Food, Inc & Food Revolution

I have been wanting to watch Food, Inc. for some time now, but I also wanted my husband and 11 year old daughter to watch it with me. So today was the day that we finally found a moment when we were all available, and I still had time left on my Netflix "watch instantly" account (the kids like to use that up since we don't have cable)!

I am pretty familiar with a lot of food/health issues, at least surface information, but I found myself repeatedly saying things like, "Wow!" or "What?" or "That's crazy!" while I watched this movie.  They covered so many topics, and I feel like there is so much more to say on all the subjects.  One thing that jumped out at me was when, I believe it was Michael Pollan, said that even grain fed cows who are put on grass for 5 days will shed 80% of the e-coli in their system- that's amazing!  Another point that came through crystal clear is how corn is used as feed (besides the fact that it is cheap) because it fattens the animals up- and corn products are what you find in most processed foods.  Now why do we have an obesity epidemic?

And how about when they're walking through the Natural Food Convention and the guy points to Tom's and says "Colgate", Kashi is "Kellog's", and there were several others I can't remember now.  Isn't it amazing to think why do we even have to use terms like "natural food" or "health food" - shouldn't food by definition be natural and healthy? Obviously not in the world we live in today- the world of "manufactured" food.  Or, as Michael Pollan says, "edible food-like substances".  Even many "health food" companies are now owned by huge corporations whose motivation is simply to make money. 

The absolute funniest part of the movie, in my opinion and my husband's, is when these organic farmers who supply Stonyfield Farm are meeting with representatives from the Wal-Mart corporation.  The farmer light-heartedly says, "I've never even been in there you know, Wal-Mart."  The rep. just has this big fake smile & his face seems to say "I have no idea what to say".  The farmer continues, "We started boycotting it years ago."  The rep. just keeps on smiling & says nothing.  We were cracking up!


Of course most of this movie is no laughing matter at all- it is a very serious place we have found ourselves in as a nation.  So many different action points, but I think we can say "enough is enough" by voting with our dollars.  Don't buy processed (poisoned) food.  Find local, or at least organic, suppliers for eggs, meat, poultry and dairy.  Find your local farmer's market & go there!  I love this quote from Joel Salatin (the traditional, organic farmer shown in this film) "If you think organic food is expensive, have you priced cancer lately?"  I also found an article here the goes into this a little more Real Cost of Cheap Food

Speaking of real food, did you watch Food Revolution on ABC on Friday night?  It's on my list of "must watch" shows now!  It is sad to me how many people just don't care about all the garbage in the food they eat, or in the food they feed to their kids (yes, lunch lady Alice I am talking to you!  If you saw it, you know what I'm saying...)  But I am so encouraged to know that ABC choosing to air a show like this means that more & more people DO care about real food & I just hope that we can see change come about.

I am also using this opportunity to enter the $75 give away of US Wellness Meats at She Looketh Well blog.  If you have a blog and want to enter too, go check it out (and don't forget to mention my name)!  :)

Blessings,
Lisa