeze them all). Can I ask you (or Lyndsey or Lindsey) a question about food? How has the change to fresh, natural foods affected your grocery bill? It sounds very appealing but I am worried about the work and the money required to stock the pantry and fridge with food with no preservatives. (I am cringing as I write that). It is a concern especially now that I live in CO where I have no idea what kinds of fresh, local food will be available in the winter.
Rachel, I wish I could hire you to come spend a few days with me at my house and help me do a green makeover and teach me your recipes for cleaning products and canning, etc. (Though I might skip the shampoo lesson).
Excellent questions, Annie! Our grocery budget is more now than it was two years ago when we just started looking into eating better. It’s a shame that in our food system, $1 will buy more calories of processed junk than something fresh. (You should read that synopsis of The Omnivore’s Dilemma I linked to above for some reasons why this is so.)
Anyway, when we were first married, I would spend about $250 a month on groceries, mostly processed foods and made lots of meals out of cream of ___ soup . Now, with Bud, we spend more like $350-400 a month, and we eat much less meat these days. The most processed foods I buy are cereals, but make sure they meet our “requirements” and crackers and such for Bud.
It does seem very daunting and overwhelming at first, so take it slow. Start in one area and move to another. You don’t have to bake your own bread, I’m sure in you can find really good bread in Denver (look for the Ezekiel bread in your groceries bread freezer or maybe there is a bakery nearby.) Try incorporating more fruits and vegetables as it sounds like you have access to a lot of them! Get a good cookbook that has a lot of fresh ingredients in the recipes and start transforming your cooking. It gets easier and easier as you learn new ways of doing stuff.
I’m sure Lynsey (and others) would have a lot of really good information on this. I’d love to pick her brain on this one, too!
hey supercinskis,
i have to come up with a thesis proposal pretty soon. one of my ideas is to research the locally grown food trend, and to come up with tools, products, systems, which allow the average suburban american to grow some of what they eat. here is an interesting example: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2004/10/omlet_home_chic.php
you guys could be really helpful to me in the research process, but it’s just a random idea right now. just thinking of you guys…
The Jerod! That sounds like a very interesting project, and one we would be happy to assist you with. Seriously, let us know if we can help!
And we had better not hear about you coming to Texas again and not letting us know you are near. For real, it’s been a while.