What's to Eat?

I have been reading Joan Dye Gussow's "This Organic Life" It is subtitled, "Confessions of a Suburban Homesteader". I find it very readable. And while I don't agree with everything she says - she believes in global warming, and I have yet to be convinced - I enjoy her thought processes regarding nutrition, our food choices, and their impact on the world around us.

The most titillating thing I have learned from the book is her theory that even strict vegetarians are responsible for the death of some animal life in their own eating. She believes that the vast majority of people who choose not to eat animals fail to realize that the very food they do eat, has usually been grown by someone who did away with some animals in the process of growing the food. Either by the very fact that if the land weren't not being used to grow food for human consumption, it would most likely be growing food for animals. Or, the farmers are using various means (usually including killing of some animals at some time) to keep animals from eating the food they are growing for sale to humans. Oh, but she explains it so much better than I do.

In any case, I remain fascinated by the many food choices we have made as humans. The more I learn about different diets, the more amazing it becomes. I am interested in the Weston Price diet, made popular by the nutrition manual and cookbook all in one, "Nourishing Traditions" by Sally Fallon. It recommends a diet rich in something he calls the X-Factor, which can be found in diets with fish, butter, raw milk, etc. He also recommends the practice of lacto-fermentation, or fermenting foods in milk. This diet is very appealing to me.

Of course many people make the decision to shop only organic foods. I think this is a wonderful idea and more affordable the closer you are to the farmers.

Which brings me to the next diet, localvore. This is someone who seeks to eat only things grown within 100 miles of them. This is discussed in depth by Joan Dye Gussow in "This Organic Life". I think this is a wonderful idea, and hope to do it as much as possible without missing out on chocolate and oranges.

An off-shoot of the localvore movement, or maybe an integral part of it is eating in season. If one eats locally produced food, then getting grapes in February from Ecuador is no longer an option. One website I like is Chef Keith Snow's harvesteating.com. Lot's of great recipes, many on video. If you are like me, it's much easier to imagine making something when you see it made, and what it looks like.

Of course there are vegetarians and vegans. I have been both in my lifetime for various reasons. Currently I am not. I have about a 1/4 of a cow in my freezer right now (from a local farmer, and the cows are grass fed, yum!)

Further confusing things are the various levels of raw foodists. Some say it doesn't count unless you are 100% raw, eating only raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, and legumes. Others think 80% raw or better is great. I love the idea of green smoothies and drinking ones greens to get the most nutrition benefit. Sometimes I think I would like to go raw for a while. Other times, I think, NAH!!

Which brings me to the really out there stuff. There are people who actually think that anything intentionally planted is not to be eaten. They would survive on weeds. Seriously.

But not to be outdone, there are the breatharians. This I totally think is a horrible hoax. But if you would like a good laugh, read up on the people who claim to be able to live on only air and sunshine, and will teach you to do the same for only $25,000,000.

Bon appetite!