How Did Dinner Get So
Complicated?
Almost every day there is a spot on the news or
an article in the paper about the importance of
eating healthy, organic and local. But how? The
first thing many people think about, especially
in this economy, is cost: “it’s just too
expensive”, “only rich people can afford to eat
like that.” Another biggie is flavor, people
worry that eating organic and local will be
boring and bland. “Will the family eat it?”,
“Where do I buy that stuff, anyway?”
The truth is, asking people to change the way
they eat is a big deal; people do not like to be
told what to do. Even after reading research that
shows all the nutritional, environmental, and
economic benefits, the actual shift in diet has
not happened for many Americans. This is
especially true for the growing numbers of the
working poor and unemployed who have bigger
issues to tackle than what to make for dinner.
The thing is, what we eat for dinner, and
breakfast, and lunch, affects the rest of our
lives so profoundly that food choice needs to be
at the top of America’s priority list. What we
eat can make us feel happy or depressed,
energetic or lethargic. We can “save time” with
convenience food never realizing we could have
made a better version of the same food for a
tenth of the cost!
Over the years I’ve learned a bit at a time about
how to plan meals, shop, and cook in the most
healthful and sustainable ways I can, and it’s
time to share this information with anyone who
wants it. If you want to cut your food bills,
feel better about what your family is eating, and
know you’re doing right by the planet and the
local economy then read on...
Green on a Shoestring:
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