Food Inc. - do it.

When it came to watching Food Inc. I know I'm behind. The people I know who had seen it warned me it was gross and alarming. Since I generally prefer to laugh, feel warm and fuzzy, or feel empowered, movies that are gross and alarming by review fall off the list. However, the hubs and I recently decided to make the plunge and watch Food Inc. While I did laugh (only at one part when a very Kentucky-ish cowboy yelled out his truck window "I smell mon-neigh"), I did feel warm and fuzzy (it's encouraging to know some of my efforts are right on track) and I was empowered (they remind us that every bite we take is a "vote" in the way of food), I must admit....it was also gross and alarming at parts. However, I'm going to take a different stance than those who warned me. You won't have the excuse that I "warned" you because instead I am going to challenge you:

If you shop at a grocery store or eat at fast food restaurants, you should watch Food Inc. If it's too gross and alarming for you....HELLO....make a change. Even a small one makes a difference.

I understand....some people think ignorance is bliss. Some people think the Micheal Pollen/Food Inc/Local Movement/Fast Food nation/FDA shaming thing is a fad. To that I say....people once thought the push for acurate information about tobacco use was a fad. Now, years later, most people agree or at least understand the risks of tobacco use.

Anyway, Food Inc. in our opinion was really good and challenging. It came at a perfect time because this is the time of year I cook, chop, and freeze things several times a week so we can make it through the winter eating local. It can be lonely and most of our friends think I'm a little extreme but after watching Food Inc. I felt encouraged that my efforts were worth it. For those who have not even attended a farmers market in your area there are lots of ways to start small. Try out a farmers market! Eat at Chipotle (http://ir.chipotle.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=194775&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1576969&highlight). Give up soda and juice with corn syrup for one month. Replace one item on your shopping list with Organic. Watch Food Inc. :)

None of those things are as hard or as extreme as they seem before you do it once! Here's what we got last week at the farmer's market. We are part of a CSA so we get a farm box at a discounted rate but all of this amazingly fresh food was under $55 and traveled less than 100 miles to get to my fridge: