WIll Real Food Experience the Oprah Effect?

Yesterday, Michael Pollan gave Oprah fans a clear explanation of the common western diet when he defined it as, "lots of processed foods and meat, lots of added fat and sugar, lots of everything...except fruits, vegetables, and whole grains."   He went on to say, "before the Western diet...around the turn of the last century...populations did not have high levels of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity..."  

The western diet, the only diet known to cause chronic disease, is full of empty calories (lots of calories with little or no nutrition.)  And it's brought to us by corporations using unsustainable means. 

So how do we remedy this?  Pollan explains that it's simple in his new book "Food Rules."  "It's all about whole foods," he said on the show (whole foods meaning minimally processed foods, not the store) and he's right. 

While the nutrition industry has rightly been accussed of confusing eaters with nutritionism which can praise or vilify a nutrient from one year to the next, many dietitains have been espousing this same sort of simple advice for decades.  "Eat a well balanced diet by choosing a wide variety of foods from each food group," is standard dietitian speak.  However, it hasn't been so easy to translate.  Michael Pollan, Mr "Eat Food.  Mostly Plants. Not too Much,"  translates this message better than just about anyone else.  And now he's done it on Oprah.

NY Times Article: Pink Slime Beef

Back in December, the New York Times published it's article on beef processing, Safety of Beef Processing Method Is Questioned, and people have been rethinking their consumption of ground beef ever since. In a shortsighted industry solution to an industry problem of E. coli and salmonella, a major meat processor has been using ammonia (a substance classified by EU as "irritant", "corrosive", or danger to the environment" dependent on it's concentration) in an effort to kill pathogens without actually reducing levels of contamination in beef. This processed beef-like substance, referred to as "pink slime," has made it's way into the majority of fast food burgers and into school lunches. Grist.org food editor Tom Philpott wrote a predictably smart and angry piece in response. From his Lessons on the food system from the ammonia hamburger fiasco:

To make a long story short: Beef Products buys the cheapest, least desirable beef on offer—fatty sweepings from the slaughterhouse floor, which are notoriously rife with pathogens like E. coli 0157 and antibiotic-resistant salmonella. It sends the scraps through a series of machines, grinds them into a paste, separates out the fat, and laces the substance with ammonia to kill pathogens.

Sustainable Nutrition Bottom-line: Pink slime, of course, is not healthy for us or the planet. Factory farmed beef is the largest environmental polluter in the food system (see previous posts Changing Climate Change or Meat's Deep Eco Footprint ) and the end product is high in saturated fat and goodness knows what else. A better choice for dinner would be grass fed beef or bison—higher in healthy fats like omega 3 and conjugated linoleic acid. Or choose beans—inexpensive, high in protein, fiber, and antioxidants, and low in fat and impact.

Resolutions for the New Year

Wintery Kale

For the past two years, this blog has explored issues of food, health, politics, and the environment. I've had many readers tell me they enjoy reading the posts because it makes them think about food in a new way. This post is all about how to turn those thoughts into action. Whether you are already "eating green" or new to the idea that our food choices play a role in climate change and ecological degradation, if you want to reduce your footprint, setting a resolution can help you focus your energy.

The new year is a busy time for dietitians, as people's motivation to make changes they've been considering for a while seems to peak, they seek out the help of professionals they trust. While the most common resolution is to lose weight, I thought I'd share some sustainable nutrition resolution ideas (these are actually tips recycled from an Earth Day post a couple years back--how appropriate.)

Research shows people tend to be more successful when their goals are "SMART", Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. For example, if you want to increase your consumption of locally grown foods, your goal could be, "I will visit the winter farmer's market at least four times this winter," or, "I will have at least one local food at each meal," or, "I will purchase a CSA share in a local farm..." you get the picture, right? When you are accountable to a goal (and to yourself) you can check in, see how you are doing, and revise to suit your life as needed. So the following goals are just to get you started. Research also shows that making your resolution public can increase your chances of success, so If you set a goal, leave a comment and let me know your progress.

My personal resolution is to write a monthly blog post highlighting the issues surrounding individual food groups; grains, vegetables, beans, fruit, meat, dairy, fish, water, and so on. I will, of course, include additional posts on timely food related articles, issues, and updates, but each month readers can expect a blog post focusing on one food group with tips on how to choose foods for personal, community, and planetary health.

Ten Resolution Ideas for A More Sustainable Diet:

1. Eat More Locally. Support your community by buying locally. Local foods are high in flavor and nutrition as well as "low carb"-- low in carbon emissions.
   
2. Buy Organic. Not just for the birds and the bees; our entire ecosystem (ourselves included) benefits from responsible agriculture.
3. Grow your own food. In your garden you can plant heirloom seeds, grow them organically, and eat them quite locally in your own backyard.
   
4. Eat less meat. Feed lot meat is carbon-intensive. Go grass fed or vegetarian.
   
5. Cook more often. Make more time to be in the kitchen. Highly processed and packaged foods take a lot of energy to make and transport.
   
6. Compost. Take your food scraps out of the landfill and turn them into "black gold" for your garden.
   
7. Bag it yourself. Instant karma. Bring bags with you when you shop.
   
8. Pay more, eat less. Consider paying a higher percentage of your income on food. Food insecurity is a real issue in many households in this country and the world beyond. However, we spend less time working to get food on our plates than ever before in history. (Is that cable t.v more important than the organic milk?)
9. Plan ahead. From packing a lunch to preserving apples, planning ahead can help you avoid buying energy intensive convenience foods that you don't really want.
   
10. Educate. Share meals and ideas. Request local, organic, and sustainable foods at your favorite restaurants and grocery stores and encourage others to join you.