Food Prices & Distribution

I've been telling everyone about the play Give Us Bread. After the show we discussed food issues and the roles women play in the health of the family.

A topic I continue to explore is how differently people eat and view food from social class to social class.

In 1917, families would starve of hunger if they did not eat. In today's world, however, there is cheap food it's just that the cheap food is not the healthy choice we should be teaching our children to reach for! Today's poor are not starving in the same way they did a century ago, but in the sense that they are starving for nutrients to keep their bodies healthy. Our poor are being victomized by obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, etc, etc - and it is all because of the food they eat.

We live in a country where a hamburger, fries & soda cost less than many vegetables, fruits and (especially) whole grains. This is extremely unfortunate. While I cannot blame a mother of 4 who decides to feed her family fast/cheap food to keep them fed, it does make me ask why? Is it a question of education? Is it a question of preference? Ethnicity? Demographic? I do not know - but I want to find out more.

And then this raises my next point and question: how could we allow families to "survive" this way? How could we allow the taste buds of our children only crave sweets and salt? Where they believe a french fry is a potato, yet having no idea where that vegetable comes from? Or that chicken comes in different shapes and has air bubbles?

Study after study proves that when a person maintains a healthy lifestyle they are motivated, alert, and passionate. Could you imagine where and what we could be if everyone in our country were motivated, alert and passionate?! So, why aren't we? Why do we prefer to keep our hands so deep in the pockets of pharmaceutical businesses or the meat industry? Is money really that much more important than a person reaching their full potential?

I call it glutinous greed.

Thinking about the answers to these questions make me sick, but I do see a glimmer of hope. Thankfully gardens have been popping up in school yards around the country. I've been discussing starting one at the elementary school where my sister and her husband teach. I want people from the community to do cooking demos, be guest speakers, teach the children how to work with their hands! I want communities to get active!

We are not at a loss just yet and I believe there is a way to marry nature and technology happily together. We, as a country, need to do this. We, as a country, need to step up and take responsibility for ignorant and naive choices by way of food and make it right. I believe that we can and I believe that supporting (whether emotionally or financially) the arts that bring to life these issues, such as The Anthropologists have, is how we will get ourselves back on track.

So, what are you waiting for?