After completing several books on nutrition, ranging from vegan/raw foodist to vegetarian to omnivore, I have decided that I am an omnivore who eats a heavily plant-based diet. In the last book I read, Michael Pollan makes compelling claims in his best-selling "The Omnivore's Dilemma" that got me thinking about the American diet, food production, and what it means to eat. I agree with Pollan that food is a cultural, ritualistic, and social experience and I believe, to America's detriment, we have turned it into a life-less commodity.
Many of us spend our days avoiding or resisting this or that food and indulging in the latest diet trend. I have been a culprit of this American tradition. In fact, with each of the books I have read on nutrition, I have made new declarations about what I am going to put into my body and what I am going to avoid. This approach to nutrition has proven to be silly and a little psychotic (just ask Ryan). So although, I want to avoid processed foods (flour and sugar) and dairy products (because they make my stomach hurt), I do not want to swear off cappuccinos, sautéing with butter, or enjoying the occasional home-made chocolate chip cookie (Ryan makes the BEST).
The only diet/lifestyle change that makes sense is committing to eating locally grown food and grass-fed meat/dairy. Decreasing the amount of fuel that goes into my food and getting to know the producers of what I eat will benefit the environment and myself. I feel blessed to live in Southern California where so many wonderful foods are grown (some of them year-round). I want to taste what Southern California has to offer rather than what Mexico, Peru, or Spain can produce to fill in our gaps in production of red bell peppers, blueberries, or tomatoes. This lifestyle change will not only benefit my diet, but will make traveling necessary especially if I want to taste the fresh, delicious sweetness of a local banana.
My favorite founding father, Benjamin Franklin, reflects in his autobiography "the greatest advantage of being a 'reasonable creature' is that you can find a reason for whatever you want to do.” Being a conscious omnivore and a ‘reasonable creature” means that I must make responsible choices about what I put into my mouth. I want to enjoy food and enjoy it with my family and friends. I don’t want to put so many restrictions on my diet to suck the joy out of one of life’s greatest pleasures and only reap guilt or frustration when I break my own rules. I also don’t want to make myself a burden on my family and friends because of what I swear off. I do, however, propose that my friends and family consider the ramifications of our food choices (just because the price tag is cheap or it is convenient in the moment does not mean it is the best choice). I challenge you to consider what you put on the dinner table, where it came from, who grew it, and who is benefiting from your eating it?
Tonight is date night. I am making a fresh vegan meal. On the menu is:
Whole grain herb bread
Artichoke salad parfaits
Portobello and green bean ragout with a California dry red wine
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3 comments:
You sound like my friend here, Jen....and that is a good thing. I am proud of you for reasoning this all out...for educating yourself...and making a choice that best fits your values and lifestyle. (This is great preparation for parenting... as parents requires a similar intentionality.)
You dinner last night sounded really delicious. I can't wait to come for a visit again and sample your new cuisine.
P.S. I make Hungarian Stoup for people here...it is a real hit!
Thank you for your responses. I love to hear from you.
Oh, and I think Daniel would like "The Omnivore's Dilemma." For some reason I kept thinking about him as I read it. Maybe it had to do with the author's intentionality or the comment you made once about Daniel wanting to have a career like farming to be close to you and Elleia.
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