Comments on: Where does our food come from?

By: Lisa Lubin

Lisa Lubin — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:04:27 +0000

Hi abbie. Yes, true if it was just 1 man finding food for himself. What we do in the USA food system is very far from natural anymore. I am all for the cycle of life, but not inhumane treatment. I am not against eating meat or animals. I am more against horrible conditions in which we do this for $$$.

By: abbie

abbie — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 16:12:37 +0000

yeah thats true,but you need to remember that its natural and if we dident kill animals the world would be too over populated so in the long run were actually helping the world instead of killing it.

By: Lee Haase

Lee Haase — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 12:44:51 +0000

Im 15 years old and i already can see how bad a system we have for getting our food. I think the main problem is that most people just dont want to know where food comes from anymore due to the stories that circulate about how dangerously close we are to destroying ourselves over getting it faster and more cheaply. Its pretty scary where most of our food comes from but its better to spread awareness now than have it eventually leak out. Its not that hard to do the healthy thing. Studys show its actually cheaper to eat right than to eat junk food going by weight and when i say eat right i dont mean all vegies. Its ok to have meat we just need to get it from the right places. I enjoy sites like this and think its a great idea to share what we know about where our food comes from.

By: ATravelaroundtheWorl

ATravelaroundtheWorl — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 03:55:35 +0000

I like your point "Plant your own garden…even a small one".

It is very easy to go to the supermarket and buy your vegetables or meats, most of it will became rubbish as is to much to be consumed fresh.

Having your own garden and/or your own animals you know what they eat and you know what you eat and then you will realize how important is to sacrifice a life for food.

By: Quotes of Melvin

Quotes of Melvin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:30:22 +0000

Thanks for the tips. My method is less eating out. You don't know exactly what they put in that food, even if they tell you.

By: llworldtour

llworldtour — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 23:42:01 +0000

Thanks to all for the comments.

Kevin – how was the burger?!

Sonia – so true, but i feel more enlightened for knowing…the older (wiser??) I get, the more I just want to know and not keep my eyes shut. I also read In Defense of Food. He's a good writer and journalist. I really respect his stuff…he looks at all sides…even went hunting…

Elissa- That is SO good. I still remember the stir fry you made me with fresh veggies…and was impressed with your compost bin! I do find it a bit true that being green/organic is actually easier in the city than elsewhere.

James – good point. When traveling…i liked to try everything. The fact that it's usually a much shorter trip from field to table helps.

Akila – so true. I saw a very well-done doc in London on the BBC called "Chicken Out" with Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall. It covered all things chicken – free range vs. factory farmed, prices, marketing, raising your own, hormone injected, etc. http://www.chickenout.tv/ It spoke a lot to those who, in today's market and economy, simply cannot afford organic. So how can we drive the prices down OR change society's view of how much meat we really need or where else we can get our protein?

By: Akila

Akila — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:43:56 +0000

Ahhh, the dilemmas of being a vegetarian. As a life-long vegetarian, I find vegetarianism to be the one thing that most people don't understand about me. In fact, most people don't even try to understand why I am vegetarian. I have a simple answer: I grew up vegetarin in a South Indian Brahmin household. But, I chose to remain vegetarian even through college, when I often subsisted on cheese pizzas and roasted potatoes, because I believe in the moral and health implications of being vegetarian. I love animals as I love people and I don't wish to harm anything to satisfy my own appetite.

It's a hard position to take when much of the world lives in abject poverty and hunger and would be thrilled to get any meat or vegetable on their plate. Vegetarianism is a luxury that I can afford to make because I am not destitute and starving. I believe in eating locally, organically, and seasonally but that is because I can afford those products. Local ingredients are often more expensive than those imported from countries with cheap labor. The question that always troubles me when I think of books like the Omnivore's Dilemma or movies like Food, Inc., is how to account for poverty. It is a question that I don't think either satisfactorily answers.

By: James Clark

James Clark — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:09:25 +0000

I'm like you in that I'm not a vegetarian but I hardly eat meat. I can't see myself being a vegetarian as it can be quite impractical in many places in the world, but I always eat vegetarian when I can.

By: Elissa

Elissa — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:53:38 +0000

Of all places I first became a "localvore" when living in London. Every week I looked forward to my home delivered box of locally sourced organic fruit and veg. Surprisngly it saved me money (because I didn't step foot inside the supermarket as often), I tried food that I never had before and enjoyed produce that for once had real flavour. I've continued doing that now that I'm living back in Australia. So that's what I do at home.

Your post has just reminded me about what we can do when we're eating out. Ask: is the food locally sourced? is it in season? is it organic? And frequent the places that can answer yes to those questions.

Thanks for the prompt Lisa.

By: Sonia

Sonia — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:35:39 +0000

Good stuff! Trouble is, once you know, you can't un-know, and must spend the rest of your life being a responsible eater!

I am currently working my way through Michael Pollan's second book (In Defense of Food) and am loving it. Another great documentary, which touches on some of the same themes/characters as Food Inc, is FRESH [http://www.freshthemovie.com]. I was so inspired by it that I've been hosting home screenings to help get the word out.

Thanks for fighting the good fight, sister!