Food Inc and Conscious Eating
Last week, a few friends and I paid a visit to our local cinema to see Food Inc. According to the website Hungry for Change this documentary film exposes America’s industrialised food system and its effect on our environment, health, economy and workers’ rights. In our town, the turnout to watch the film in was very poor, despite heavy promotion amongst green groups. We came away shocked by some aspects of the film (even though we are no newcomers to the realities of factory farming) and disappointed in the level of interest shown by others.
Why the apparent lack of enthusiasm? Perhaps it’s not surprising that most people will not want to spend £6.50 to be told how the way we grow, process and consume food is detrimental to our health and that of other living beings. My guess would be that many would just rather not know awful truth of what goes on behind the scenes.
Having given this some thought, my recommendation would be to make the effort to see Food Inc if you feel the need for some extra motivation to a) change your eating and buying habits for the better or b) become more proactive in the healthy food lobby.
We are reminded at the end of the documentary that we each have the opportunity to vote, three times per day, on what we eat. Sustainable living, or voluntary simplicity, can be called “conscious living”. In a similar way, having the degree of mindfulness where we can sense the wholesomeness or otherwise of the food that we’re about to commit to our bodies can be known as “conscious eating”.
Here are my tips for eating more consciously:
1. Ask “Is this food something that I would like to become part of me?”
2. Ask “Am I taking care to nourish myself or am I refuelling on the run?”
3. Eat more locally produced, or grow your own, fresh food.
4. Eat organic wherever possible.
5. Reduce meat and fish consumption to five meals or less per week. Replace with other protein sources such as fairly traded pulses, beans, nuts or a little organic, locally produced dairy.
6. Cook at home rather than eat out.
7. Eat slowly and in peaceful or convivial surroundings.
8. Avoid large, multinational supermarkets and fast food outlets.
9. Request healthy, locally sourced and organic meals at work and school, or
10. Plan ahead and take your own meals with you.
What would your suggestions be?
In what ways do you eat consciously?
Which of these do you find easy? Which are more of a challenge?
March 13, 2010
Posted in: Ethical Shopping
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